Kenya – Githeri

 by Verdzekov Bernard

The preparation of this meal is same as the preparation of a pot of beans. This is a very population dish in Kenya and other countries of Africa like Cameroon. Another name for Githeri is muthere. This meal originated from the Kikuyu tribe of Kenya. This cuisine is traditional prepared with dry beans and corn. This meal is a dish and it very nutrisional. Some people will ask why corn and beans are to prepare and single dish! Why don’t just beans alone or corn alone? Why use the two? This combination is for the quest for balance diet. Corn is made up of some amino acids that beans doesn’t have. Same as beans has some amino acid which corn doesn’t. So, to make the diet balance, a combination of the two is just perfect and helps benefit from more nutrients. To clear your doubt of what amino acid is, this are building blocks of protein. And this two, corn and beans don’t have all the necessary acid to build protein nutrients if not combined. Though beans have some, but with the combination of beans, it makes it perfect. Follow the process bellow; 

Kitchen Tools

• Cooking pot 
• Plate 
• Blender
• Knife
• Chopping board
• Bowl 
• Cooking spoon 
• Table spoon

Ingredients

• Palm oil 
• Curry powder for scent
• Sweet corn
• Red beans 
• Pepper 
• Onions
• Tomatoes 
• Garlics 
• Salt to taste 
• Maggi 
• Dry fish 

Procedure

• The process of cooking Githeri, first make sure you steep your beans overnight. You have to note that, anytime you have anything to do with beans, to minimize fuel wood or gas, you steep your beans overnight. This steeping helps to make the beans soft and easy to get ready. It will also help to gain cooking time. 
• After steeping your beans overnight and probably your sweet corn. if you are using fresh corn, don’t bother steeping. Just wash on the day of preparation and put in the pot and boil. But if you are using dried corn steep. 
• Boil your beans and corn separately. This is to help you to prevent one from getting half done more than the other. It may disturb cooking process or even failure.
• When you boil, remove and rinse with fresh water. Keep aside.
• Chop your onions and tomatoes and keep aside. 
• Blend your garlics and green spices and keep aside.
• Using your main cooking pot, stand on heat. Heat up your palm oil and fry your onions and tomatoes. Add in your blend garlics and green spices. Stir well. fry for about 5min then add your beans and corn and stir well. Add your pepper.
• Add about two cups of water, add salt to taste, maggi and curry powder stir well and cover pot for 20min. Open pot and add onions for garnish. Stir well and cover pot for 25min more.
• Remove and serve hot. 

Enjoy…