Ugali Cornmeal Cake with Sukuma Wiki Sauté

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 drafted and published.

A traditional East African cornmeal cake known as Ugali, paired with a sauté of sukuma wiki (collard greens) flavored with garlic and tomatoes. This African-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, layers cornmeal (maize flour), water, salt into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. 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: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 African cuisine 220 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 3 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Gradually add 1 cup cornmeal while stirring continuously with a wooden spoon to prevent lumps.
  2. Step 2: Reduce heat to low and cook the mixture, stirring constantly for 8-10 minutes until thick and pulling away from the sides of the pan, forming a dense cake (ugali).
  3. Step 3: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Add 1 small chopped onion and 3 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
  4. Step 4: Add 1 medium diced tomato and cook for 4 minutes until softened.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 4 cups chopped sukuma wiki (collard greens) and 1/4 tsp black pepper, cooking for 5-7 minutes until the greens are tender but still vibrant.
  6. Step 6: Serve the ugali by shaping it into a mound or cutting into slices, alongside the hot sukuma wiki sauté.