How to cook Ghanaian Waakye

Wenslie T. Kodua, Staff Writer

Waakye is a Ghanaian dish made with beans and rice. In preparing waakye it’s main ingredients are rice, black eyed beans, parchment paper/ plastic bag and most importantly Sorghum Bicolor leaf sheets (dried Ghana waakye leaves).

There is not a specific amount of rice, water or beans used, you use it according to how many people you are preparing it for. Start of by boiling 8 cups of water in your pot.  At its boiling point you add four cups of blacked eyed beans.

With the blacked eyed beans you add your Sorghum Bicolor leaf sheets. This gives the beans and rice it’s red or burgundy like color. When your beans are half way cooked, you then add your rice.

Add a pinch of salt for flavor. Place your parchment paper on top of the pot of cooked rice to retain heat. Allow you rice and beans to cook on low eat for 30-40 minutes till it’s tender and ready to eat.

The typical meal includes side dishes such as spaghetti, stew, gari, fried fish or fried meat, boiled eggs, vegetable salad, and other sides of choice.

In preparing the stew you will need to have your stew beef seasoned and cooked. Additional fish to fry if you choose, your beef stock, cooking oil or any oil of preference, four small tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 whole yellow/white onions, 1 garlic clove, 1 ginger and pepper of choice. Needed Stew spices are 1 magi cube and dash of nutmeg.

Start of by frying your seasoned and cooked beef at 320 degrees for 2-3 minutes until a golden brown. Then chop 1 whole onion and set it aside. Heat up some oil in your pan and once hot add your chopped onion. Let it fry till its golden brown and not burnt.

If you decided to add fish fry your fish at 360 Fahrenheit or higher depending on the fish size for 8 minutes till properly cooked. Meanwhile chop 2 whole tomatoes and add it to your frying onions as well as the diced tomatoes. Next add your spices, then your tomato paste or tomato sauce, and then add your beef stock.

Lower your heat and allow your stew to cook for 20 minutes. If there are any remaining spices you wish to add pour it in your stew. Halfway cooking add your meat so it could marinate with the sauce.

Your meal is now ready to be served. Add your side dishes to choosing and enjoy!