Metemgee: steps to prepare the popular Guyanese dish

 

Metemgee is another popular dish in Guyanese cuisine, known for its rich and hearty flavors. It's a one-pot dish that combines various ingredients like meat, vegetables, and ground provisions. Here's a basic overview of how it is made:

Ingredients:

1. Meat: Common choices include chicken, pork, or salted meat (like salted beef or salted pigtail).

2. Ground provisions: These are starchy vegetables like cassava, eddoe, and sweet potato.

3. Aromatic seasonings: Onions, garlic, thyme, and hot pepper (like Scotch bonnet) are commonly used.

4. Coconut milk: This gives Metemgee its creamy texture and coconut flavor.

5. Okra: Okra is often added to thicken the stew and add a unique texture.

Steps to prepare Metemgee:

1. Prepare the meat: Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and marinate it with minced garlic, chopped onions, thyme, and some hot pepper. Let it marinate for a few hours or overnight for maximum flavor.

2. Prepare the ground provisions: Peel and chop the ground provisions into chunks. These will be added to the stew.

3. Cook the meat: In a large pot, heat some oil and brown the marinated meat until it's well-seared on all sides. Remove the meat and set it aside.

4. Aromatics and seasonings: In the same pot, sauté more onions, garlic, and thyme until they become fragrant.

5. Coconut milk: Add the coconut milk to the pot, stirring it into the aromatics. You can use either freshly squeezed coconut milk or canned coconut milk.

6. Return the meat and add ground provisions: Put the seared meat back into the pot, and add the chopped ground provisions. Ensure everything is well-coated with the coconut milk mixture.

7. Liquid and simmer: Add enough water to cover the meat and ground provisions. Cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat until the meat is tender, and the ground provisions are cooked through. This can take some time, usually around 45 minutes to an hour.

8. Okra: About halfway through the cooking process, add sliced okra to the pot. This will help thicken the stew. Continue simmering until the okra is tender.

9. Season to taste: Adjust the seasoning with salt and more hot pepper if desired. Taste and adjust until you achieve the desired flavor balance.

10. Serve: Metemgee is traditionally served hot and is often enjoyed with a side of rice or bread.

Metemgee is a hearty and comforting dish that's perfect for warming up on a cold day. Feel free to customize it with your choice of meat and adjust the level of spiciness to suit your taste. Enjoy!