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Sukuma Wiki

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Author: Imma
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Sukuma Wiki Recipe – This healthy and economical braised collard greens recipe is bursting with flavor and spices. They’re collard greens done right for a perfect weeknight side dish! 💚

Sukuma wiki ready to enjoy with ugali in the background

You can make these tasty African greens with minimal ingredients or take them over the top with protein and spices. Of course, I went over the top, adding protein, garlic, and spices, including coriander, curry, garlic, and cayenne pepper for some heat. One of the great things about sukuma wiki is how easy it is to customize it. 

And while the super greens and the foodie worlds are smitten with kale, not many people realize that collard greens are right up there with kale. They provide vitamins A, C, K, and calcium, and they’re quite tasty, too! A side-by-side comparison even gives collard greens a slight edge. 😉

Another great thing about this recipe for sukuma wiki? Most people love cooking their greens for a prolonged time, but not me. This recipe comes together quickly! It takes 7-10 minutes, tops!

Content…

What Is It?
What You Need
How to Make It
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Serving and Storage Instructions
What to Serve
More African-Inspired Recipes to Try
Sukuma Wiki with collard greens and beef

What Is Sukuma Wiki?

Sukuma wiki is a rustic African dish enjoyed in many parts of East Africa. Kenya and Tanzania are just a couple. The Swahili phrase means to stretch the week, which it does quite well, especially when paired with ugali, a cornmeal fufu.

What You Need

What you need to make amazing collard greens (sukuma wiki)
  1. Collards – Get a nice fresh bunch of collards for this recipe. Or, substitute kale if you must. 😜
  2. Protein – Chopped or ground beef or chicken can turn this side of greens into the main course. But it’s optional.
  3. Veggies – Tomato, garlic, and onion add loads of flavor and variety of texture, too.
  4. Spices – Smoked paprika, coriander, curry or turmeric, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, and lemon juice make the perfect spice combo, IMO.

How to Make Sukuma Wiki

Prep the collard greens, saute the aromatics, and assemble
Simmer collard greens until tender, enjoy
  • Saute – Heat the oil in a medium-large skillet, add onions and garlic, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
  • Base – Add the tomatoes, curry powder, coriander, and paprika. Stir with a heavy wooden spoon for about 2 minutes.
  • Meat – Add ground or minced meat, if using, and the bouillon powder. Stir well and simmer for about 5 minutes. 
  • Cook Collards – Next, throw in the chopped collards, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice. 
  • Simmer – Continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes until flavors blend and the greens cook to your preference. 
  • Serve – Adjust the seasonings to taste, including salt and pepper. Turn off the heat and serve!
Enjoying a soul-satisfying bowl of sukuma wiki and ugali

Recipe Variations

  1. Make it vegan. Skip the meat and use vegetable bouillon powder for totally plant-based goodness.
  2. Make it spicy! Add a jalapeno or other spicy pepper to the sauteed vegetables and some crushed red pepper. 🌶️
  3. Protein swaps. Don’t limit yourself to ground beef or chicken. Shrimp, sausage, bacon, or any other meat tastes delish in this dish. 😋

Tips and Tricks

  1. Select fresh greens. Choose collard greens that are fresh, vibrant, and crisp. Avoid wilted or yellowing leaves, as they may be past their prime and turn bitter.
  2. Clean your greens thoroughly. Collard greens can be gritty, so be sure to clean them thoroughly. Submerge them in cold water and swish them around to remove sand or debris. Repeat until the water runs clear.
  3. Remove tough stems. Collard greens have tough stems that can be fibrous and chewy. Remove them by folding the leaves in half and slicing along the stem to remove it. Or strip the leaves off the stems with your hands.
  4. Cut them uniformly for easy eating. After removing the stems, stack several leaves on top of each other, roll them into a tight bundle, and slice them crosswise into thin strips for even cooking.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This deliciousness is a great make-ahead dish. Just let it cool and refrigerate it in an airtight container for 1-2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve sukuma wiki hot as a main dish or side.

Refrigerate leftover collard greens for 3-5 days in an airtight container. Reheat them in a pan on the stove over medium heat until heated through. You may need to add a couple of tablespoons of broth or water if it seems too dry.

Serving up a delectable bowl of sukuma wiki (African collard greens) with ugali or fufu

What Goes With Sukuma Wiki

For a traditional African meal, serve this dish with ugali. Sukuma Wiki also goes great with classic Southern dishes like fried chicken livers, black-eyed peas, and skillet cornbread. 🤤

More African-Inspired Recipes to Try

  1. Chicken Stew
  2. Stewed Spinach
  3. Hot Pot Potatoes
  4. Maafe
  5. Red Red

This blog post was originally published in January 2015 and has been updated with additional tips and delicious-looking photos

