Matoke
Green cooking bananas peeled and steamed or simmered until soft, then mashed or served in chunks with a savory sauce. It is Uganda's signature staple, loved for its mild, comforting taste.
Matooke to the market: Sagiomhza, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Matoke comes from the highland region of southwestern Uganda, where bananas are a major crop. Traditionally the bananas are wrapped in banana leaves and steamed over a gentle fire.
Explore the cuisine of Uganda.
Recipe
Make Matoke at home
Ingredients
- 8 green matoke bananas (or green plantains)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups beef stock or water
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- salt and pepper
How it's made
- Peel the bananas under running water, as the sap stains, and cut into chunks.
- Saute onion, garlic, carrot and pepper in oil until soft.
- Add tomatoes and curry powder and cook down for 5 minutes.
- Add the banana chunks and stock; bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer 25-30 minutes, until the bananas are soft.
- Gently mash a few pieces to thicken the sauce, season and serve.
Variations
- Matoke with groundnut sauce.
- Matoke with beef or chicken.
Cook’s tip: Rub oil on your hands before peeling green bananas to keep sap from sticking.
Also on the menu in
Related dishes
UgaliMain dishes · Kenya
Rolex (chapati egg roll)Street food · Uganda
KeleweleStreet food · Ghana
Sukuma wikiMain dishes · Kenya
About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Matooke to the market: Sagiomhza, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)