Mukimo - Kenyan Mashed Potatoes with Greens 2024

Kenyan Mashed Potatoes with Greens (Mukimo)

This recipe recreates a delicious Kenyan staple dish called Mukimo, traditionally made with mashed potatoes, pumpkin leaves, and corn or beans. This version offers a flexible and flavorful alternative using readily available ingredients.

This dish is especially popular in the Kikuyu culture and has become more popular among other Kenyan tribes. In this article, I will take you through Mukimo preparation step by step.

Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Servings: 6

Ingredients:

9 potatoes
2-3 cups chopped greens (spinach, Swiss chard, kale, or pumpkin leaves)
1 cup peas or corn (fresh or frozen)
3 garlic cloves
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Prepare the potatoes: Decide whether to peel the potatoes. Cut them into quarters and place them in a large pot. Make sure you wash them to remove any dirt.
Cook the potatoes: Cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil.
Cook the greens and garlic: Choose one of these methods:
- Method 1: Add the chopped greens and garlic cloves directly to the pot with the boiling potatoes. Cook until the potatoes and greens are tender.
- Method 2: Cook the greens and garlic cloves separately in a small pot of water until tender. Drain the water and blend the cooked greens and garlic with a small amount of reserved cooking water until smooth.
Cook the peas/corn: If using both of them for your Mukimo dish, cook the peas or corn in a separate pot until tender.
Drain and mash potatoes: Drain the potatoes, reserving some of the cooking water. Mash the potatoes until smooth and free of lumps. You can use a Potato masher or a cooking stick you have around your kitchen.
Combine and adjust consistency: Add the blended greens (if using Method 2), cooked peas/corn, and reserved water (as needed) to the mashed potatoes. Mix well.
Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with your favourite side dish, such as curried vegetables.

Stew Dishes For Your Mukimo

Meat Stew For Mokimo Dish

Buy 1kg of meat from your local butchery.
Chop them into cubes, or how you prefer them chopped.
Wash your meat to remove the blood and other dirt.
In a sufuria or cooking pot, add water to cook your meat. I prefer you add about 4 cups of water to help soften the meat.
On medium heat, let your meat boil until the water dries up.
Add cooking oil to the meat when the water ends.
Add your chopped onions. Mix to let the onion and meat burn evenly.
When the onions turn golden brown, add chopped tomatoes.
Stir the mixture until the tomatoes soften up.
Add a pinch or two of salt for the desired taste.
Add a cup of water, then cook the stew for 5 minutes until the soup thickens. The amount of water you add depends on the soup you want. But be careful not to add excess water.
Done, your meat stew is ready to be served alongside your Mukimo.

Tips:

Feel free to experiment with different greens to find your favourite flavour combination.
For added protein, consider adding cooked soybeans or lentils to the dish.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Enjoy this delicious and customizable Kenyan comfort food!

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