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:

1. 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.
2. Cook the potatoes: Cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil.
3. 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.
4. Cook the peas/corn: If using both of them for your Mukimo dish, cook the peas or corn in a separate pot until tender.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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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