Kenyan Beef and Greens (Sukuma Wiki)

Name: Kenyan Beef and Greens (Sukuma Wiki)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 0.5 white onion, coarsely chopped; 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (seeds removed for less heat); 2 clove garlic cloves, chopped; 1 tsp sea salt; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1 tsp ground coriander; 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon; 0.5 tsp ground ginger; 0.5 tsp ground fennel seeds; 0.5 tsp turmeric; 1 lb ground beef, 85/15 blend preferred; 1 bunch collard greens, stems removed and leaves sliced into 1-inch strips; 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered; 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Kenyan Sukuma Wiki — Ground Beef and Collard Greens with Warm East African Spices

This Kenyan comfort food transforms humble collard greens into something extraordinary with a fragrant spice blend that includes cinnamon, coriander, and turmeric. The ground beef adds substance while cherry tomatoes bring brightness to balance the earthy greens. It's weeknight cooking with serious flavor depth.

AfricanDinnerGluten FreeDairy FreeComfort FoodQuick MealsHealthyOne PotBeef

Prep15 min

Cook15 min

Total30 min

Servings4

Difficultyeasy

Ingredients

1 tbspolive oil
½ white onion, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, chopped (seeds removed for less heat)
2 clovegarlic cloves, chopped
1 tspsea salt
1 tspground cumin
1 tspground coriander
½ tspfreshly ground black pepper
½ tspground cinnamon
½ tspground ginger
½ tspground fennel seeds
½ tspturmeric
1 lbground beef, 85/15 blend preferred
1 bunchcollard greens, stems removed and leaves sliced into 1-inch strips
8 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 tspfresh lemon juice

Instructions

Drizzle olive oil into a large skillet and place over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it turns translucent and starts to soften at the edges — about 4 minutes. Don't let it brown; you want the natural sweetness to develop gradually.
⏱ 4 min
Stir in the garlic and jalapeño, cooking just until the garlic becomes fragrant and the jalapeño brightens in color. This happens quickly — about a minute — so stay close to avoid burning the garlic.
⏱ 1 min
Add the ground beef along with all the spices: salt, cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, and turmeric. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, stirring frequently to distribute the spices evenly. The beef should lose its pink color and start to brown in spots — this takes about 6 minutes.
⏱ 6 min
Fold in the sliced collard greens and quartered tomatoes, stirring gently to combine everything without crushing the tomatoes. The greens will seem like a lot at first, but they'll wilt down significantly. Cook until the greens are tender and wilted, about 4 minutes.
⏱ 4 min
Remove from heat and squeeze in the lemon juice, giving everything a final stir. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve right away while the colors are still vibrant and the flavors are at their peak.