Maasai Cow Ear Stew

Making Maasai Cow Ear Stew

In Southern Kenya the Maasai have developed an agro-pastoral system for centuries. Kenya has a large livestock market of cattle used for dairy and beef with 14 million beef cattle and 5 million dairy cows. The Maasai are a well-known cattle raising traditional ethnic group around the world.

Maasai people are a nomadic tribe who follows their cattle herds to better grazing lands and water. Livestock have long provided economic security and a way for the agro pastoral Maasai. Agro-pastoralism is the integration of crop production and livestock production.

Maasai merchandises such as meat, milk, fiber, hides, and employment are important. Maasai community is highly organized splitting the tasks concerning graze land research, water management, livestock movements. The Maasai traditional diet consists of meat and milk. An excellent recipe is Maasai cow ear stew.

 

Cow Ear Stew

Ingredients

1 pound cleaned chopped cow ears

4 cloves garlic

1 onion diced

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 whole bay leaves

8 cups of water for boiling

 

Directions

In a large pot, add water and all ingredients. Turn the heat to low and cook slowly 3 hours. Serve with homemade bread.

 

 

Did you know.

In Kenya agriculture is a major contributor to the economy, contributing about 33 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and 58 percent to employment. Small family farms are typical versus large industrial farms growing mainly bananas, maize, beans, potatoes, and raising cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and poultry.  About 3.6 million households keep cattle, which contribute from 40 to 73 percent to their total income.