2. Ugali. Known as ugali in Kenya and Tanzania, this starchy, porridge-like side dish goes by different
names in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi and Zambia it is called nsimaor nshima. The South African
name for it is papormealie pap. Zimbabweans call it sadza.Ghanians and Nigerians call it Fufu.
Ingredients
Water — 4 cups
Salt — 2 teaspoons
White cornmeal, finely ground — 2 cups
Method
1. Bring the water and salt to a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in the cornmeal slowly, letting it
fall though the fingers of your hand.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue stirring regularly, smashing any lumps with a spoon, until
the mush pulls away from the sides of the pot and becomes very thick, about 10 minutes. Remove
from heat and allow to cool somewhat.
3. Place the ugali into a large serving bowl. Wet your hands with water, form into a ball and serve.
Variations
White cornmeal is the most commonly used grain for ugali. But you can substitute sorghum, millet or
coarse cassava flour or even hominy grits.
More or less water can be added to achieve the consistency you prefer.
Stir in a little butter if you like for a richer flavor.
Notes
Ugali is usually served as an accompaniment to meat or vegetable stews, greens or soured milk. To
eat ugali, pull off a small ball of mush with your fingers. Form an indentation with your thumb, and
use it to scoop up accompanying stews and other dishes. Or you can form larger balls with your
hands or an ice cream scoop, place them in individual serving bowls and spoon stew around them.
Cornmeal mush is also found in Caribbean creole cuisine and was certainly brought there by
imported slaves. On the islands of Curaçao and Aruba it is known as funchi, funjie in the Virgin
Islands. In Antigua and Donimica it is called fungi. Haitians make mayimoulin.
Philippine Postcards
By Arlene Collado, BS’94
Arlene Collado, BS ’94, proudly shares that she was a working student at MVC from 1990 until she graduated in 1994. She SHINES ON! as
an Administrative Secretary at the Adventist Medical Center in Iligan City. Traveling and postcards are two of her hobbies. She has traveled
to many places in the Philippines and also came to visit us in California last October 2014! She collects postcards and, as a former DXCR
staff member, she also SHINES ON! as a volunteer announcer at Iligan’s DXMC FM.
24 | P a g e