Matoke

Description
Matoke (or Matooke) refer to the plantain or plantain banana in Uganda, where plantains are a staple crop. In Uganda, plantain bananas are often wrapped in plantain leaves and steamed until tender. (Other banana-leaf cookery recipes are: Liboké de Viande and Liboké de Poisson.) This dish can be made with or without the meat.

Ingredients

 * 8 – 10 plantains
 * juice of one lemon (optional)
 * oil for frying
 * 1 onion, chopped
 * 2 or 3 tomatoes, chopped (or canned whole tomatoes, drained)
 * 1 sweet green pepper (or bell pepper), chopped
 * 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
 * 1 chile pepper, chopped (optional)
 * salt, coriander, cayenne pepper or red pepper (to taste)
 * 1 pound beef: ground beef or stew meat cut in bite-sized pieces (optional)
 * 2 cups beef broth or beef stock

Directions

 * 1) Peel the plantains, cut into cubes, sprinkle with lemon juice, and set aside.
 * 2) Heat oil in a large pan. Fry the Onion, tomatoes, green pepper, hot pepper, and garlic together. Add spices to taste. Add meat or broth. Continue frying and stirring until the meat is nearly done or until the broth is starting to boil.
 * 3) Reduce heat. Add plantains. Cover and simmer over low heat until plantains are tender and meat is done. Serve matoke (matooke, if you prefer) hot.