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

Liboke ya Mbika

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

What to know before you cook

Liboke is the art of letting banana leaves season the food while they protect it. Here, ground pumpkin seeds steam into a rich mbika parcel with tomato, onion, palm oil, and chile.

What the dish tastes like

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

When to cook it

Best for Everyday meals, Lent, plant-based dining, with a medium cooking level and 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 verified 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.

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.

Do 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.

Double-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.

Check 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.

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

Liboke ya Mbika

What to know before you cook

See the dish before you cook

Build the table around Liboke ya Mbika

Step-by-step method

Liboke ya Mbika

What to know before you cook

See the dish before you cook

Build the table around Liboke ya Mbika

Step-by-step method

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