HOW TO PREPARE WAAKYE.

“Waakye” (pronounced ‘wah-chay’) is a popular Ghanaian dish made with rice and beans, usually black-eyed peas or cowpeas. The unique characteristic of Waakye is its reddish-brown color, which comes from dried millet leaves (known as sorghum leaves) or the use of baking soda.

Here’s a simple recipe for preparing Waakye:

Ingredients:
2 cups of rice
1 cup of black-eyed peas or cowpeas
Dried millet leaves (sorghum leaves) or 1 teaspoon of baking soda (for coloring)
Salt to taste
4 cups of water
Optional ingredients:
Dried fish or smoked fish
Meat (beef, goat, or chicken)
Pepper, tomatoes, and onions for stew
Spices (e.g., garlic, ginger)
Vegetable oil
Instructions:
Preparation of Beans: Soak the black-eyed peas or cowpeas overnight or for at least 6 hours to soften them. After soaking, rinse the beans in clean water and put them in a pot.

Add Coloring: If you are using the dried millet leaves, wash them thoroughly and add them to the beans. If you’re using baking soda, you can add it to the beans at this point. Then, cover the beans with water and bring to a boil. Allow the beans to simmer until they are half-cooked.

Rice Preparation: Wash the rice thoroughly and add it to the half-cooked beans. Mix well and add salt to taste.

Cooking: Add enough water to cover the rice and beans mixture. Let it simmer on medium heat until the rice and beans are well-cooked and the water is absorbed. During cooking, you can remove the millet leaves once the desired color is achieved. The rice should be separate, and the beans should be soft but not mushy.

Serve: Waakye is traditionally served with some accompaniments. Common sides include stew (made with meat, fish, tomatoes, onions, and pepper), “shito” (pepper sauce), fried plantains, boiled eggs, avocado, and “gari” (grated cassava). The combination depends on personal preferences.

Note: The steps above provide a basic recipe for Waakye. However, different regions and individuals might have variations in their methods and ingredients. Adjust according to your personal taste and enjoy your homemade Ghanaian Waakye!