World Flavours
Irio, A traditional dish from Kenya |
Irio is a traditional dish among the Kikuyu people of Kenya. When made with fresh vegetables from the garden and served with roast or grilled beef it makes a delicious nourishing meal. The pale green mash would make an excellent and appropriate vegetable dish for St Patrick’s Day.
you will need
2 cups of green peas – fresh, frozen, dried or tinned
1½ lbs (680g) potatoes – peeled and cut into chunks
2 cups of corn or maize – fresh, frozen or tinned
2 teaspoons of salt
Black pepper
½ lb (230g) spinach (or other greens)
Chopped onions
½ cup of Lima beans (boiled)
method
Place the peas and potatoes into a large saucepan and cover with cold water. (If you use dried peas, as the Kikuyu cooks do when peas are out of season, you should soak them as instructed and boil them separately before adding them to the boiled potatoes.) Add the salt, cover and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are well cooked. Drain retaining the liquid.
Meanwhile place the corn in a separate saucepan and simmer in salted water for a few minutes.
Fry the onion and the spinach in a pan.
Mash the potatoes and peas together, seasoning with pepper and salt. Stir in the corn and the fried onion, spinach and boiled lima beans with a little of the retained liquid and a knob of butter.
Enjoy! |
