African Food Recipes

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How a Dinner is Served in Kenya

Two separate menus represent the foods of the Kenyan African. In one, Irio is the mainstay, and in the other it is Ugali.

The hostess opens the door dressed in a bright floor-length skirt and a striking bandanna wound loosely about her head. She stands there, hands outstretched, to bid you welcome. It is a touching gesture of hospitality. It is early for luncheon, so she brings in a pot of rather weak tea which she serves in small cups with tiny bananas to take the edge off your hunger. Amazingly, it does not spoil your appetite, as one might suppose, and just about holds you until luncheon is ready.

Our hostess returns to the kitchen to pound the groundnuts (peanuts) for the Groundnut Soup. She brings the thick wooden pestle down into the wooden bowl rhythmically until the peanuts are thoroughly pulverized. (Lucky are we who merely open a jar of peanut butter.) She makes the soup by adding 2 cups of water to 2 cups of groundnuts (use peanut butter) and 1/2 tsp. salt, and simmers it until it becomes very thick. She then thins it back to a soup consistency with milk. She serves this excellent soup in little bowls.

After the soup, all the remaining dishes are placed on the table at one time, each in a decorated calabash (African bowl).

In the homes of the Abaluhya the important course is Ugali. For breakfast, the same cornmeal cooked to a thin gruel-like consistency is called Uji. There is a light Ugali made from cornmeal and a dark Ugali made from millet flour. Also served are dishes like M'baazi (pea beans), which is sometimes an appetizer as well as a main dish, M'chuzi Wa Kuku (chicken in coconut) or Samaki Na Nazi (fish and coconut). A stunning dish is Ndizi, bananas cooked in banana leaves see page 189).

In the home of the Kikuyu-the mainstay is Irio (see page 52), followed by dishes like Giteke, bananas and yams, Karanga, beef and potato stew, Mataha, beans and corn.

Dessert is generally not served, but fruit like papaya-golden orange, juicy, and succulent-is available. The after-dinner beverage is Maziwa Ya Kuganda or sour skimmed milk!