Learn how to turn leftover ugali into crispy and spicy fries with this simple recipe. A creative and delicious way to repurpose leftovers for a tasty snack or side dish. There are moments in the kitchen that feel like revelations. Not the grand kind, necessarily, but quiet, personal ones. The kind that sneak up on you while standing over a stove, spoon in hand, wondering if you’re about to make something magical or utterly unrecognizable. That’s exactly how I felt the day I decided to do the unthinkable: give Ugali a makeover. Now, if you're Kenyan, you already understand the cultural weight behind that statement. Ugali is not just food, it’s heritage. It’s routine. It’s the sturdy foundation upon which many of our meals are built. It’s what we eat when we want to feel full, comforted, grounded. It doesn’t need frills or introductions.
In fact, even attempting to “modernize” or “upgrade” it might come off as a culinary rebellion. But sometimes, rebellion is necessary, especially when leftovers stare back at you from the fridge, daring you to do more.
To understand Ugali is to understand how deeply embedded it is in the Kenyan identity. It shows up on nearly every dinner table, every evening, served alongside sukuma wiki, nyama choma, tilapia, or even chicken stew. It’s affordable, simple, and nourishing. It's also, frankly, polarizing. For every person who swears by its comforting density, there’s another who finds it plain, heavy, or uninspiring. But what if the problem isn’t the Ugali itself? What if it’s how we’ve been thinking about it?
I’ve always believed food should evolve with us. And while I’ll never tire of a traditional plate, steam rising from a just-turned mound of maize meal, greens at the side, and a spicy meat stew tucked beside it, I’ve also grown curious. Curious about what happens when we let tradition meet imagination.
When people ask me to describe Ugali, I often pause. The technical definition feels far removed from the soul of the dish: “a type of stiff porridge made by mixing cornmeal with boiling water.” That’s how it’s typically described in English, blandly, almost apologetically, as if it needs justification. I once heard someone call it “cornmeal mush,” and couldn’t help but laugh at how unappetizing that sounded. No wonder it confuses outsiders. Would you order something called “mush” at a restaurant?
And yet, this so-called "mush" feeds millions. It’s a source of pride. A symbol of survival, resilience, and simplicity. But what if it could also be fun? What if, instead of just warming up leftovers, we turned them into something that made people, especially skeptics, see Ugali in a completely new light?
It all started with leftovers. Like many Kenyan families, we often end up with more Ugali than we can finish in one sitting. And while it’s common to reheat it the next day, I began to wonder if it could become something entirely new. Not as a gimmick, but as a genuine effort to breathe new life into something I’d grown up with. That was the start of my little experiment. I wanted it to be playful but practical. Creative, yet still respectful of the original form. I asked myself: how can I get my nephews, who would rather have chips and sausages, to eat Ugali without the struggle? How could I make a dish so familiar feel fresh?
I quickly ruled out baking (too far removed from its earthy roots), and instead leaned into something we already love in our culture: frying. There’s just something irresistible about a golden-brown crust, that delicate crisp on the outside giving way to warmth on the inside. Suddenly, the idea didn’t feel so rebellious. It felt obvious.
Transforming leftover Ugali became more than just a kitchen experiment. It was a statement: that our food, our African staples, don’t have to remain static. They can evolve, grow, and adapt. We can dress them up, remix them, and give them a new purpose without losing their soul. In doing so, we breathe life into our own food history and share it with others in ways that are inviting, engaging, and even trendy.
And trust me, when you present it with a little twist, people pay attention. Suddenly, family members who once turned their noses up at Ugali are asking for more. Kids are dipping pieces into sauces and calling it “fun food.” Friends are surprised. Curious. Some are even inspired to try it their own way.
It fascinates me how one dish can go by so many names depending on the region. Whether you call it Sima, Sembe, Obusuma, Ngima, Posho, or even Polenta as our Italian counterparts do, the essence remains the same. It’s maize meal, yes—but also a blank canvas for cultural expression. Across the continent, and even globally, you find variations. Polenta in Italy, fufu in West Africa, sadza in Zimbabwe, nsima in Malawi, the names differ, but the emotion behind them is shared. Each one is someone’s comfort food. Each one holds a place in someone’s story.
So why not honor that by celebrating its versatility?
