Name: Igisafuria
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Rwanda, East Africa
Ingredients: 4 whole green plantains, peeled, chunked; 400 g beef, cubed; 2 whole carrots, sliced; 2 whole potatoes, cubed; 1 cup green beans, trimmed; 2 whole onions, chopped; 3 whole tomatoes, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 cups water; 1Â½ tsp salt; 1 whole scotch bonnet, whole

Igisafuria

A hearty Rwandan one-pot stew of plantains, vegetables, and meat simmered until everything melds together.

Country

Rwanda

Region

East Africa

Time

70 min

Serves

Level

easy

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Igisafuria literally means "the pot" in Kinyarwanda, reflecting its one-pot cooking method. This practical and nourishing dish was born from the Rwandan tradition of combining whatever ingredients are available into a single pot. Every family has their own version, making it both a unifying and deeply personal dish.

What the dish tastes like

A hearty Rwandan one-pot stew of plantains, vegetables, and meat simmered until everything melds together.

When to cook it

Best for everyday meals, with a easy cooking level and about 70 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Use the interactive recipe fallback or country hub to explore pairings.

Follow the collection route

One-Pot Wonders is the main AfroKitchen collection route tied to this dish right now. One-Pot Wonders

Ingredients

Brown Meat

Heat oil in a large pot. Season beef with salt and sear until browned on all sides.

Sear 10:00

Build Stew

Add onions and garlic, cook until softened. Add tomatoes and cook until they break down into a sauce.

Saute 08:00

Add Vegetables

Add plantains, potatoes, carrots, green beans, and water. Drop in the whole scotch bonnet. Bring to a boil.

Keep the scotch bonnet whole for gentle heat â€” piercing it will make the stew very spicy.

Simmer

Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until all vegetables are tender and the stew has thickened naturally from the plantains breaking down.

The plantains will partially dissolve and thicken the stew â€” this is desired.

Simmer 40:00

Season and Serve

Remove scotch bonnet. Adjust salt to taste. Serve hot in deep bowls â€” this is a complete meal in itself.

Igisafuria improves with reheating the next day as flavors deepen overnight.

Igisafuria

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Step-by-step instructions

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