Democratic Republic of Congo | Main dish

Liboke ya Mbika

Name: Liboke ya Mbika
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa
Ingredients: 300 g raw shelled pumpkin seeds; 2 medium tomatoes, diced; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 2 tbsp palm oil; 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper, minced; ¼ cup water, as needed for grinding; 4 large banana leaves, softened over flame; salt, to taste

Ground pumpkin seeds steamed in banana leaves with tomatoes, onions, and spices, creating a rich and fragrant vegetarian parcel. A classic Congolese preparation.

Country

Democratic Republic of Congo

Region

Central Africa

Time

65 min

Serves

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

Scale the dish before you shop, then use the checklist while you cook.

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Ingredients

For 4 servings

Main dish

Filling

300 g raw shelled pumpkin seeds 2 medium tomatoes, diced 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp palm oil 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper, minced (optional) ¼ cup water, as needed for grinding

Wrap

4 large banana leaves, softened over flame

Pantry

salt, to taste

A few kitchen essentials

Suggested from the recipe method. Use equivalent equipment you have.

Lidded pot

Blender

Knife & board

Wooden spoon

02 / Let’s cook

One step at a time

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to Democratic Republic of Congo

5 steps 20 min prep 45 min cook (check method) 65 min total medium

Grind the seeds

Toast pumpkin seeds in a dry pan for 3 minutes until fragrant. Grind to a fine paste in a blender or food processor, adding a splash of water if needed.

Kitchen noteDo not over-toast — the seeds should be lightly golden, not dark.

Toast seeds 03:00

Mix the filling

Combine the ground pumpkin seed paste with diced tomatoes, chopped onion, palm oil, minced scotch bonnet, and salt. Mix until everything is well incorporated.

Wrap in banana leaves

Soften banana leaves by briefly passing them over an open flame or blanching in hot water. Place a generous scoop of the mixture in the centre of each leaf and fold into a secure parcel, tying with kitchen string or strips of banana leaf.

Kitchen noteDouble-wrap the parcels to prevent leaking during steaming.

Steam the parcels

Place parcels in a steamer basket or in a pot with a small amount of water at the bottom. Cover and steam for 40-45 minutes until the filling is firm and cooked through.

Kitchen noteCheck water level halfway through — do not let the pot run dry.

Steam liboke 45:00

Serve

Unwrap the parcels at the table for a dramatic presentation. Serve with fufu or boiled plantains.

Kitchen noteThe banana leaf aroma is part of the experience — serve immediately after unwrapping.

Fish, pork, cassava leaves, and pumpkin seed parcels all sit inside the wider liboke family.

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 Everyday meals, Lent, plant-based dining. Plan on a medium cook. Allow about 65 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Fufu or boiled plantains

Follow the collection

Vegetarian Africa is the easiest collection to explore after this dish. Vegetarian Africa

Regional lane

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

Chef watch-outs

Overcooking the greens until the color and texture collapse.
Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
Adding all seasoning early and forgetting to adjust at the end.

How you know it is ready

Greens should be cooked through but still look alive and glossy.
The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
Oil, sauce, broth, or steam should look settled and deliberate.

Recipe photos

See the dish before you cook

Take a closer look at the dish and its serving ideas.

Liboke ya Mbika recipe from Democratic Republic of Congo — Liboke ya Mbika finished dish

Chef board

Build the table around Liboke ya Mbika

Fufu or boiled plantains

Best route from here

Democratic Republic of Congo national table

Collections to keep cooking

Vegetarian African Classics

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