Republic of Congo | Recipe

Liboke de Poisson

Congolese fish marinated with onion, lemon, chili, and oil, wrapped in banana leaves, and steamed.

Country
Republic of Congo
Region
Central Africa
Time
60 min
Serves
4
Level
medium
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01 / Get ready

Everything you need

Tap each ingredient as you gather it. Illustrations are visual guides; follow the ingredient names and quantities.

Servings 4

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02 / Let’s cook

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Back to Republic of Congo
4 steps 25 min prep 35 min cook (check method) 60 min total medium
1
Marinate fish
Season fish with onion, lemon, oil, garlic, pepper, salt, and black pepper.
marinate 15:00
2
Prepare leaves
Warm banana leaves until flexible and layer them for packets.
leaves 05:00
3
Wrap packets
Divide fish and marinade into leaves and wrap tightly.
wrap 10:00
4
Steam
Steam or grill packets until the fish flakes easily.
steam 25:00

Across the Congo Basin, liboke may use fish, meat, or vegetables, with banana leaves or foil as the wrapper.

Cooking notes, photos & serving ideas
Recipe context

More about this dish

Serving ideas, regional context, and cooking cues for when you want more detail.

When to cook it

Best for fish lunches, grill days, and leaf-packet cooking.. Plan on a medium cook. Allow about 60 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Kwanga, plantain, rice, or cassava.

Regional lane

Republic of Congo national table. A structured Republic of Congo dish in the AfroKitchen archive.

Chef watch-outs
  • Overcooking the greens until the color and texture collapse.
  • Skipping the resting time after grilling.
  • Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
How you know it is ready
  • Greens should be cooked through but still look alive and glossy.
  • The surface should be deeply colored while the center stays juicy.
  • The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
Recipe illustrations

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Steamed white fish with cooked onion and pepper in an opened banana-leaf parcel; AI-generated recipe illustration
Liboke de Poisson finished dish · AI-generated illustration
Chef board

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Kwanga, plantain, rice, or cassava.

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Republic of Congo national table

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