Grilled Ugali and Vegetable Skewers with Spiced Peanut Sauce
Charred vegetable and ugali (maize cake) skewers served with a creamy, spiced peanut dipping sauce inspired by East African street food. This African-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs maize flour (cornmeal), water, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup maize flour (cornmeal)
- 2 cups water
- 1 large, cut into 1-inch pieces red bell pepper
- 1 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds zucchini
- 1 small, cut into wedges red onion
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 tsp, divided salt
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp honey
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Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water and 1/4 tsp salt to a boil. Gradually whisk in 1 cup maize flour, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly for 5-7 minutes until thick and smooth. Pour into a greased shallow dish and cool until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Step 2: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Cut the firm ugali into 1-inch cubes.
- Step 3: Thread ugali cubes, 1 large red bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces, 1 medium zucchini sliced into 1/2-inch rounds, and 1 small red onion cut into wedges onto skewers, alternating pieces. Brush with 2 tbsp vegetable oil and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt.
- Step 4: Grill the skewers for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until vegetables are charred and tender and ugali has grill marks.
- Step 5: While grilling, whisk together 1/3 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup coconut milk, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp honey, and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Step 6: Serve the grilled skewers hot with the spiced peanut sauce for dipping.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Grilled Ugali and Vegetable Skewers with Spiced Peanut Sauce take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (40 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Grilled Ugali and Vegetable Skewers with Spiced Peanut Sauce?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep maize flour (cornmeal) from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Grilled Ugali and Vegetable Skewers with Spiced Peanut Sauce?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Grilled Ugali and Vegetable Skewers with Spiced Peanut Sauce for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Grilled Ugali and Vegetable Skewers with Spiced Peanut Sauce?
African vegetarian like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
