If you are in Lagos and you have not tasted this sumptuous meal, Waakye rice and beans which is a variety of the usual rice and beans. Then, perhaps you need to find the right place to experience this “mannaly” meal. ‘Waakye’ is hawked around in Lagos. It is a known Ghana recipe and just like the feel of ‘awa agoyin’ stew, Waakye stew is just deific. It is usually sold at bus terminals or street corners. If you need a meal to impress your “in-law’s taste buds”, this meal is a sure way to go. It is a popular street food and one you can have on the go. With its height of popularity in Nigeria, it can officially be adopted as our food.
Waakye Rice and Beans
Ingredients:
2 cups of Kidney Beans or Red Beans or black eye beans
1 cup of Long grain rice.
½ tea spoon of baking soda/ Sorghum Leaves also called ‘kporokporo’
Salt to taste
Method:
Soak your preferred beans over the night to make it soft for use or for Three to Four Hours during the day.
Wash the beans thoroughly to remove stones found.
Boil the soaked beans for 15 minutes.
Wash and cut your sorghum leaves. Add to the beans. If it is not available, add a little soda to the cooking beans. To give it the desired colour of “waakye”
Season with salt.
Also, wash your rice.
Add your washed rice into the beans.
Make sure you have enough water.
Allow to boil for 30 more minutes, then, your “waakye” is ready to eat.
Add meat and fish to the mixture and serve hot.
‘Waakye stew’
Ingredients:
Fresh Tomatoes (blended) or 2 canned Tomatoes
1 Canned Tomato Paste
Onion bulb
Fresh ginger
Garlic
2 teaspoon of curry powder
Black pepper
2 bay leaves
Oil
Salt to taste.
Maggi
Method:
Blend your tomatoes, onions, ginger, and garlic.
Pour cooking oil on the fire.
Fry your onions in the oil
Pour your blended tomato mixture, add your tomato paste into the oil.
Stir and all0w to cook for about 30 minutes.
You can add your meat and fish if preferred.
Add your seasons: Salt, Maggi, Curry powder, Black pepper, Bay leaves.
Allow to cook for about 10 more minutes or till the desired dark brown colour is reached.
Please taste the stew, your desired meal is ready.
Health Benefits:
There are so many benefits you can get. Rice and Beans both contain dietary protein. Rice is considered as carbohydrates, Beans is said to be filled with proteins. While eating only rice or beans can have a whole lot of nutritional deficiencies. Both of them served together act as cheques and balances, covering up for the lapses of the other. Beans are filled with potassium, fibre, iron, magnesium, among other minerals. There is also the great intake of vitamins involved in the serving.
