Food of Burundi

Burundian cuisine relies on beans, sweet potato, cassava and plantain, with ugali-like ubugali and boiled maize. Meat is a treat, and fish from Lake Tanganyika features on the lakeshore. Dishes are mild and filling.

National dish

Beans and plantain

Staples

  • beans
  • cassava
  • sweet potato
  • plantain
  • maize

Signature flavors

  • onion
  • tomato
  • palm oil
  • chili

Main dishes

Ibiharage

A traditional dish of Burundi made with beans, onion, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: beans, onion
Ubugali
Ubugali

A traditional dish of Burundi made with cassava flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: cassava flour
Isombe

A traditional dish of Burundi made with cassava leaves, palm oil, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: cassava leaves, palm oil
Brochettes

A traditional dish of Burundi made with goat, beef, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: goat, beef
Fish from Lake Tanganyika

A traditional dish of Burundi made with fish, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: fish

Breakfast

Mandazi
Mandazi

A traditional breakfast dish of Burundi made with flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flourFull guide →
Sweet potato

A traditional breakfast dish of Burundi made with sweet potato, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: sweet potato

Street food

Roasted corn

A traditional street snack of Burundi made with corn, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: corn

Desserts and sweets

Bananas in syrup

A traditional sweet treat of Burundi made with banana, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: banana

Drinks

Burundi coffee

A traditional drink of Burundi made with coffee, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coffee
Banana juice

A traditional drink of Burundi made with banana, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: banana

Fruits and produce

Banana
Banana

Banana is a well-loved fruit or crop in Burundi, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: bananaFull guide →
Passion fruit
Passion fruit

Passion fruit is a well-loved fruit or crop in Burundi, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: passion fruitFull guide →
Avocado
Avocado

Avocado is a well-loved fruit or crop in Burundi, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: avocadoFull guide →

Dish guides from Burundi

Avocado
AvocadoFruits
Banana
BananaFruits
Mandazi
MandaziBreakfast
Passion fruit
Passion fruitFruits
Explore Burundi on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Eastern Africa

About this page

Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.

Photo credits
  • Ugali & Sukuma Wiki: Paresh Jai from Nairobi, Kenya, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Bowl of mandazi: The original uploader was ChildofMidnight at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • 14-QWSTION-BANANATEX-STRIPPING-LAUSCHSICHT: BANANATEX, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Passiflora edulis forma flavicarpa: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Persea americana fruit 2: B.navez, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)