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Meat, Africa and overseas

Chicken luwombo with rice

Chicken luwombo is a Ugandan dish where chicken thighs steam inside sealed parcels with tomatoes, onions and mushrooms, served with rice. For 4 people, it takes about 1h40, at a medium difficulty level, for around €3.20 per serving. The key to success is sealing the parcels tightly so the trapped steam cooks the chicken in its own juices.

Tonight, Uganda lands in your oven with a luwombo, chicken steamed in its own parcel with tomatoes and onions, served with rice.

Chicken luwombo with rice
Total time
1 h 40
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
590 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Luwombo gets its charm from this steaming method, each chicken thigh cooks alone in its own little parcel, surrounded by tomatoes that soften into sauce and mushrooms that flavor the juices. The result is meat that falls off the bone, moist and soaked in a juice concentrated with tomato, garlic and ginger. Plain rice sits underneath, perfect for soaking up that sauce.

It is a dish that asks for a bit of organization but no complicated technique, ideal for a Sunday when the oven does the work while you handle something else. Kids generally love opening their own parcel at the table, and the tender chicken goes down easily, even with picky eaters.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 4
  • Onion 3
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 1 tsp
  • Button mushrooms 200 g

Pantry

  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Parchment paperoften in the pantry 1
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Slice the tomatoes and onions into rounds and thinly slice the mushrooms.

    Leave small mushrooms whole, they release less water.

  2. Rub the chicken thighs with the garlic, ginger, oil, salt and pepper.

    Score the flesh lightly so the seasoning soaks in better.

  3. On each large sheet of parchment paper, layer onions, a chicken thigh, then tomatoes and mushrooms.

    Shape each sheet into a bowl before filling it so you do not lose any juice.

  4. Close the parcels by folding them over on themselves several times, wrap them in foil and put them in the oven. 1 h 15

    Double wrap in foil, this stands in for the traditional banana leaf.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water and serve it with the contents of the parcels. 11 min

    Pour all the cooking juices over the rice, they are delicious.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use parchment sheets large enough to fold the edges over several times without tearing, otherwise the juices leak out during cooking.
  • Cut the tomatoes and mushrooms into even pieces so they cook at the same rate as the chicken.
  • Check doneness by opening just one parcel after 75 minutes, the meat should pull away easily from the bone.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thighs for a faster cook and easier eating for little ones.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with eggplant and sweet potato chunks, the cooking time stays about the same.
  • To save time, cook the parcels in a covered skillet for 35 to 40 minutes instead of the oven, the result stays close.

What to serve it with

  • Steamed plantain
  • Fresh tomato salad
  • Ginger tea

Storage

Chicken luwombo keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, with chicken and rice stored separately. It freezes well for up to 2 months once unwrapped from the parcel. Reheat gently in a skillet or oven with a splash of water to bring back the juices.

Questions about this dish

Can you prep the parcels ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the parcels the day before and keep them in the fridge. Let them sit out briefly before cooking so they are not too cold going into the oven.

Can you use banana leaves instead of parchment paper?

If you can find banana leaves, they bring the traditional luwombo flavor. Blanch them briefly in hot water to soften before wrapping.

Is this dish good for kids?

Yes, the meat turns very tender and the flavor stays mild despite the garlic and ginger. You can cut back slightly on the ginger if your kids are sensitive to strong flavors.

What if the parcels release a lot of liquid?

That is normal, the tomatoes and mushrooms release plenty of water as they cook. Keep that juice, it pairs very well with the rice when serving.

How long does it take to make a chicken luwombo with rice?

Count 1 h 40 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a chicken luwombo with rice?

About 590 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a chicken luwombo with rice cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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