Matooke is a staple food for people in the Central region. It is eaten in various forms such as steamed, boiled and mashed.
Some people also make snacks and juice from matooke.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Prepare-the-fibers-in-a-crisscross-form.jpg)
Bianca Hope Ndagire Omumbejja had mastered the art of preparing steamed matooke at the age of 11 when she was in Primary Six at Taibah.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Peel-the-matooke-fingers.jpg)
She loves matooke and her mum, Counsel Joyce Nalunga Birimumaaso taught her how to prepare it.
Ndagire takes us through the steps;
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Wash-and-wrap-them-inside-a-banana-leaf.jpg)
*You need a basket, banana fibres, and saucepan, knife, water and matooke fingers.
*Respect the food by sitting properly on a mat. Don’t squat or scatter your legs.
*Peel the matooke fingers while putting them in a clean saucepan with cold water.
*Ensure to remove all the green outer skin.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Fasten-the-fibers-together.jpg)
*Lay banana fibres in a crisscross form in the basket and put a banana leaf.
*Wash and put matooke on a banana leaf.
*Wrap and fasten the fibres firmly. Ensure the fingers don’t fall out.
*Place it in the saucepan which has water and pieces of banana stem.
*Cover it with more banana leaves while tucking them inside the saucepan.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Make-a-knot-and-ensure-the-fingers-dont-fall-out.jpg)
*Put the saucepan on fire to boil until the leaves turn brown.
*When food is ready, put it down and uncover it.
*Put it back in the basket and marsh it using fresh leaves.
*After, cover it again and put it back on fire for some hours before serving with sauce.
Well-cooked matooke is delicious!