Isombe
Rwanda's slow-cooked cassava leaf stew
Think of it as: Like Southern collard greens simmered in peanut butter
Hours of simmering for one pot of greens.
What does it taste like?
Slightly bitter greens balanced by rich peanut and palm oil.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureSoft and creamy
What is it?
Pounded cassava leaves slowly cooked with eggplant, spinach and onion, a Rwandan home-cooking staple. It's enriched with peanut paste, palm oil or dried fish.
How locals eat it
Served with rice, boiled plantains or potatoes.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇷🇼Rwanda
CapitalKigali
Populationabout 14.9 millionestimate (unverified)
IndustriesAgriculture (coffee, tea), Tourism, IT
HelloMuraho (Kinyarwanda)
CurrencyRwandan franc
Fun factPlastic bags have been banned since 2008, and on the last Saturday of each month everyone joins community work (Umuganda).
The flag🇷🇼 Blue for happiness and peace, yellow for economic growth, green for prosperity; the sun for hope.
From Tokyoabout 11,900 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Kigali
Getting there20+ hours with connectionsrough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeDry season, June to September. Also tryBrochettesMatoke
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeDry season, June to September. Also tryBrochettesMatoke
🇷🇼 Sounds & life in Rwanda
MurahoHello（Muraho (Kinyarwanda)）
Latin
Latin
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AnthemRwanda Nziza
SportFootball World HeritageNyungwe National Park and more FestivalKwita Izina (around September, naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas)
SportFootball World HeritageNyungwe National Park and more FestivalKwita Izina (around September, naming ceremony for baby mountain gorillas)
Ingredients
- 500g cassava leaves
- 1 eggplant
- 1 bunch spinach
- 1 onion
- 3 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp palm oil
- Salt
Can't find it? Spinach and kale can replace cassava leaves.
How to make it (one way)
- Pound the cassava leaves finely
- Boil in plenty of water for about 2 hours
- Add eggplant, spinach and onion
- Stir in peanut butter and palm oil
- Cook until creamy and season with salt
⚠️ Cassava leaves are toxic raw. Pound well and cook for a long time.
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red palm oilAmazon