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Riz gras
Mali and Burkina Faso's "fat rice", cooked in a rich beef and tomato stew
Riz gras is the celebration rice of Bamako and Ouagadougou, cooked in big pots for weddings, Tabaski and family Sundays. Beef is simmered with onion, tomato and garlic into a rich stew, and the rice is cooked in that broth until every grain is orange and glossy, with the meat and vegetables piled on top. The mistake is adding too much liquid, which turns the rice soggy; measure it. Chef's tip: fry the rice in the stew's oil for a minute before adding the broth, so the grains stay separate.
- Total time
- 125 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Season 1 ¾ lb beef chuck with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Heat ½ cup vegetable oil in a large pot and brown the beef in batches for 5 minutes each. Set aside.
12 minStep 2: Add 2 onions to the pot and cook for 8 minutes, then 5 garlic cloves and 4 tbsp tomato paste for 3 minutes, then 3 tomatoes for 5 minutes until thick.
16 minStep 3: Return the beef with 1 beef stock cube, 2 bay leaves and 6 ¾ cups water. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, until the beef is almost tender.
60 minStep 4: Add 3 carrots, ¼ small cabbage and 1 small aubergine and cook for 15 minutes until tender. Lift out the vegetables and the beef with a slotted spoon and keep warm.
15 minStep 5: Measure the broth: you need 1 litre; add water or boil to reduce. Add the rest of 1 tsp salt, 1 ⅛ lb long-grain rice and 1 scotch bonnet chilli, stir once and bring to the boil.
Step 6: Cover tightly and cook over a very low heat for 20 minutes, until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
20 minStep 7: Fluff the rice, pile it on a platter and arrange the beef and vegetables on top. Cool leftovers quickly and chill within 1 hour; rice keeps 1 day and must be reheated until piping hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 620 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 78 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does riz gras take?
- About 125 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 100 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- 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 onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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