Vegan
Gluten freeWali wa nazi
Coconut rice
Wali wa nazi: Mombasa rice cooked in coconut milk
Coconut rice sits under almost every coastal plate from Mombasa's Old Town to Malindi, beside bean stews, mchuzi wa samaki or a simple tomato salad. Swahili cooks use two coconut milks: a thin one to cook the grains, and the rich first pressing poured over at the end, so the rice is fluffy, faintly sweet and fragrant rather than greasy. Done right, the bottom of the pot forms ukoko, a golden crust that families argue over. Long-grain pishori or basmati works best, and stirring after the thick milk goes in is the mistake that turns it gluey, so leave it alone. Chef's tip: lift the lid only once, at the end; the trapped steam finishes the grains and sets the crust.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 480 kcal
Ingredients
- 14 oz pishori or basmati rice
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milka tin, shaken well
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rinse 14 oz pishori or basmati rice in several changes of cold water until it runs almost clear, then drain well.
Step 2: In a heavy pot, mix half of the ¾ cup coconut milk with 2 cups water and 1 tsp salt to make the thin milk, and bring it to the boil over a medium-high heat.
4 minStep 3: Add the rice, stir once and boil uncovered until the liquid drops below the surface of the rice and small holes appear on top.
8 minStep 4: Pour the rest of the ¾ cup coconut milk evenly over the rice without stirring. Cover tightly, turn the heat to the lowest setting and cook until the grains are tender and the milk is absorbed.
15 minStep 5: For ukoko, leave the pot on a low-medium heat for a further 3 minutes, until you smell toasting coconut but no burning. Turn off the heat and rest 5 minutes, covered.
3 minStep 6: Fluff the rice with a fork and serve, scraping up the golden crust from the bottom.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 78 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does wali wa nazi take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of pishori or basmati rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
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