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Rwandan cuisine is a fascinating delicacy; it’s a mix of traditional and a fair mix of foreign favourites. 

Though not as varied, the country’s main staples can be the best to devour. They are defined by their simplicity and charming flavour. 

Here are some of the dishes that speak volumes about Rwanda’s culture and tradition;

Potatoes

This is one of the most common dishes and it’s a favourite for many. The beauty about it, is that it can be cooked in different ways; Irish potatoes can be fried with curry and other ingredients or even boiled and served with any sauce such as meat or chicken. 

Beans 

These are known to be a staple on the Rwandan cuisine. Beans have for long served as a main source of nutrients, their exceptional taste makes it possible for people to eat them all year round. 

Beans are a common part of Rwandan cuisine;

Isombe (Pounded cassava leaves)

At times, mixed with groundnuts, Isombe is a sweet dish that is a combination of fresh vegetables boiled for hours to produce a scrumptious dish. An assortment of vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, and onions among others are always added to the mix. Some people also choose to add meat bones to make the sauce tastier.

Isombe is a sweet dish combined with fresh vegetables.

Cassava mixed with beans

Cassava that is boiled with beans is a dish that can stand the test of time. It’s one of the few meals that one can eat over and over again; a very simple meal with a smaller amount or no spices at all, but it is very tasty and healthy too. Rwandans mostly love it when it is served with a warm cup of milk. 

Plantain

Plantain in Rwanda are normally cooked in form of agatogo (mixture). Most people love it when they mix them with groundnuts. The dish is even tastier when prepared with beef for those who love meat. Others can mash or deep fry them to produce a more creative dish.

Igisafuria

Igisafuria is a mixture of different dishes cooked together. These can be bananas, Irish potatoes, meat, beans, chicken and more. All of them are cooked at once in a pot, ingredients are then added to spice up the flavour. The sauce is usually marinated in celery, onions, tomatoes and spicy peppers for a thicker broth.

Ubugali

Ubugali is a mind blowing meal for Rwandans. Its form is a mix of cassava flour and hot water, and the paste is then cooked to a desired level of thickness. Most people love it with meat sauce, others eat it with groundnuts mixed with dry fish whereas some opt to have it with vegetables. Whichever sauce you choose to accompany it with, Ubugali remains a yummy dish yet it also has many healthy benefits.

Sweet potatoes

A heavy meal indeed, Rwandans love sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes can be boiled with nothing but water and still make a great dish, without adding any spice whatsoever. The best part about them is they can literally be accompanied with any sauce, be it beans, groundnuts, meat or fish. They are easy to cook and can be found anywhere.