Category: Side Dish

Green Banana (Matooke) Chips

~ Sophie ~ 4 Comments

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Last week I took a quick trip to the west and was amazed by the endless banana farms we passed. Rolling fields of matooke in Bushenyi!! On the way back we brought with us a full bunch because they are cheaper in price and not to mention you can get the best matooke there. This recipe idea was conceived while I was knee-deep (not literally) in peeling matooke to prepare katogo. I did make the katogo but these chips went faster than the katogo.

Trust me this is restaurant level amazing! I cannot believe I never tried this before.  I am going to attempt describing the flavours that are at play here.  A base of crispy fried savory green banana chips topped with sweet mushy avocado, drizzled with slightly tangy ketchup, sprinkled with crunchy fresh purple onions and finally sprinkled with a generous amount of nutty roasted simsim seeds. There you have an epic meal/ snack easily.

What you will need:

Chips

4 Large green bananas, peeled and washed

1 C. Breadcrumbs

2 Tbsp. Salt

1 Tsp black pepper, ground

1 Tsp. Water

Oil for frying

 

Garnish

1 Small avocado

Ketchup

2 Small purple onions

Roasted simsim

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Observations:

  1. Use firm green bananas that are not on the verge of ripening
  2. The bananas release a sticky fluid when rested at room temperature.
  3. Fry the chips on medium heat to avoid burning before they are fully cooked
  4. Fry the chips in small batches to keep them from getting soggy.
  5. Use a very ripe avocado

 

Method

Chips

  1. Drain the peeled washed bananas. Using a sharp knife, thinly slice the bananas into chips. Set aside for 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, add the banana chips and the one teaspoon of water. Mix the chips till the water coats them all.
  3. In a small bowl, add the bread crumbs, salt and pepper and mix well. Using a fork, coat each banana chip with bread crumbs and set aside.
  4. Heat the oil on medium heat. Add the chips. Fry till golden brown and crispy.

To assemble

On a plate with a clean paper or paper towel, place the chips, scoop ripe avocado on top, add sliced onion rings, drizzle with ketchup and finally sprinkle with roasted simsim. Serve  warm

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Let me know when you try these chips

🙂

Sophie

 

Savory Avocado Salsa

~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

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Happy New Year friends! How has the year been treating you so far? I would like to hear all about it in the comments below.  I have a lot to be grateful for. The year started off low key for me and it has mostly been that way ever since. Also unplugging has never felt so good. In fact it was so great it was extended for another week!  But now I am back with fresh ideas (stay tuned for some awesome news!) and cannot wait to see what 2017 has in store for us all. If you have been following me on Instagram, you know that I took a trip back home and I still cannot get over the beauty that was my morning view for about a week! It is so splendid to see the details of the natural beauty that God has created. It truly is amazing!

Despite the fact that this is a refreshing avocado dish (because who does not want to start the year on a good note?!), we have been hit by a heat wave. OK. Maybe not a heat wave but the sun is scorching every corner of the country! It is so terrible.  So while we are tirelessly waiting for it to finally rain, I figured cool but hearty meals will have to do. First off is this avocado salsa. I named it avocado salsa well because it is a combo of avocadoes, some tomatoes and onions.  As easy as it is to make, it adds a lot of flavour to food. We have been eating it with katogo. ALOT!

 

What you will need:

5 Small ripe avocadoes

2 large tomatoes

2 Large onions

Lemon juice of one lemon

Parsley, finely chopped

Black pepper

Salt

Simsim (roast sesame) for garnishing

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Observations:

  1. The avocadoes have to be very ripe
  2. You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar.
  3. Lemon juice prevents the avocado from changing color
  4. Add salt according to your preference

 

Method:

  1. Cut, core and peel the avocadoes.
  2. Finely chop the tomatoes and onions.
  3. In a large bowl, mash the avocadoes with a fork.
  4. Once fully mashed, add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  5. Garnish with simsim and serve with your favourite meal.

 

 

 

How are you conquering the dry hot weather? Also let me know when you do try this simple recipe.

🙂

Sophie

Jackfruit Scones

~ Sophie ~ 1 Comment

 

I think this year I have had the most jackfruit! Partly because we have generous neighbours and partly because we have a jackfuit tree in the backyard that is yielding the juiciest fruits. I cannot even begin to describe the joy that comes with harvesting from your own garden! A piece of this sweet fleshy fruit is enough to carry you through the day. Seriously! Because jackfruit packed with a lot of natural sugars (read: very sweet!) and has a sweet pungent fragrance, I have enjoyed baking with it on more than one occasion. Yes some moments have been fails but then some have been so good. And these scones fall in the latter category.  Just so you know I have been making these scones from way back in 2012 and now I am finally sharing this recipe. it is a surprising texture and flavor altogether.

 

What you will need:

I C. Ripe Jackfruit, diced

2 C. Flour

¼ C. Butter/Margarine

¼ C. Milk

2 Tbsp. Sugar

½ Tbsp. Baking powder

 

Method

  1. Combine flour, baking powder and sugar and mix well. Rub in the butter till the flour is like coarse breadcrumbs.
  2. Add the diced jack fruit. Pour in the milk little by little while kneading until a dough forms.
  3. Dust your working area and using your hands press the dough to half an inch thickness.
  4. Cut the dough into three equal parts and pile them on top of each other. Using a rolling-pin, roll out the dough again to half an inch thickness.
  5. Using a glass or cookie cutter cut out the scones.
  6. Bake till they turn golden brown.

 

Serve warm.

Hope you do try these scones for the holidays.

🙂

Sophie