Lamprais with Fonio Curry

Pass each banana leaf over a gas flame until it becomes pliable and glossy. Trim off the tough central stalk to create 4 roughly 30x30 cm squares. Set aside.

Rinse the fonio in a fine-mesh sieve under cold water. In a small saucepan, toast the fonio over medium heat for 2 minutes to enhance its nutty flavor. Add 1 ½ cups water, a pinch of salt, and the pandan leaf if using. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.

Cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion, garlic, ginger, and green chilies until fragrant (5 minutes). Add the turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and Sri Lankan curry powder. Stir for 1 minute until aromatic. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until well-coated. Pour in 200 ml of coconut milk and 100 ml water. Season with salt. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender and the gravy thickens. Remove from heat.

In a separate pan, heat 1 tbsp oil. Sauté the eggplant cubes until lightly browned (5–7 minutes). Add ½ tsp turmeric, a pinch of curry powder, and a splash of water. Cook until soft (5 minutes). Set aside.

Lay a banana leaf square on a flat surface, shiny side up. In the center, mound a portion of fonio. Top with a generous spoonful of chicken curry (with sauce), a few eggplant pieces, and two half eggs. Fold the leaf tightly to form a neat rectangular parcel, securing the ends by folding or tying with kitchen twine. Repeat for the remaining parcels.

Place the parcels seam-side down in a baking dish. Pour the remaining coconut milk and any leftover curry sauce around the parcels (not directly on top). Cover the dish with foil and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes to lightly toast the exposed banana leaf.

Open each parcel at the table allowing the aromas to escape. Serve hot with additional sambol on the side if desired.