Ugali Cornmeal Cake with Sukuma Wiki Sauté
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.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cornmeal (maize flour)
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 cups sukuma wiki (collard greens), chopped
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Bakeware worth owning for recipes like this → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Step 4: Add 1 medium diced tomato and cook for 4 minutes until softened.
- 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.
- Step 6: Serve the ugali by shaping it into a mound or cutting into slices, alongside the hot sukuma wiki sauté.








