I have been seriously into potatoes lately! Ok, maybe I have always been into potatoes :DD. Besides their wholesome taste, they can be made in countless different ways. The day I made this super delicious ginger matoke masala, I had originally planned to use potatoes. My heart was absolutely broken when I found out I had none. But in true food blogger fashion, all that was necessary was a change up the original recipe and use what I already had at hand. We had received plenty of matoke from our kin in Maragoli and I decided that is exactly what I was going to use. That was the best choice I made that day!
Before we get into it, let me warn you, the chances of you getting addicted to this are real! This is one matoke recipe I can have every other day for the rest of my life. Yes, everything can be made delicious. And my ginger matoke masala pays tribute to that very statement.
PREP TIME: 15 MIN COOK TIME: 35 MIN SERVES:2
Ingredients:
4 matoke
1 tomato
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric
1/2 a teaspoon of paprika
1 tablespoon of coriander powder
3/4 of a thumbsized ginger root
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
In a pan, heat some vegetable oil and add your whole cumin seeds, your finely chopped onion and minced ginger. On medium low heat, allow this to cook down for about 4 minutes. I bought my whole cumin seeds form nakumatt but you can find them in pretty much any supermarket. The price varies from brand to brand but in general, a pack is about ksh.70.
After the onions have softened, add your tomato, tomato paste and all the spices. Mix them all in and once evenly distributed and 1/2 a cup of hot water. Turn down the heat and let this cook down for 15-20 minutes.
Because of all the spices being used in preparation of this masala, it takes quite sometime for it to cook down and for the spices to really meld. If you cook it too fast, the flavors wont meld as expected and the result will be grainy and unappetizing. Take your time.
Also, when I started making this sauce, I added 1/2 a cup of water to allow it to cook down better. But as time went by, I added 1/4 cup when i felt the sauce got too thick or too dry. If you also feel the sauce is drying out, add 1/4 cup to make it thick again. Tafadhali, DO NOT pour in 6 cups or 3 thermoses of water then wonder why your sauce resembles boarding school sauce. A little goes a long way. For thick soup and sauces, always add 1/4 cup at a time to retain thickness.
The above should be your end result too. You can also use this very sauce in you pasta or for potatoes if you have some at home.
As the sauce is going, peel begin working on the matoke.
Peel the matoke and place them on a pot of salted cold water. Let them boil until they are just tender.Always put your matoke in some water IMMEDIATELY after peeling. This prevents them from oxidizing which produces that blackening. Also remove all traces of the peel. This is a trick mummy taught me and has worked for me ever since.
Once done, remove from the heat and cut them in half longitudinally. Add them to the simmered down masala sauce and toss them in. Let these stay in for about 3-5 minutes.
Serve and garnish your ginger matoke masala with onion chives or fresh coriander.
Have you ever eaten so fast and so greedily that you start questioning the state of your soul afterwards? Yup, that was me after chowing down this ginger matoke masala. I ate mine with kuku kienyeji and it was one hell of a feast. Try that combo and you will see what I mean. Just imagine a plate prepared for you with ginger matoke masala na kuku kienyeji… wueh! *drools* !
You can taste the ginger, you can feel the heat of the cayenne plus all the spices just went so well together. As you eat, you feel small subtle bursts of cumin seeds. I am telling you, this one experience you wont ever forget.
As you rush down to get a copy of your very own ginger matoke masala downloadable recipe, please scroll down to the next section and vote for Kaluhi’s Kitchen and best food blog 2016. Just click on the “VOTE” picture below and it will take you to the BAKE site. I made it so easy just for you!
Cheers to fantastic food!!!
-K
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Hey there! My name is Kaluhi and I love food! Through my blog, I am happy to share with you my self-taught recipes, steeped in nostalgia and the happiest of memories. I hope each recipe you try out is as addictive as the previous one and is shared on a table full of love and hearty laughs!
