The Mushroom G-nuts Luwombo

If you know anything about Ugandan cuisine, you've probably heard about Luwombo. It's a popular and special meal in Buganda, and mother only made it on holidays like Christmas and Easter. "Luwombo Ground Beef?" Luwombo, there is no such thing as minced/ground beef!" Guess what, there is now. Why, you might ask? Because, well, why not? Simply because it has always been whole meat chunks does not preclude it from being minced meat.

The sole difference between this and the other is that the g-nut paste is mixed with mushrooms and cooked in banana leaves to form the mushroom g-nut luwombo. To make the leaves pliable, they would need to be wilted in the sun for a couple of hours before being surgically reduced from the center rib of each leaf. The leaves would then be cured by mildly heating them on a charcoal stove before carefully folding and concealing them in a safe area where children would not be able to get them until the next day.

Ingredients

• 300gm Ground beef, 200gm Minced G-nuts, 100gm Mushrooms, 2 cloves garlic, minced, Salt and Black pepper to taste, 2 beef stock cubes, 1 small carrot, diced, Bell pepper, diced, 1 tbsp. Powdered ginger, 1 tsp. Paprika, 2 medium sized onions, diced, 1 Cured Luwombo leaf with its fastening rope\

Instruction

• Boil the g-nuts with the beef stock with 1/3 of the onions and salt for 10-15 minutes. Ensure you’ve put enough water they’ll need to get ready, bearing in mind that you won’t add any at any moment. Also remember the thicker the better.
• Meanwhile, season the minced meat with salt and pepper before searing in a mildly oiled wok with garlic, ginger and another 1/3 of the onions. 5-10 minutes.
• Carefully place the Luwombo leaf in a big bowl or saucepan and empty the g-nuts into it, add the beef and the remaining ingredients.
• Delicately wrap the leaf, ensuring that there is no leakage before tying it up with the banana fiber strap.
• Place in the prepared steaming saucepan and cover for maximum steam retention like you would if you were steaming matooke and cook for 1-2 hours before serving.
• Enjoy your Luwombo with matooke, rice, or whatever dry food you want to feast on.