Description
This simple one pot githeri recipe is inspired by the Kenyan corn and beans we enjoyed on a recent trip. A delicious & satiating side dish!
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp mild curry powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (alternatively use a dash of hot chili powder)
- 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes (see notes for using fresh tomatoes)
- 1 1/2 cups pinto beans, cooked (can use frozen)
- 1 1/2 cups navy beans, cooked (can use frozen)
- 1 cup corn kernels (white corn is traditional but I’ve used sweet corn, can use frozen)
- 1 1/4 cup vegetable broth
- Cilantro to garnish, optional*
*Fresh ingredients you need that are not part of our pantry and freezer tips.
Instructions
- Warm the oil in a medium sized pot and when hot, add the onion and garlic. Season with a bit of salt and pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste, curry powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir and cook for 1 min.
- Next, add the crushed tomatoes, stir, and simmer for 3 minutes. Season with a bit more salt & pepper.
- Add the beans, corn, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer and simmer with the lid off for 10 - 15 minutes or until the liquid has reduced and the stew has thickened. (Some githeri have a thinner broth so feel free to cook the mixture just until the beans and corn are heated through).
- Carefully taste the githeri and adjust the seasonings as needed, adding more salt or spices if desired.
- Remove from the heat. Garnish with cilantro and serve with my ugali or chapati!
Notes
Approximate Cost: $3.25 Canadian using my homemade vegetable broth and beans cooked from dried. My cost increases to $5.70 using store-bought vegetable broth and canned beans.
If using fresh tomatoes, cook them with the onion, garlic and seasonings until they are soft. Then, blend the mixture to break down the tomatoes and continue with the recipe.
Often, other vegetables are added to githeri to make it more of a complete meal. Feel free to add chopped bell pepper, carrot, potatoes, or greens to bulk up the stew. See the "method" section of the blog post for my tips regarding when to add additional vegetables.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Kenyan