Sukuma wiki — Swahili for “stretch the week” — is a ubiquitous dish in East African. Nutritious and tasty, it is a way of “stretching” out kitchen resources. Served with ugali and perhaps some roasted meat or fish, sukuma wiki makes a typical Kenyan or Tanzanian meal.
Sukuma Wiki
Course: VegetablesCuisine: Kenya, TanzaniaSukuma wiki — Swahili for “stretch the week” — is a ubiquitous dish in East African. Nutritious and tasty, it is a way of “stretching” out kitchen resources.
Ingredients
Oil or fat — 3 tablespoons
Onion, chopped or minced — 1
Kale or collard greens, destemmed and finely chopped — 2 pounds
Tomatoes, chopped — 2 cups
Water or stock — 1 cup
Salt and pepper — to taste
Directions
- Heat the oil or fat over medium-high flame in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the greens in batches, sauteing each addition until wilted.
- Add the tomatoes, water or stock, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until tender, from 20 to 30 minutes.
- Adjust seasoning and serve with a little bit of the broth.
Sukuma Wiki Notes and Variations
- Add a chopped chili pepper or two with the onions if you like.
- Some recipes call for thickening the dish with a flour-lemon juice mixture. Here’s how: mix 2 tablespoons of flour well with the juice of 1 lemon and a little water. Stir into the greens after they have been simmering for about 10 minutes. Continue simmering for another 15 to 20 minutes until the dish is slightly thickened.
- If you like, add some leftover meat for more flavor. Kenyans would most likely use goat or beef.
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