Sukuma wiki ready to enjoy with ugali in the background
Print

Sukuma Wiki

This healthy and economical braised collard greens recipe is bursting with flavor and spices. They're collard greens done right for a perfect weeknight side dish! 
4.92 from 23 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Total: 28 minutes
African
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale or collard greens
  • 1-2 cups (225-450g) minced beef or chicken (ground beef works too but it's optional)
  • 3 medium tomatoes, diced
  • 1-2 teaspoons (5-10g) minced garlic
  • 1 large white onion
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) canola oil or more as needed (any cooking oil)
  • 1 tablespoon (8g) smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon (1g) ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon (1g) curry powder or turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon (1g) cayenne pepper or more
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice about ½ a lemon
  • 1 tablespoon (10g) bouillon powder or 1 cube

Instructions

  • In a medium – large skillet, add oil, onions, and garlic, and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  • Then add tomatoes, curry, coriander, and paprika, and continue stirring with a heavy wooden spoon for about 2 minutes.
  • Add minced meat and bouillon powder; stir until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Simmer for 5 minutes or more.
  • Toss in the chopped collards, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice. Continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes until flavors have blended and greens are cooked to preferred doneness.
  • Adjust seasonings, salt, and pepper, and turn off the heat. Let it cool slightly. Serve with ugali for a classic meal.

Tips & Notes:

  • Select fresh greens. Choose collard greens that are fresh, vibrant, and crisp. Avoid wilted or yellowing leaves, as they may be past their prime and turn bitter.
  • Clean your greens thoroughly. Collard greens can be gritty, so be sure to clean them thoroughly. Submerge them in cold water and swish them around to remove sand or debris. Repeat until the water runs clear.
  • Remove tough stems. Collard greens have tough stems that can be fibrous and chewy. Remove them by folding the leaves in half and slicing along the stem to remove it. Or strip the leaves off the stems with your hands.
  • Cut them uniformly for easy eating. After removing the stems, stack several leaves on top of each other, roll them into a tight bundle, and slice them crosswise into thin strips for even cooking.
  • Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 100g| Calories: 260kcal (13%)| Carbohydrates: 11g (4%)| Protein: 12g (24%)| Fat: 19g (29%)| Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)| Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g| Monounsaturated Fat: 10g| Trans Fat: 1g| Cholesterol: 40mg (13%)| Sodium: 388mg (17%)| Potassium: 603mg (17%)| Fiber: 4g (17%)| Sugar: 5g (6%)| Vitamin A: 4985IU (100%)| Vitamin C: 48mg (58%)| Calcium: 120mg (12%)| Iron: 2mg (11%)
Author: Imma
Course: Main, Side Dish
Cuisine: African
Diet: Gluten Free
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Comments & Reviews

  1. monikanyc says

    5 stars
    This was amazing, and so easy to make. The spices make it extra delicious (I’ve seen many versions that don’t use any spice beyond garlic and onion). We had it with Irio and it was a very satisfying meal. Thanks for the recipe – I’ll be back for more!

    Reply

  3. Juliet Kariuki says

    This recipe has just the right amount of flavor! I have been wanting to spice up this dish for a while. Coming from a traditional Kenyan background, it’s only natural that we prepare this dish regularly. I enjoyed all of the spices used and wanted to say thank you for sharing. This will be my go to recipe when I prepare Nyeni in the future. Thanks again.

    Reply

  5. Thureya says

    i went to visit my uncle in tanzania last year and this is my favourite meal of all time!! its hard to get collard greens here in the UK so im really happy with this recipe as now i can make it at home here

    Reply

  6. Carrie says

    5 stars
    My fellow is Tanzanian, been here 20 years, he loved it, and I had never even eaten greens before, let alone made them. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  8. Melinda says

    Very excited to find your site and this recipe! I exchange letters with a young woman from Kenya. Our lives are very different and it can be difficult to find common ground. Recently she wrote in one of her letters about her garden and making this dish for her family. I am now going to make this dish and it can be something we share! Thank you so very much!

    Reply

  9. Michael Prince says

    I love Collard greens,so when I saw your recipe I new I had to try it. One of the best things that I’ve ever eaten I could have this 3 times a week. Thank You.

    Reply

  10. Kandy says

    I cooked this meal and it actually came out better than I thought. I used beef and it was delicious. Thank you. I put the lemon juice in last, and it seem to tie everything together.

    Reply

  11. Zack says

    5 stars
    Just made this tonight w/out the meat. Really outstanding flavor and so good with the Ugali! Will
    be enjoying the leftovers for lunch this week. Without the meat I had to add a little water w the kale so things would braise well. Thanks for posting such a great recipe!

    Reply

  12. Maryland Girl says

    5 stars
    I tried this today and it was delicious! It had a little more heat to it than I was expecting. Next time I think I’ll use half the amount of cayenne pepper. But it’s still amazing as is. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply

  14. Nick says

    5 stars
    I tried your recipe a while ago (and loved it), but I’m a bit confused. In the ingredients list it says kale. Was that a typo or do you use kale sometimes?

    Reply

    • imma africanbites says

      Hi Nick, Sorry for the confusion. You can use either kale or collard greens or a combination of both. Recipe updated. Thank you! 🙂

      Reply