ENTE LUWOMBO CYIKAGO (BEEF LUWOMBO CHICAGO STYLE)

Luwombo is a delicious meal of the Baganda (ethnic Bantu group in Central Uganda) served during holidays and for very important guests and dignitaries.   It developed as a special meal in the Kabaka (King's) court.   It can be made from beef, goat, pork, chicken, and fish.   An expatriate visitor to Uganda finds luwombo to combine American flavors of grilling (barbecue) and slow cooking.   Luwombo is a true Ugandan treasure.   After tasting luwombo once an addictive like appetite for luwombo develops.   No matter how much time and distance separates one from Uganda the smell of a charcoal fire reminds one of the luwombo delicacy.

The following luwombo recipe will serve 10 to 15 people.

• Cut 2 kilos (approximately 3 pounds) of beef stew meat into pieces.
• Generously sprinkle meat tenderizer around meat pieces.
• Cut an onion in half and rub pan with onion to prevent burning of meat, onions, and mushrooms.
• Over a charcoal fire brown meat and saute onions and mushrooms.

Luwombo is then traditionally slow cooked within banana leaves in a clay pot of steaming water over an  open fire.   Since some locations outside of Uganda have a limited supply of both banana leaves and pleasant outside cooking weather one may substitute a crock pot / slow cooker for the steaming luwombo in banana leaves.

• Place browned meat and sauteed onions and mushrooms into a slow cooker.
• Add 2 cups of peanut butter.
• If available add bacon grease.   If not one can substitute a small amount of cooking oil.
• Add several diced tomatoes.
• Add slices carrots and potatoes.
• Add water.
• If available add mchuzi spicy beef flavor mix.   If mchuzi mix is unavailable add spices such as salt, sugar, onion salt, coriander, ginger, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and paprika.
• Stir occasionally.   Taste periodically.   
• Add spices and more peanut butter after several hours of stewing to taste.   Remember it is better to slowly add spices to taste than to have too much spice to begin.

When meat and potatoes are tender serve.

• Serve with chapatis and matoke (Uganda plantains.)
• Ask a community elder (mzee) / pastor to say a prayer of thanksgiving before meal.   (Either a man or woman can say the prayer.)
• Eat with the joy of life.   Do not say a word while eating as this will be perceived as rude and uncivilized.   

After the meal greet all who have attended.

•  Also introduce visitors and pay particular attention to honoring previous generations.    
• Ask several  bzee (elders) to make speeches which are marked with humorous proverbs and stories.   Begin the process of organizing for community action such as raising money for school fees, wedding preparations,  and entrepreneurial business opportunities.  
• Serve a desert of fresh tropical fruits, obutunda (passion fruit), and chai (African tea boiled with ginger, whole milk, and sugar)
• Entertainment follows with traditional drumming, song, and dancing.   If there are those from outside of Buganda request for them also bring their traditional music and dance.   Pray for Burundi drummers; Lingala singers; and Rwandan, Congolese, Massai, and Acholi dancers to attend to present a true best of Africa's Great Lakes experience.
• Allow the youth to take plenty of photos and use social media to spread the joy of luwombo.
  

Notes on adding smoked fish to luwombo:

• Traditional luwombo is mixed with smoked fish to add flavor.
• However, some family and visitors may not appreciate the mixing of fish tastes with beef.

The following Bible texts offer counsel for bzee who are tempted to add smoked fish to luwombo without the consent of their children and wive / wives:

•   "Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger..., but rear them tenderly (Ephesians 6:4.  The Amplified Version.)"
• " You husbands, likewise, conduct your married lives with understanding....you should respect her... If you don’t, your prayers will be blocked. (1 Peter 3:7.  Complete Jewish Bible.)"