Lenga-lenga

Name: Lenga-lenga
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 500 g amaranth leaves, stalks removed, chopped; 1 onion, sliced; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 2 tbsp neutral vegetable oil; ¾ tsp salt; 2 tbsp peanut butter (optional)

Vegetarian

Tender amaranth leaves wilted with onion, tomato and garlic, sometimes enriched with a spoon of peanut butter. A common green side in Burundi, Rwanda and the DR Congo.

Lenga-lenga is a Burundian side dish, ready in about 22 minutes and made with amaranth leaves, onion and tomato. It serves 4 and is rated beginner to cook.

Start cooking

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Prep: 10 min
Cook: 12 min
Total: 22 min
Serves: 4
Level: Beginner
Calories: 114

Ingredients

4 servings

500 g Amaranth leaves (opens in a new tab), stalks removed, choppedSwap: Spinach
1 (110 g) Onion (opens in a new tab), sliced
2 (240 g) Tomatoes (opens in a new tab), chopped
2 cloves (8 g) Garlic (opens in a new tab), crushed
2 tbsp (27 g) Neutral vegetable oil (opens in a new tab)
¾ tsp (4.5 g) Salt (opens in a new tab)
2 tbsp (32 g) Peanut butter (opens in a new tab) (optional)Contains peanuts

Equipment

Frying pan / skillet (opens in a new tab)

Method

1
Step 1
Wash the amaranth leaves (opens in a new tab) in two changes of water, strip off the tough stalks and chop.
- 5 min
2
Step 2
Fry the onion (opens in a new tab) in the oil until soft, add the garlic (opens in a new tab) and tomatoes (opens in a new tab) and cook until saucy.
- 6 min
- medium heat
- Frying pan / skillet (opens in a new tab)
How it looks · Photo: Magda Ehlers on Pexels
3
Step 3
Add the amaranth and salt and toss until wilted and tender. Stir in the peanut butter (opens in a new tab) if using.
- 6 min
- medium heat

About this dish

Origin: Not attributed to one place · Origin uncertainAmaranth greens are cooked like this across Central and East Africa.Also popular in Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Zambia
Dish: Lunch · Dinner · Side dishes
Cooking method: Sautéed
Taste: earthy, fresh, mild
Diet: Vegan · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free
All labels
Vegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · DASH-style
Without the optional extras: No nut ingredientsWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for: One-pan · Budget-friendly · Everyday
Cook more with: Amaranth leaves · Onion · Tomato · Garlic
Techniques: Sautéing

Allergens

Contains, can be adapted: Peanutsfrom peanut butter

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

114 kcal per serving

Calculated

1 serving ≈ 222 g · recipe makes 4

Where the energy comes from

Protein 13%
Carbohydrate 34%
Fat 53%

Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
Nutrient	Per serving	Per 100 g*
Energy	114 kcal	51 kcal
Protein	4 g	1.8 g
Carbohydrate	10.6 g	4.8 g
Net carbohydrate	—	—
Sugars	—	—
Added sugars	0 g	0 g
Fibre	—	—
Fat	7.4 g	3.3 g
Saturated fat	0.6 g	0.3 g
Trans fat	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	466 mg	210 mg
Salt equivalent	1.2 g	0.5 g

Vitamins & minerals per serving

Potassium: 954 mg
Calcium: 285 mg
Iron: 3.2 mg
Magnesium: 79 mg
Vitamin A (RAE): 208 µg
Vitamin C: 65 mg
Vitamin D: 0 µg
Vitamin B12: 0 µg
Folate (DFE): 121 µg

How these numbers were made

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
*Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
Optional ingredients are not included: peanut butter.
“—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

Add a spoon of peanut butter loosened with water for a creamier, more filling dish.

Common mistakes

Overcooking the greens — they should be tender but still bright green.

Serve with

Serve with beans, ugali or rice.

Storage

Keeps 2 days refrigerated.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added 27 Oct 2026 · Updated 8 Nov 2026

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Compare with

Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

Amaranth leaves, stalks removed, chopped500 g
Tomato, chopped2 piece · 240 g
Peanut butter (optional)2 tbsp · 32 g

Used in steps 1, 2, 3

Reviews & corrections

Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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