Ugali (Nshima) with Beef Stew and Jackfruit Stir-fry

Simple and satisfying, this cornmeal dish from Kenya, called Ugali, is the perfect accompaniment to soups, stews, and savory curries. It is made by cooking cornmeal or you can also use semolina in boiling water, exercising your hands by continuously stirring it until it thickens and forms a soft dough. You’ll know the ugali is cooked when it starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, and begins to take on the aroma of roasted corn. It takes only 5 minutes for the Ugali to get ready. You can make your own style of stew or curry. You can skip the jackfruit and make your own veggies on the side, however, I will share with you my quick and easy recipe for the entire dish 🙂

Calories – 380c
Prep time – 5 minutes
Cook time – 35 minutes (including Jackfruit stir-fry and beef stew, optional)
Serves – 2

Ingredients :

4 Cups Water (2 for ugali and 2 for beef stew)
6tbsp Corn Meal or Semolina
250gms Beef Cubes
200gms Jackfruit (I got mine, Ready to eat from a store)
2 medium Onion
1 Tomato
3-4 Curry Leaves
Mustard seeds
3 Green or Red chilies
3 Garlic cloves and a small piece of Ginger (or you can use ginger-garlic paste)
2tbsp Grated Coconut (optional)
Seasoning (salt, black pepper, red chili flakes, cumin powder, turmeric powder, curry powder, and lemon juice)
Garnish (cilantro/coriander and black sesame seeds)

Recipe :

• Ugali: Boil 2 cups of water. Once the water comes to a boil, gradually in batches from one hand pour 6tbsp of corn meal or semolina and from the other hand continuously keep stirring the mixture to avoid lumps. Sprinkle salt and 1tsp oil, keep stirring until you get a gooey dough like texture. Now with a help of a ladle or a hollow bowl, scoop out small amount of the gooey dough and shape the dough by moving the ladle or a bowl in a circular motion, to form a ball shape. Allow it cool, as cooling helps to form a firm texture.

• Beef Stew: In a sauce pan, heat 3tbsp oil, add 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped chili, 2 chopped garlic cloves and a small piece of ginger (or 1tbsp ginger-garlic paste). Cook until soft, add beef cubes, chopped tomato, pinch of salt,1tbsp lemon juice, 1tbsp black pepper, 1tbsp red chili flakes, 1teaspoon turmeric powder, 1teaspoon cumin powder and 1tbsp curry powder. Mix well. Add 2 cups water and let it cook until the beef is tender and the stew is semi thick. Garnish with a handful of cilantro/coriander at the end.

• Jackfruit Stir-fry: I got a ready to cook jackfruit packet so it was really easy for me to make this.
  Heat 2tbsp oil in a pan, splutter 1teaspoon mustard seeds, add 1chopped onion, 1chopped garlic clove, a small piece of chopped ginger, 2chopped chilies, curry leaves and grated coconut, sauté until the onions are soft. Add Jackfruit pieces from the packet, mix well and cook for 2 minutes.

You can enjoy Ugali anytime in 5 minutes with your favorite curries and sides. It adds variety to your meals and always cook to impress 🙂
Please let me know if you like this recipe and share more ideas with me via contact me on the homepage.