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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Waakye, rice and beans with hard boiled egg

Waakye is a Ghanaian dish of rice and beans cooked together, tinted reddish brown with a tea infusion, served with a hard boiled egg, a bold tomato sauce, and salad. For 4 people, it takes 1 hour, rates as easy, and costs about €2.20 per person. The key is getting that rice color right and reducing the sauce until it clings to the grains.

Tonight, the dish Ghanaians eat at any hour, waakye with rice and beans, a hard boiled egg, and a bold tomato sauce.

Waakye, rice and beans with hard boiled egg
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.20
Calories per person
510 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Waakye is the dish Ghanaians eat at any time of day, from breakfast to dinner. Rice and red beans cook together in water tinted by a tea infusion or sorghum leaves, which gives this dish its signature reddish brown color. The texture stays soft and comforting, lifted by a chili spiked tomato sauce that wakes up every bite.

It's a generous, complete meal, perfect for a weeknight dinner when you want to shake up the usual routine without much fuss. The hard boiled egg brings comfort and wins over kids, while the tomato sauce gives it character for more adventurous eaters. Mon Chou likes this kind of recipe, one that changes things up while still feeling approachable.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Long grain riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Canned red beansoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Black teaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Peanut oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Eggs 4

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 4
  • Onion 1
  • Fresh chili 1
  • Green salad 1

Allergens Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Steep the tea in half a liter of hot water, then strain it and keep this colored liquid. 5 min

    A very strong tea gives a nice tint without too much bitterness.

  2. Mix the rinsed rice and drained beans in a pot, add the tea, a bit of water, and salt. 5 min

    Use about one and a half times the rice volume in liquid.

  3. Cover and cook over low heat until the liquid is fully absorbed. 20 min

    Don't lift the lid, the steam finishes the cooking.

  4. Hard boil the eggs in boiling water, then peel them. 10 min

    Drop them in ice water, they'll peel cleanly.

  5. Blend the tomatoes, onion, and chili, cook the sauce in a bit of oil, then serve with the rice, eggs, and salad. 10 min

    Simmer the sauce a few extra minutes so it really coats the rice.

Our tips to get it right

  • Rinse the rice well before cooking to remove excess starch, the grains stay more separate once cooked.
  • Taste the chili before adding it whole, some are much hotter than others depending on the season.
  • Make the tomato sauce while the rice cooks covered, you save time without burning anything.

The variations

  • Swap the canned red beans for black beans or black eyed peas for a different flavor.
  • For an egg free version, add chunks of avocado or grilled tofu instead.
  • To go faster with hungry kids, skip the tea step and just use water, the rice will be paler but still good.

What to serve it with

  • A crisp green salad
  • Fried plantain chips
  • Homemade ginger juice

Storage

Waakye keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, ideally with rice, sauce, and eggs stored separately. The rice and beans freeze well, but it's best to make the sauce and eggs fresh when serving. Reheat the rice in a pot with a splash of water so it doesn't dry out.

Questions about this dish

Can I use something other than black tea to color the rice?

Yes, dried red sorghum leaves give the traditional color. If you can't find them, strongly brewed black tea is the easiest substitute.

Can waakye be made ahead?

You can cook the rice and beans a few hours ahead and reheat gently. The tomato sauce and hard boiled eggs taste best made fresh just before serving.

Which chili should I use when cooking for kids?

Pick a mild chili or remove the seeds to tone down the heat. You can also serve the sauce on the side so everyone adjusts it to their own taste.

Can I use dried beans instead of canned?

Yes, but soak them overnight and precook them for about 40 minutes before mixing with the rice. Canned beans stay the quicker option for a weeknight dinner.

How long does it take to make a waakye with a hard boiled egg?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a waakye with a hard boiled egg?

About 510 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a waakye with a hard boiled egg cost?

About €2.20 per serving, or €8.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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