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Mushroom luwombo
Buganda's banana-leaf steamed stew, made with mushrooms in groundnut sauce
Luwombo is a royal dish of the Buganda kingdom in central Uganda, served at weddings, introduction ceremonies and Christmas: a stew wrapped and tied in softened banana leaves and steamed for hours so the leaf perfumes everything. Chicken, beef or smoked fish are traditional, but mushroom luwombo in a groundnut (peanut) sauce is a well-loved meat-free version, especially with the large wild mushrooms sold in Kampala markets. Serve with matoke. Chef's tip: wilt the banana leaves over a flame until they turn glossy and bendy; stiff leaves split and the sauce runs out.
- Total time
- 130 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the filling
For the groundnut sauce
To wrap
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Whisk 5 ½ oz roasted unsalted peanuts with 1 ¼ cups warm water into a smooth, thick sauce.
Step 2: Mix 1 ⅓ lb mixed mushrooms (oyster, chestnut, portobello), 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, ½ green pepper, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper, then stir in the groundnut sauce.
Step 3: Pass 4 large sheets banana leaves over a gas flame or hob for a few seconds each side until glossy and soft. Lay 2 sheets crosswise, shiny side up, in a bowl to make a cup.
5 minStep 4: Spoon in half the filling, gather up the leaf edges and tie tightly with string or a strip of leaf. Repeat with the rest.
Step 5: Put a few leaf scraps on the base of a pot, sit the parcels on top and add 1 litre water for steaming to come about 3 cm up. Cover tightly and steam on a low heat for 1½ hours, topping up with boiling water. Common mistake: letting water get into the parcels — tie the necks high and keep the water below them.
90 minStep 6: Serve each parcel on a plate and open it at the table, with matoke or rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mushroom luwombo take?
- About 130 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 90 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of mixed mushrooms (oyster, chestnut, portobello)?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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