Yummy!!! I’ve been craving all things spicy since I got pregnant, I’ll definitely prepare this, my baby will be so happy haha! 🙂 ♥
http://www.yvonneinbloom.com
You and baby will totally love this spicy number! Tell you little toto in the tummy that the tasty meal he/she will enjoy is from aunty K :))))
I will be trying this very soon. Any idea on where i can get a good heavy pan? Mine is so light. Can i use a sufuria?
You will totally enjoy this :))). You can check out the pans in Rupu , but in all honesty, I like gikomba pans the most!
Kaluhi,
I tried this yesterday and i didn’t care so much about the pan. I tried with my sufuria. The taste is amazing. When chewing you can feel the taste of the cumin seed, ( I didn’t know it can taste that good on other food apart from rice) ginger, masala and the other spices.
I will be trying it again and again just to master the art of cooking.
Thank you D you are doing a great job.
yummy… what else can we substitute for kuku kienyeji?
You can use ANY meat you like. I wrote kuku kienyeji because that’s what I ate it with. but doesn’t mean you must eat exactly what I did. if you fancy beef stew, its ok. if you want to have it with dry fry meat, its ok. if you want to eat this with meatballs, its ok. ????
You can use ANY meat you like. I wrote kuku kienyeji because that’s what I ate it with. but doesn’t mean you must eat exactly what I did. if you fancy beef stew, its ok. if you want to have it with dry fry meat, its ok. if you want to eat this with meatballs, its ok. ????
yummy yummy in my tummy. . .the food looks delish. . .thanks Kaluhi must try this one tonight:)
#MUSTTRY for sure!!!! You’ll love this for sure Tracy!
This is super easy. Loving the simplicity and the food looks amazing.
FOODIES: http://www.tastiedine.com
TD
Kaluhi,
I will definitely give this a try, considering this is the staple food for us Maragolis 🙂
Matoke is in our DNA! You will love this recipe too!
I know people in the office will be rushing to have a bite of my food. I keep telling for me, its not about talent (like you) its about searching for recipes from experts such as you to make common foods interesting….. 🙂
It really is not that hard. Just send them to your blog ama watakumalizia chakula 😀
Stumbled upon your website jana night and binged my way through almost all posts! I’ve never been a matoke fan but this recipe has turned me today! I didn’t have everything but i worked with what i had and it was still delish! Thanks Kaluhi for sharing!
*dances to the isukuti* I am so so sooooo happy you loved my matoke recipe, it was def one of my fave recipes ever and glad it also turned out well for you <3
This looks amazing and can’t wait to try it … question can I use cumin powder instead of seeds and if yes how many spoons? Can I use Cilantro aka dhania to garnish?
Is matoke the same as plantains?
Thankyou once again. Tried this out today. Matoke has never been this sweet.
Best matoke recipe on the face of the earth! So glad you enjoyed this :))
The matoke look all yummy,I’d love try them,but where do I get the cayenne…please help
I bought cayenne form the supermarket. It is verrrrrrrrry common spice you wont miss it in the spice isles.
I love matoke but hate the sticky substance when peeling. How do you avoid that on the knife and hands?
You can avoid by wearing gloves as you peel. But it will still be there as that is the make up of the matoke. What you can do is wash your hands and knife with a tiny bit of vinegar after you are done peeling and you’ll be as good as new!
Is the coconut milk store bought or freshly made?
I used store bought. You can make yours fresh if you so please :))
I’m a year late to this party bit cake across this today. Always had issues with matoke tasting blaaah and have tried enough recipes. This right here is a keeper,my go to matoke recipe from this day! I get how you gobbled it down so fast…thanks so much,love your blog!
You have no idea how mush warmth your comment has filled my heat with! I am so so sooooo happy to know that you enjoyed this beauty! To many more <3 <3 <3
Lovely recipe
It for sure is!! <3
The recipe is amazing 😍😍😍😍
It reallly is!!!