Sukuma wiki facts for kids
Sukuma wiki is a very popular and healthy dish from East Africa. It's made from a leafy green vegetable called collard greens, which is known as sukuma in the Swahili language. People cook it with onions and spices.
This tasty vegetable dish is often eaten with ugali. Ugali is a thick porridge made from maize (corn) flour. It's a staple food in many East African countries.
In countries like Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, people often call collard greens by their Swahili name, sukuma. Sometimes, people confuse sukuma wiki with kale, but they are slightly different.
The name 'sukuma wiki' literally means "to push the week" or "to stretch the week." This is because the vegetable is usually cheap and easy to find all year. It helps families make their food last longer through the week.
What is Sukuma Wiki?
The sukuma wiki plant is a type of Brassica oleracea, which is the same family as cabbage and kale. Unlike cabbage, this plant does not form a tight "head" of leaves. Its leaves grow openly on a tall stalk.
The plant can grow up to two feet (about 60 cm) tall. It is very similar to kale. Sukuma wiki is a plant that can grow for two years or even longer in warmer places.
Growing and Storing Sukuma Wiki
Farmers grow sukuma wiki for its thick, edible leaves. These leaves have a slightly bitter taste. You can find sukuma wiki all year round. However, it tastes even better and has more nutrients during colder months, especially after the first frost.
For the best texture, it's good to pick the leaves before they get too big. Younger leaves are usually more tender. Older leaves are thicker and might need to be cooked a bit differently. The age of the leaf does not change its flavor much.
You can keep fresh sukuma wiki leaves in the fridge for up to three days. If you cook them, you can freeze them to store them for much longer.
How People Eat Sukuma Wiki
People have been eating vegetables like sukuma wiki for a very long time, over 2,000 years! Even the Ancient Greeks grew similar leafy greens.
In countries like the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, thinly sliced sukuma wiki is a main part of a popular meal. It's often served with ugali, which is also known as sima or posho.
To prepare sukuma wiki, people usually lightly cook it in oil until it becomes tender. They add onions for flavor and season it with salt. You can eat it as the main vegetable dish or as a side dish with meat like fish, chicken, beef, or pork.
