Githeri Special
Githeri is a traditional meal among the central people of Kenya. It's commonly a mixture of maize and beans boiled together or separately then mixed. It can be eaten as is after seasoning with some salt though many people prefer making a stew or curry to enjoy as a complete meal. Adding beef to githeri makes it more special. Goes really well with steamed veggies on the side.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 onions, diced
- 1 cup (230g) carrots, peeled & cubed
- 1 bunch cilantro (dania), chopped stems & leaves separately (optional)
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 2-3 tomatoes, pureed
- 700 g beef, cubed
- 600 g potatoes, peeled & cubed
- 800 g preboiled beans*
- 800 g preboiled green maize
- 2-3 cups water
- Black pepper & sea salt to taste
- 1 bunch chives (optional)
Instructions
- In a cooking pot/sufuria, heat up some cooking oil and add the diced onions and carrots. Let them cook on medium-high heat for about 7-10 minutes till the carrots are softened and flavor is developed.
- Add in the cilantro (dania) stems (if using) at this point together with ginger-garlic paste. Allow to cook for a minute till fragrant.
- Add in the pureed tomatoes. Mix well, cover and allow to cook for about 3-5 minutes till you see the oil starting to separate with the tomatoes.
- Remove the lid to add in the beef. Stir to combine and allow to cook for about 15-20 minutes. The beef will release its own juices.
- Once the juices have dried up, add in the potatoes with one & a half cups of water. Mix well then allow this to simmer (while covered) for about 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes have softened and fork tender. (Incase they are sticking on the bottom of the pan, you can add a dash of water to prevent it).
- Thereafter, add the preboiled beans and green maize to the potatoes and mix them in. Add another 1-1.5 cups of water (as desired) and mix in. Turn down the heat and let this simmer for 8-12 minutes while covered.
- Finally season with black pepper & sea salt then add in your chopped up fresh cilantro (dania) leaves and/or chives. Mix them in.
- Turn off the heat and serve it as is or with any veggies of your choice.
Notes
You can use any other type of beans you have on hand such as yellow beans, white kidney beans, pinto beans, pigeon peas, lima beans, butter beans, red kidney beans, haricot beans among others.
Incase one doesn't have access to green maize, dried maize can also work well.
Note that in this recipe I used the ratio of 1:1 of beans to maize. You can alter the ratio depending on what you want dominant.
You can preboil the maize and beans together as well.
Spices also can be added to this meal depending on ones preference.
Spices also can be added to this meal depending on ones preference.