KENYAN MEAL (SUKUMA WIKI/RED KIDNEY BEANS/UGALI/FRIED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS)

Ugali (cornmeal mash), sukuma wiki (collard greens) and mahargwe (red kidney beans) are the staple of the Kenyan or I should say East African cuisine. Ugali is eaten with anything be it stew, vegetables, soups etc. Sukuma wiki is a very healthy side dish, it consists of greens, onions and tomatoes with some stock cube to flavour the greens. Many also saute some meat or chicken along. The beans are very easy to make. Unlike the Indian version with spices, these are simle. They are just simmered with salt, stock cube, coriander, onions and garlic. When all these are served together, it makes one hearty meal which has a good portion of carbs, greens and proteins. 

Serves 2-4

Time: 45-60 minutes

Sukuma wiki (collard greens)

4 cups shredded greens (if collard greens are not available, spinach can be used)

1 medium onion sliced thinly

1 medium tomato chopped

Salt 

1 tbs oil

Mahargwe (red kidney beans)

2 cups soaked and cooked beans (I used 2 cans)

Salt 

1 tbs oil

1 small onion chopped

2 cloves garlic chopped

2 tbs chopped coriander

1 stock cubes ( I used the local one, Royko)

3 cups water

Ugali (Cornmeal mash)

1 cup cornmeal

1 1/2 -2 cups water

1 tsp butter (optional)

Fried chicken drumsticks

6-8 drumsticks with/out skins on

salt and pepper

2 tbs vinegar/lemon juice

1 tsp red chilli powder

Method

Start with marinating the chicken, poke the chicken with a fork and toss with the vinegar/lemon juice, salt, pepper and red chilli powder. Keep it aside.

Now tip the beans, onions, garlic, coriander, stock cube, water in a pot to simmer until the beans are tender.

For the sukuma wiki, heat the oil in a pan, add in the onions. Saute them till lightly pink. Tip in the tomatoes and cook till softened. Toss in the greens, give it a stir. Season well with salt and let it cook for 5-8 minutes till the greens are wilted. 

To make the drumsticks, heat the oil in a pan and shallow fry the drumsticks till crispy and cooked through.

Now for the ugali, heat the water in a pot, when it simmers add the corn meal in. Mix the cornmeal with the wooden spoon. Bring it together to from ball. Keep on folding the meal till it starts leaving the sides of the pot. 

Assemble your plate with slices of ugali, greens, beans and chicken. To make it hot you can add the fresh green chillies to the sukuma wiki or to the beans.