Liboke de Poisson (Congolese Fish in Banana Leaves)
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The Tale of Liboke de Poisson (Congolese Fish in Banana Leaves)
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Liboke, fish or meat seasoned and wrapped in banana leaves to steam or grill, takes its name from the Lingala word for "package" or "bundle." The technique developed among communities along the Congo River and its forests, where banana leaves were a natural, abundant wrapping long before pots became common, and the word carries a cultural resonance of togetherness.
Ingredients
Scale:· 4 servings
- 4 whole small fish or fillets, cleaned
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper, minced
- 2 tbsp palm oil
- Fresh herbs (basil or bitter leaf), chopped
- Banana leaves, softened over flame
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- 1Season the fish with salt and set aside.
- 2Lay a piece of softened banana leaf flat and place a fish or fillet in the center.
- 3Top with sliced onion, tomato, scotch bonnet, herbs, and a drizzle of palm oil.
- 4Fold the banana leaf over the fish to fully enclose it, tying with kitchen string or a strip of leaf.
- 5Repeat with remaining fish to make individual parcels.
- 6Steam or grill the parcels over medium heat for 25-30 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
- 7Serve the parcels warm, unwrapped at the table, with rice or fufu.
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