The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Burundian Foods. If you manage to be in an Burundian restaurant or you are visiting Burundi, I recommend the following:
1. Nyama
It is meat grilled over an open charcoal fire, which is just an African version of barbecue. Barbecue is a special process during which the meat is slowly grilled over red hot coals or over a campfire. It is usually served with basic vegetables, known as sukuma wiki (cabbage), and ugali (maize meal).
2. Mukéké
It is a locally caught fish, often steamed over a fire.
3. Spicy Carrots
It is a side dish of carrots mixed with mustard seeds and chillies.
4. Ndagala
It is a type of small fish like sardine or shad, very common in the region and very popular in Burundian food.
5. Brochette
These are skewers of barbecued meat, most commonly goat. Depending on the social class or a festival, you may see offal skewers with rice, but this variety is eaten only a few times a year.
6. Ndizi
Meaning plantain in Swahili, this recipe is very typical in Burundi and several surrounding countries, especially the plantain fried in palm oil. It can be eaten alone as a snack or to accompany other dishes. Green or yellow plantain should be used, with the green one it will be more like a crisp, with the yellow one we will get a sweeter snack.
7. Ibiharage
Beans, especially red kidney beans, is the most common food in Burundi, the dish is called Ibiharage. It is red kidney beans, simply stewed with onions and chili.
8. Renga Renga
This is a famous Burundian dish. It is a potato and peanut leaf stew made with potato leaves, peanuts, tomato and oil. It is usually eaten with rice. It is usually served at lunchtime.
9. Boko Boko
It is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most popular dishes in the Persian Gulf. Chicken cooked with bulgur, onion and turmeric.
10. Bugali
This is the staple food of cassava root powder. It is as common as the neighboring Congo, however, it is different from the Tanzanian (from maize meal). You could say it is a simple tasting carbohydrate staple served at almost every meal.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional African Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.