Ugandan Matooke and Curried Potatoes

Matooke and Curried Potatoes

Last Friday we enjoyed a traditional Ugandan Feast. Our main dish was Matooke, which is a stew made with plantains and a peanut sauce.  The curried potatoes had just the right amount of spice to offset the touch of sweetness in the stew.  I found the basis for these recipes at Celtnet Recipes. This site says it is the largest collection of recipes from African nations.  I have found it quite useful in my recipe searches.

My kids and hubby enjoyed this meal, except my oldest daughter didn't seem to think the plantains were a necessary addition, so they ended up at the side of her plate.  Here are the recipes with the changes that I made, for you to enjoy. 

Matooke

Ingredients:

4 plantains, peeled and diced
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 onion, chopped
3 tomatoes, chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed

32 ounces organic beef broth

1 1/4 pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite size pieces

2 T peanut butter

1/4 cup green pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

salt 

pepper

Put the onions and green pepper in a small food processor.  Process until a nice paste like consistency.  Heat some olive oil in a stew pot.  Fry the onions and peppers until fragrant, just a couple of minutes.  Then add chopped garlic. Add stew meat and brown.  Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, stir and cook for about 2 minutes.  Now add the tomatoes and beef broth.  While the stew is coming to a boil, chop the plantains and sprinkle with lemon juice.  Add the plantains and stir in the peanut butter. Reduce the heat and cover.  Let simmer about 35 minutes or until meat is tender.  Add the cilantro and serve over warm rice.  

Ugandan Curried Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 Idaho potatoes, diced

2 Yukon gold potatoes, diced

1/2 small onion

2 cloves garlic chopped

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp tomato paste
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt, to taste
1/2 cup water or more as necessary

1 tsp sriracha sauce or other hot sauce

1/4 cup cilantro chopped

salt 

pepper

Pre- boil potatoes in salted water, until just tender.  Saute onion in olive oil in a pan.  Add garlic and saute until fragrant.  Stir in cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper.  Cook  about 1 minute. Drain potatoes.  Add tomato paste, lemon juice, potatoes and hot sauce to onion mix.  Add enough water to make a good sauce consistency.  Continue simmering until potatoes are just soft but not mushy. Add chopped cilantro and serve with matooke and rice. Enjoy your Ugandan Feast!