Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | In our part 2 series of how to prepare Ugandan local cuisine popularly known as Luwombo, we bring to you part 2 series ‘Smoked Meat Luwombo.’
Oluwombo or luwombo is a traditional dish of Uganda. It was originally created in 1887 by the personal chef of Kabaka Mwanga, an interesting king who ruled the Kingdom of Buganda (Uganda region where the country got its name from) at the end of the nineteenth century.
Most people eat this special meal on special days but I could savour this delicious meal any day, everyday! Luwombo is basically sauce cooked in banana leaves.
The banana leaves are specially prepared over heat with low smoke to make the leaves aromatic and soft enough to contain the food. It is actually a method of preparing stews by steaming as you will get to learn as you read along.
I am going to share how to prepare the different types in our Luwombo Series which include: chicken luwombo, smoked meat luwombo, mushrooms in ground nuts paste luwombo, smoked meat in ground nuts paste luwombo and dry fish in ground nuts paste luwombo.
It is easy, time saving and most important nutrient saving.
2. Smoked Meat Luwombo recipe
Ingredients:
- 1kg of beef
- 1 large onion
- 2 medium sized tomatoes
- 1 medium sized carrot
- 1 medium sized green pepper
- 3 Irish potatoes
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of cilantro
- Spices of your choice (1 beef stock cube, 1 teaspoon Beef curry masala, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional and used only if the beef is lean)
- Luwombo leaves (You can get these readily prepared)
- Kitchen thread or a banana fibre
Directions:
- First you need to tenderise your meat.
- Smoke the meat over charcoal until it is golden brown. You can add some BBQ sticks to your fire for yet more aroma. You can also use the grill or BBQ stove for this purpose. Cut the meat into pieces and add it to the luwombo leaf that is positioned in a large enough bowel.
- Finely chop the onions, cilantro, green pepper and tomatoes and add to the meat.
- Peel and dice the potatoes into the meat.
- Add the salt and spices to the water, mix well and pour into the meat.
- Add olive oil if the beef is lean and not fatty.
- Wrap up the banana leaf and tie it up with kitchen thread or the banana fibre.
- To cook you can further rap your luwombo with normal banana leaves in a saucepan cushioned with a banana stem at the bottom and cover to prevent loss of steam as much as possible. If you stay out of Uganda and may nor have access to this you can steam your luwombo using a steamer all at medium heat for up to 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.
Serve and Enjoy Your Luwombo Meal.
Read Also: RECIPE: Chicken Luwombo – Ugandan traditional delicacy
Join us in our part 3 series as Kampala Dispatch shows you how to prepare Mushrooms in ground nut paste luwombo.