In the end, what excites me most about this culinary detour isn’t just the novelty of it. It’s the joy of reintroducing something we’ve taken for granted. It’s watching people fall in love with a staple they thought they knew. It’s seeing Ugali not just as a supporting act on the plate, but as the star.
I think we’re entering a beautiful era where African food is no longer being forced to fit someone else’s definition. We’re claiming our dishes, our ingredients, and reshaping them on our own terms. Whether it’s plating, preparation, or presentation, we’re allowed to be playful, inventive, and proud.
So the next time you glance at that leftover piece of Ugali in the fridge, don’t just reheat it, reimagine it. Because our traditions aren’t museum pieces. They’re living, breathing things. And every once in a while, they deserve a little adventure.
-1 Egg
-Vegetable Oil
-Breadcrumbs
-Cayenne Pepper Spice
-Garam Masala Spice
-Ugali (Cornmeal) left over
-Salt
Method
-Cut your left over Ugali (Cornmeal) into long French Fries Strips. Sprinkle the Garam Masala Spice and Cayenne Pepper Spice into the Breadcrumbs. You can add more or less according to your taste. Add Salt to the beaten Egg. Arrange the Bowls with the Egg and Breadcrumbs in a single line for easier assembly
-Dip the piece of Ugali (Cornmeal) into the Beaten Egg. Toss the piece of Ugali (Cornmeal) in the Egg and make sure all the sides are coated with the Egg mixture
-Place the Egg coated Ugali (Cornmeal) into the breadcrumbs and make sure it is wel coated. Press gently so that the breadcrumbs stick to the Ugali well
-Coat the Ugali (Cornmeal) completely
-Place the fully coated Ugali (Cornmeal) aside on a different plate
-Repeat the process (Dipping in the Egg and then in the Breadcrumbs) until all the Ugali (Cornmeal) are done
-Ready to be fried in the cooking Oil
-Heat a Cooking Pan with oil
-Test if the cooking oil is hot enough by carefully dropping a piece of the Ugali into it
-The oil is ready when the piece quickly rises to the top and begins to sizzle
-Very carefully add the Breadcrumbs Coated Ugali (Cornmeal) into the hot Vegetable Oil
-Turn the Ugali Fries after 2-3 minutes so that the second side gets cooked through
-You do not want the Ugali Fries to burn or turn too dark brown, therefore check to see that they have browned and remove from the oil
-Repeat process until all the Ugali Fries (Cornmeal Fries) are done
-Place in a plate or bowl with a Kitchen Towel to drain the excess oil
-This is how the Ugali (Cornmeal) Fries will turn out, Golden and Crispy
-You can serve with a sauce of your choice
-I dipped mine in Hot and Sweet Tomato Sauce and boy were they yummilicious (is there a word like that? there should be!)
-And this is how the inside of my Ugali (Cornmeal) Fries look like. Still moist on the inside but crunchy on the outside!
-Enjoy without interruption!
THE PERFECT SPICY UGALI FRIES
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- 2 Cups Vegetable Oil for frying
- 1 Cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon Cayenne Pepper Spice
- 1 Tablespoon Garam Marsala
- 1 Cup Ugali (Cornmeal) left over
- Salt Pinch
Instructions
-Cut your left over Ugali (Cornmeal) into long French Fries Strips-Sprinkle the Garam Marsala Spice and Cayenne Pepper Spice into the Breadcrumbs. You can add more or less according to your taste.-Add Salt to the beaten Egg-Dip the piece of Ugali (Cornmeal) into the Beaten Egg. Make sure all the sides are coated with the Egg mixture-Place the Egg coated Ugali (Cornmeal) into the breadcrumbs and make sure it is welL coated. Press gently so that the breadcrumbs stick to the Ugali well-Repeat until all the Ugali (cornmeal) are all coated with breadcrumbs-Heat a Cooking Pan with oil-Drop several of the coated Ugali (cornmeal) into the hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides-Serve warm with your desired sauce or dip
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 2 ServingsIf you have been enjoying these foodie adventures, I would love to stay connected. Follow me on all my social platforms for real-time updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and event alerts. See behind-the-scenes looks and join conversations around all things delicious. Follow me on Instagram for beautiful food photos and quick reels. Find me on Facebook for longer stories and community chats. Join the fun on Twitter(X) where I share food thoughts and tips. Get creative with me on Pinterest where you can pin your favorite recipes for later. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for the full recipe creation. Leave a comment in the comment section and let's chat!
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