Kamundele (Congolese Beef Skewers with Pili-Pili)
In short: Garlicky ginger-lime beef cubes grilled on skewers until charred at the edges and served with onion and a fiery fresh pili-pili sauce. It takes about 32 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 32 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 300 kcal
Kamundele are the grilled beef skewers sold at roadside stands and open-air bars across Kinshasa, usually after dark. The beef is marinated with onion, garlic, ginger and lime, grilled over charcoal and served on a plate with raw onion, fried plantains or chikwangue and a bowl of pili-pili. The sauce is meant to be hot. Everything is eaten with the fingers, often with a cold drink.
Instructions
- Mix the grated onion, garlic, ginger, lime juice, oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the beef and turn to coat, then marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Soak about 12 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes so they do not burn.
- Make the sauce by mashing the chilies with the salt in a mortar, or chop them very fine. Stir in the onion, tomato, lime juice and oil and set aside.
- Thread the beef onto the skewers, leaving a small gap between the pieces. Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high.
- Grill the skewers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until charred in spots and cooked to at least 63°C (145°F) inside.
- Rest the skewers for 3 minutes, then serve with the pili-pili sauce, sliced onion and fried plantains.
Tips
- Marinate overnight if you can. The lime juice and onion tenderize the beef, and the flavor goes deeper.
- Goat shoulder or chicken thighs work the same way. Goat needs a longer, gentler cook of about 20 to 25 minutes over medium heat. Cook chicken until it reaches 74°C (165°F) inside, and goat until tender and cooked through.
Questions and answers
How hot is pili-pili sauce?
Very hot, because it uses small, fiery chilies. For a medium heat, remove the seeds and use only one or two chilies.
Can I cook kamundele in the oven?
Yes. Broil the skewers on a rack for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, or cook them in a hot grill pan. You will lose some of the charcoal flavor.
What do you serve with kamundele?
In Kinshasa they come with raw sliced onion, pili-pili, fried plantains (makemba) or chikwangue. A simple tomato and cucumber salad also works.
How long does it take to make Kamundele (Congolese Beef Skewers with Pili-Pili)?
About 32 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kamundele (Congolese Beef Skewers with Pili-Pili)?
About 300 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 6 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 300 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
