HOW TO COOK STEAMED MATOOKE SO THAT IT IS VERY DELICIOUS AND YUMMY

By Chef Lucy
 
Matooke is the staple food of the people in Uganda especially those who are found in the Central region of Uganda and also the Western region of the country. 

 

The truth of the matter is that no meal without matooke would be fit for occassions like weddings or introductions and others in this part of the country.

Matooke can  be prepared in form of Katogo which is a mixture of tomatoes, onions,fingers of matooke, salt, water and even ghee.

 

Today, i will dwelling on how you can be able to prepare a delicious steamed matooke.

Ingredients

-30 to 40 fingers of mature matooke that are not ripe.

- Banana leaves and stalks.

- Enough water available.

Procedure to be followed

1. Peel the matooke and then wash it up so that it is clean.Prepare the banana leaves properly so that they are ready.

2. Prepare a suitable saucepan for steaming the matooke, place the matooke in the leaf and then add enough water. Before you can be able to add matooke into the saucepan, put some banana stalks crosswise into the saucepan, and then add the matooke.

3. Make sure that the matooke is neatly arranged and then you can wrap it with the banana leaves and secure it with the  fibres. One by one at a time tuck the banana leaves on the top of the other until you are satisfied that they do fit properly.

4. A gas cooker or an electric cooker can be used but it is advisable that you use a sigiri.

5. When you have set up the matooke on the fire for the first time, you should give it an hour or so of a very high heat so that it can be able to boil properly.

After this process, you should ensure that the matooke has enough water and that most of the times that it is boiling. The process of cooking matooke involves steaming it.

 Allow the matooke to cook for atleast two hours or more so that it will be ready.

6.  When the banana leaves have turned into brown colour, then it is a clear indication that the matooke is ready to be mashed  and now you can safely remove it from the fire and then set it aside.

7. Now you  need to have another set of banana leaves that you will use to mash up the banana. You will need to have another saucepan or container and some cold water.

 You are now ready to mash up the  bananas. Carefully uncover the banana while avoiding the steam setting the banana leaves aside. You should now gingerly press the matooke until it has been mashed up to the consistency of the mashed potatoes.

8. Wrap the mashed matooke into the banana leaves and then return it to the saucepan while adding more water while ensuring that the water does not touch the matooke. You can now use the wooden spoon to pour the water to the bottom of the saucepan.

9. Now return the matooke to the sigiri or cooker and then bring it to boil before you can reduce the heat and then allow it to simmer gently for atleast an hour.

 Make sure that you have enough heat so that the results are good.

10. Serve the matooke while hot in a piping kibo while wrapped in banana leaves.