Isombe
At a glance
| Type of dish | Vegetable stew |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Cassava leaves, peanut butter, onions, tomatoes, garlic and coriander |
| Served with | Ubugali, rice and beans, or bread |
| Also eaten in | Burundi |
Source: Wikipedia: Isombe1
What It Is
Isombe is a vegetable stew from Rwanda that is also eaten in Burundi. Cassava leaves are its main ingredient, and it is believed to have come from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo. The New Times describes it as a very nutritious dish.1,2
How It Is Made
The cassava leaves are chopped and boiled together with tomatoes, onions, coriander, garlic and stock made from meat bones. Peanut butter is added at the end. The vegetables used are grown in Rwanda.1
When It Is Eaten
Lunch is generally the main meal of the day in Rwanda, and isombe is one of its typical dishes. It is usually eaten with ubugali, with rice and beans, or with bread.1,3
Frequently Asked Questions
What is isombe made of?
Chopped cassava leaves boiled with tomatoes, onions, coriander, garlic and bone stock, finished with peanut butter.
What is isombe eaten with?
Usually ubugali, rice and beans, or bread.
Where does isombe come from?
It is eaten in Rwanda and Burundi and is believed to have come from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Isombe
- The New Times: Eating in or dining out, why you should eat isombe (8 December 2019)
- Wikipedia: Rwandan cuisine
Facts checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information.
