Hoontoo (Sierra Leonean Steamed Beef and Polenta Dumplings)

The other day I was watching Master Chef and I heard one of the judges telling the contestants that the recipe they were about to use had one hundred and five steps.  Goodness gracious me, it is just food not a car.  I am pretty sure that dish would taste different and having the experience of tasting it would be worth all one hundred and fifty steps but it still sounded over the top to me and I am pretty sure I am not alone.  When it comes to cooking, I like my food prepared with as little fuss as possible and this dumpling recipe is easy to prepare, delicious and healthy.  

 Ingredients I used are: 500g beef mince, 11/2 cups polenta, 1 tsp cayenne, 1 large brown onion, 6 cloves garlic, ginger 3-4cm, 1 jumbo cube and 2 small royco cubes, 4 spring onions, 1 green chilli, and 1 red chilli, 1/2 cup water, salt to taste.

blend half of the brown onion together with the ginger and garlic.  In a large mixing bowl, add the onion mixture to the mince, polenta, cayenne and stock cubes

 Use your hands to mix the ingredients together, adding the water a little at a time

 Shape into balls

 Arrange the dumplings in a large steamer, top with chopped red and green chillis, spring onions and brown onion wedges.  Cover and steam for 20 minutes.  Serve hot.  Enjoy.