How to Cook Ugali

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 7, 2022 Tested

Ugali (pronounced oo-ga-ly) is the staple starch component of many meals in Kenya. In fact, it is a staple food in many different African regions, although it may be known by a different name depending on the location. Ugali is generally made from maize flour and water, which is cooked into a dough-like consistency and then used to dip into other dishes during a meal, such as greens or stew.^{[1]
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Research source} This is an enjoyable food that will also fill you up for hours at a time.

Ingredients

1 cup (or more) corn flour or maize flour
3 cups of boiling water
1 cup of cold water

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Making Ugali

1
Buy the right flour and gather your tools. Look for corn flour or maize flour at the store. In addition to the flour and water you will need a saucepan and a wooden spoon, as well as a stove to cook the ugali on.
- The saucepan will need to be big enough to hold the 6 cups of ingredients with room to vigorously stir them around.
- You can use cornmeal if you can't find the flour at the store but the consistency will be very different. Corn flour is more finely ground than cornmeal, so the finished consistency will be smoother and more gelatinous with the corn flour.
- This dish can get messy while cooked, so might consider using a non-stick pan. Either way, expect a bit of scrubbing after the dish is finished.
2
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a kettle or other pan. You want the water to be very hot so that it keeps enough heat while you add the flour.

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3
.Combine cornmeal and cold water while other water is boiling You want to do this gradually, sprinkling in a little at a time.^{[2]
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- Add 1 cup of boiling water at a time to avoid lumps.
4
Stir briskly with a wooden cooking spoon. You want to keep stirring constantly, making sure that the mixture is getting even heating and that you smooth out any lumps that develop.^{[3]
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5
You want to cook it to a very thickened consistency. Cook until thickened.
- You may need to add more than 1 cup of flour to get your ugali to the right texture. Don't worry about staying strictly at 1 cup, instead pay more attention to the texture.
6
Cook to a firm texture. The texture is usually thicker than mashed potatoes and is best cooked until the dough pulls from the side of the pot.
- It may get difficult to stir and incorporate the flour by the end of cooking.^{[4]
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  Research source} However, you want to keep going, so that the finished product is pretty firm.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Serving Ugali

1
Turn the cooked ugali onto a serving plate as one large mound. Use a wooden spoon to transfer it, taking care while you do it, as the ugali can be very hot.
2
Cut the ugali into pieces with a knife once it is on the serving plate. Simply cut across making a grid-like pattern, so that the pieces are easier to handle. You could also cut the ugali into slices like a pie, cutting across the center in all directions.
- If you don't want to cut the ugali, you can just keep it whole. During the meal allow people to simply pull chunks off with their fingers.
3
Serve the ugali. To eat it, you first want to roll a small piece into a ball, about the size of a golf ball or smaller. Then make an indentation in the middle of it with your thumb.^{[5]
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Research source} You can then use this indentation to scoop up other foods served in the meal.^{[6]
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4
Pair the ugali with another dish. It goes well with many foods, particularly those that are juicy and need to be scooped up.
- Consider serving with a fresh salad or with lightly cooked or steamed vegetables, such as collard greens or spinach, prepared to your desired taste.
- Ugali also goes well with any kind of stew. Just use it as you would bread, for instance sopping up any delicious leftover sauce.
- Traditionally, ugali can also just be paired with buttermilk.

Community Q&A

Question

Can this be made a few hours in advance, or does it need to be served immediately?

Community Answer

It should be served warm. As it cools down, it hardens and becomes a lot more difficult to eat and enjoy.
Question

What temperature should this be cooked at?

kevin mwenda

Community Answer

You're not putting it in an oven, but the water should be at a full boil before you start adding the flour.
Question

What's it called in English?

Community Answer

It does not have an English name, it is a tradition African dish. You can just call it ugali.