Burundian Recipes

Burundian cuisine is closely related to Rwandan cooking, reflecting shared Bantu agricultural traditions in the Great Lakes region. Beans are so central to the diet that Burundi is often called "the country of beans," with red kidney beans and white beans prepared in countless variations. Plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes, and corn complement the bean-based diet. Mukeke (Lake Tanganyika fish) is a prized delicacy, while brochettes of goat meat are the go-to celebratory food. The cuisine is practical and sustaining, with minimal spicing that lets the quality of fresh, locally grown ingredients speak for themselves.