Githeri

Githeri (Gĩtheri), also called muthere or mutheri, is a Kenyan traditional meal of maize and any type of beans mixed and boiled together. The maize and beans are mixed together in a sufuria or pot, water is then added and the mixture boiled until the food is cooked and ready to eat. It was and still is the staple food of the Gikuyu, Meru and also Embu people dish in the Central Province of Kenya, but it is also eaten in other parts of the country. The beans and maize can either be fresh or dry. Most people prefer the fresh ingredients because of the taste. It is easy to access because maize and beans are readily available in these areas since they are mostly gotten from the farm. Githeri is eaten as a maize and bean mixture (mũrũgarũgio or one-by-one ). It can also be made into a stew with the addition of vegetables, meat, and potatoes. Githeri can also used to make mukimo after the addition of potatoes, bananas, and greens, and mashing up the mixture. Lately there has been an upsurge in the consumption of githeri due to the health benefits associated with the dish. Secondary schools are also credited with the popularization of this dish because it the main meal served to the students since the 1920s. Eating githeri has also become trendy with young people. Many hotels in Kenya also serve githeri.