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Ibiharage n'Igitoke (Burundian Stewed Beans with Green Matooke)
Savory red kidney beans and tender green plantains stewed gently in red palm oil and sweet leeks.
The story
Beans (Ibiharage) constitute the true heartbeat of daily nourishment in Burundi, with the country boasting one of the highest per-capita bean consumptions on earth. Pairing beans with peeled green highland cooking bananas (Igitoke) in a rich red palm oil base creates a deeply satisfying, unpretentious meal eaten across rural hillsides and Bujumbura family tables alike.
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