PEPARING MATOOKE THE STAPLE FOOD OF BUGANDA (UGANDA) COMPILED BY THE FORM SIX STUDENTS

Matooke is a Luganda word used to mean banana.. It’s a food loved and prepared by the Baganda for every meal. The People believe that it’s the only food as every thing (food) else is an accompaniment to the banana food

Bananas are widely grown all over Uganda as all tribes have adopted them too and it has been, for a long time the measure of one’s wealth especially in Buganda. A man seen with a big plantation of matooke is believed to be wealthy even in today’s rural Uganda.

The women in Africa are the cooks and when preparing the process in some areas is religious. The Banana fruit is harvested from its tree, by cutting down the tree, its then cut from the tree, and then some leaves and fiber are also taken from the same tree. Each of these have a particular job in the cooking of the matooke.

The matooke is carried home from the plantation or garden depending on the size, covered in the banana leaves and tied by the banana fibers.

At home in the kitchen area, the women then get a round basket that will carry food enough for the particular size of the family. The bottom of the basket is covered with crisscrossed banana fibers and then topped with some of the banana leaves as these will be used to cover and tie the matooke into a pot like shape..

Matooke is best and traditionally cooked steamed but today due to growing towns and expenses its cooked any way a person can afford

The matooke has sticky sup that stains clothes so other banana leaves are used by the women to cover the front of their clothes as they peel the matooke to protect them from the sup

Uganda has a variety of banana kinds or types. Some are cooked, others are roasted, some are cooked with peels on and some are grown not for food but for making local wine. Each of the food bananas has a different flavor, taste and name. The matooke kind which is green in colour but when peeled, its peach coloured. When cooked it becomes a beautiful yellow colour.

The peeled bananas are put in the basket lined with layers of fiber and leaves, after this the women cover the matooke with the leaves and tie them with the fiber.

A pan is then got; a particular measurement of water is put in depending on the amount of food. Then the stem cut from the banana bunch is put in with the water. This helps to steam the matooke without actually being cooked in water itself as it does not taste that nice if the matooke is cooked directly in water

The dressed matooke is put in this pan, and then covered with more banana leaves. A previously used banana leaf is then used on top to keep the food in place and to protect it in case of accidents.

It is then set on a fire and cooked (steamed) for 2 (two) or more hours again it depends on the amount of food

When ready it is taken off the fire and then pressed together while still hot using used banana leaves to protect the hands. When pressed the matooke makes a smashed potato look alike and is by this time yellow in colour. The Banana leaves when cooking the matooke gives the food such a delicious flavor that reminds you are hungry. It is served with any soup or source.

The banana tree is wholesome as all its parts are used in preparing the food, the stem for the lining of the pan, the leaves to steam the banana, the fiber to tie the banana, plus other used that are beneficial to the garden too.