This quotation from L'Encyclopèdie Pahouine (the adjective "Pahouin" refers to the Fang people of Central Africa), describes a banana-leaf recipe of the Fang people. L'Encyclopèdie Pahouine was written in 1901 by M. Largeau. The quotation appears in Cuisine Africaine: Specialites du Gabon (Editions Universelles, Toulouse, 1985)
banana leaves
meat or fish
salt
pepper
esu
In an envelope of double or triple banana leaves, wrap meat or fish, salt, pepper and "Esu", a substitute of our onion, plus a sufficient quantity of water. Cook this either in a pot, or directly over a fire low enough not to burn the banana leaves. One thus obtains a sauce called "nnani" which is eaten with manioc; one dips a handful of manioc into the sauce. It's excellent!
country : Gabon
course : meat dish