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Ugali

Name: Ugali
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Kenya
Ingredients: 300g Maize meal; 600ml Water; A pinch Salt

Staple

⏱ 20 min

👥 Serves 4

Difficulty ⭐

Stiff cooked maize meal — the essential everyday staple on Kenyan tables.

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📖 The Story Behind This Dish

Eaten across Kenya and much of East Africa, ugali is barely seasoned on its own — it's meant to be torn off by hand and used to scoop up stews, vegetables, and meat. Its texture varies with the cook's technique, and every family has its own version.

🌆 Where it's eaten: Families gather around a shared plate, tearing off bite-sized pieces by hand to dip into sukuma wiki or stew — the centerpiece of daily meals.

🥕 Ingredients (serves 4)

Maize meal 300g
Water 600ml
Salt A pinch

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Bring water to a boil in a pot and add salt.
Gradually add the maize meal, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to avoid lumps.
Once it starts to come together, reduce heat and keep stirring vigorously, adding more meal as needed.
Once it forms a smooth, elastic mass, remove from heat.
Turn out onto a damp plate or board and shape by hand into a mound, ready to be torn into pieces.

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