I want to share a preparation method for luwombo that is fascinating.
Luwombo is a special dish in my Kiganda culture with a history that dates as far back as 1887.
It is prepared for events, such as introduction ceremonies, where the groom visits the bride’s home in a traditional marriage and they prepare for the groom a whole chicken in luwombo.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Luwobo.jpg)
The dish is prepared by steaming meat (usually chicken, beef, goat or smoked fish and ground peanuts) in a cured banana leaf (usually ndiizi banana leaf). Traditionally, this is cooked on firewood or a charcoal stove.
Luwombo can be prepared on a cooker, if one has cured banana leaf, the rest could be replicated. The challenge with the luwombo to city dwellers is finding the cured banana leaf.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/luwombo-1.jpg)
Fortunately, most markets, such as Nakawa, Nakasero, Kalerwe and Ntinda sell the leaves. So, if one has a cooker and access to cured banana leaves, one can eat luwombo every day without having to go through the hassle of kusaniika (wrapping).
I am also told this is how people in diaspora prepare their luwombo and steamed matooke to mimic the food they grew up eating back in Uganda.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/luwombo-2-1.jpg)
Preparation
1. Season the beef with salt and pepper then smoke it (Or simply sear it on a grill pan).
2. Carefully lay your Luwombo leaf in a slow cooker and put the smoked beef along with all the other ingredients and carefully wrap it to ensure that there’s no leakage.
![](https://www.harvestmoney.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/luwombo-4.jpg)
3. Add some water in the crockpot to create a steaming effect.
4. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Serve when ready
Ingredients
- 1.5kg beef (the bonier the meat, the better, since it makes a richer stew)
- 3 cloves garlic, crashed
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 3 big onions, chopped
- 500ml water (or as much as one needs for stew)
- 1/4 cup beater berries/katunkuma (optional)
- Rosemary (optional)
- 1 table spoon paprika
- salt and pepper
- Cured banana leaf (luwombo leaf)