Ugandan Luwombo (Meat in Banana Leaves) Recipe

Luwombo is a traditional Ugandan meat dish which is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. First, a sauce containing vegetables and spices is prepared. The sauce is placed into the banana leaves, and the meat is placed into the sauce then they are wrapped inside the banana leaves before cooking.

To wrap the luwombo, a piece of leaf is placed into a bowl for support. After adding the filling, they are closed tightly and wrapped well so that the contents don’t spill during cooking.

Typical meats used are beef and chicken, but luwombo is also made with seafood. The sauce may be tomato or groundnut based.

Origin and Cultural Significance

Luwombo which is also known as oluwombo originates from the Baganda people. The Baganda are Uganda’s largest ethnic group. Luwombo means “cook in leaves.” It is prepared for significant events such as weddings, celebrations and last funeral rites – the end of the mourning period which is followed by a feast.

Historically, luwombo was served for important guests and royalty.The dishes significance amongst the Baganda people is clear by the customs followed, based in what event it is being prepared for.

Luwumbo for a wedding is cooked by the bride’s paternal aunt and served to the groom, whereas in a last funeral rite, the wife cooks and serves the dish to her in-laws as a sign of respect. The dish has become popular outside of the Baganda people, though the cooking and serving customs have not.

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Ugandan Luwombo Recipe

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Luwombo is a traditional Ugandan meat dish which is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

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Ingredients

• Chicken (pre-roasted) - 6 pieces
• Onions - 2 medium
• Tomatoes - 2 big
• Green pepper - 1 medium
• Garlic - 4 cloves
• Royco - 1 tbsp
• Margarine – 1 tbsp
• Stock tubes - 2 cubes

Instructions

1. Wash all the vegetables, blanch the tomatoes and remove the skin
2. Peel the onions then cut into small pieces.
3. Peel the garlic and crush them.
4. Cut green pepper into small pieces.
5. Heat the margarine when ready put in garlic and onions and then fry until soft and gives off a good flavor
6. Add all other vegetables, stir and cook until tomatoes are soft
7. Add all the remaining vegetables stir well until it mixes thoroughly. Add some little stock or water and cook until it boils. Then remove.
8. Place the luwombo leaf in a basket (ekiboo)
9. Put half of the chicken and top it with half the prepared vegetables/ ingredients, then place the remaining chicken pieces and then top
   with the remaining mixture
10. Cover it with a small piece of luwombo leaf
11. Then wrap the luwombo and fasten it firmly and neatly
12. Put in a prepared steaming sauce pan, cover it firmly with banana leaves as for stuffed chicken luwombo
13. Steam for about 1 hour, serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 264Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 182mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 23g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.

Photo Credit : Garrett Ziegler