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Nduma na viazi vitamu
Nduma na viazi vitamu: Kenyan boiled arrowroot and sweet potatoes for breakfast
A plate of nduma and sweet potatoes with a mug of hot milky chai is the classic weekend breakfast in Kiambu and Murang'a homes, and farmers eat the same before a long day in the shamba. What Kenyans call arrowroot is taro, a starchy corm with a dense, nutty flesh that turns faintly purple and almost creamy when boiled; the sweet potatoes beside it are soft and honeyed, lovely with sliced avocado. Find taro (also called eddoes or dasheen) at African, Caribbean and Asian grocers. Raw taro irritates skin and mouth, so wear gloves to peel it and make sure it is boiled right through: undercooking is the one real mistake here and leaves an itchy, scratchy feeling in the throat. Chef's tip: cut taro and sweet potato into similar-sized pieces but add the sweet potato 10 minutes later, so both are done at once.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ lb arrowroot (taro, eddoes)
- 1 ⅓ lb sweet potatoeswhite- or purple-skinned Kenyan type, or orange
- 8 ¼ cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ripe avocado (optional)to serve
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Wearing gloves, peel 1 ¾ lb arrowroot (taro, eddoes) with a sharp knife and cut into 5 cm chunks. Rinse off the slippery sap.
Step 2: Scrub 1 ⅓ lb sweet potatoes and cut into chunks the same size; you can leave the skin on.
Step 3: Put the taro in a pot with 8 ¼ cups water and 1 tsp salt and bring to the boil over a high heat. Lower to a steady boil.
10 minStep 4: Add the sweet potatoes and boil until a knife slides easily into the centre of the thickest taro piece with no resistance and the sweet potatoes are tender.
20 minStep 5: Drain and leave in the dry pot for 2 minutes so the steam escapes and the surfaces turn floury.
2 minStep 6: Serve warm with sliced 1 ripe avocado and a cup of tea.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nduma na viazi vitamu take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweet potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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