Slow-Cooked Ugandan-Style Matoke with Ground Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-03 · Updated 2026-06-03

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A hearty stew combining slow-cooked matoke (green cooking bananas) and savory ground beef, seasoned with traditional East African spices. This African-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs ground beef, onion, diced, tomatoes, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 60 min Serves 4 African cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 large (about 2 lbs) green cooking bananas (matoke), peeled and chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 large (200 g) onion, diced
2 medium (250 g) tomatoes, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp ginger, minced
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 cup water
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 large diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp minced ginger, 1 tbsp curry powder, and 1 tsp paprika; cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef to the pot, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 7 minutes until browned.
Step 4: Mix in 2 diced medium tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, and 4 peeled and chopped green cooking bananas (matoke), stirring to combine.
Step 5: Pour in 1 cup water, bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes until bananas are soft and flavors meld.
Step 6: Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Step 7: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving warm.