Katogo (Bananas and Beef Breakfast)

Katogo is Uganda’s classic breakfast, a one-pot meal of green bananas and meat, often beef, simmered together until everything is soft and saucy. It is the breakfast that keeps farmers going until noon, and city kitchens still cook it on weekend mornings when there is time to do it right. Everyone has opinions about the perfect katogo, which is how you know it matters. It is the rare dish that is both everyday and fiercely personal.

One pot to start the day

The bananas cook down into soft, starchy pillows that soak up the savory beef sauce, making each spoonful rich and comforting. Onion, tomato, garlic, and ginger build a gravy that binds it all together, with an optional spoonful of peanut butter adding depth. It is hearty without being heavy, the rare breakfast that feels like a proper meal. Serve it in deep bowls with extra sauce, and start the day properly.

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