Waakye is a popular Ghanaian dish made from rice and beans cooked together with dried millet leaves, giving the rice a unique reddish color. It's often served with a variety of sides like fried plantains, boiled eggs.
Ingredients
1 cup black-eyed peas or cowpeas
1 cup long-grain rice
2 cups dried millet leaves (waakye leaves)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups water
Vegetable oil for frying (optional)
Optional sides: fried plantains, boiled eggs, shito, fried fish or meat
Instructions
Soak the Beans: Rinse the black-eyed peas and soak them overnight in water.
Prepare the Leaves: Boil the dried millet leaves in 4 cups of water for about 15 minutes until the water turns
a reddish color. Remove the leaves and keep the coloured water.
Cook the Beans: In a large pot, add the soaked beans, baking soda, and enough water to cover them.
Bring to a boil and cook for about 30-45 minutes until the beans are tender.
Add the Rice: Once the beans are cooked, remove the leaves and add the rice, salt, and the colored water to
the pot. Stir well to combine.
Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about
30-40 minutes until the rice and beans are fully cooked and the water is absorbed.
Serve: Remove from heat and fluff the rice with a fork. Serve hot with your choice of sides.