{"id":"waakye_d6547f5a81","slug":"waakye","title":"Waakye","description":"A classic Ghanaian staple of rice and beans cooked with dried sorghum leaves, giving it a signature deep reddish-brown color and a unique earthy aroma.","serves":6,"time":{"prepMinutes":10,"cookMinutes":60,"totalMinutes":70,"activeMinutes":15},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"1 cup dried black-eyed peas or red beans","name":"Black-eyed peas","quantity":200,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"cup","form":"dried","notes":"can substitute with red beans; must be soaked overnight","group":"Main","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"2 cups long-grain white rice","name":"White Rice","quantity":400,"unit":"g","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"cup","form":"long-grain","notes":"jasmine or parboiled rice works best","group":"Main","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"6-8 dried sorghum stalks/leaves","name":"Sorghum leaves","quantity":8,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":8,"usUnit":"piece","form":"dried","notes":"also known as waakye leaves; provides the color","group":"Main","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"6 cups water","name":"Water","quantity":1.42,"unit":"l","usQuantity":6,"usUnit":"cup","form":"liquid","notes":"","group":"Main","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"1 teaspoon salt","name":"Salt","quantity":5,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"fine","notes":"adjust to taste","group":"Main","optional":false}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"Rinse the soaked beans and place them in a large pot with 6 cups of water and the dried sorghum leaves. Bring to a boil at 100°C (212°F).","group":"Cooking the Beans","title":"Rinse the soaked beans","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Cooking the Beans"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the beans are tender and the water has turned a deep wine/red color from the leaves.","group":"Cooking the Beans","title":"Reduce heat and simmer","timerMinutes":40,"sourceTitle":"Cooking the Beans"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"Wash the rice thoroughly and add it to the pot with the beans and leaf-infused water. Add salt and stir.","group":"Cooking the Rice","title":"Wash the rice thoroughly","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Cooking the Rice"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"If the water is too low, add a little more hot water so it sits about 1 inch above the rice. Cover tightly and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed.","group":"Cooking the Rice","title":"If the water is too low","timerMinutes":20,"sourceTitle":"Cooking the Rice"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"Once cooked, remove and discard the sorghum leaves. Fluff the rice and beans together with a fork.","group":"Finishing","title":"Remove and discard the sorghum leaves","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Finishing"}],"notes":"The deep color of Waakye comes specifically from the dried sorghum leaves (waakye leaves). If you cannot find them, you can use a tiny pinch of baking soda to help soften the beans, though you won't get the same color. Always serve with Shito (black pepper sauce) and fried plantains for the authentic experience.","cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ghanaian"]},"course":["main"],"cookingMethod":["boil","simmer"],"equipment":["large pot","fork","colander"],"diet":["vegan","vegetarian","high_protein","gluten_free","dairy_free"],"allergens":[],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":6,"unit":"servings","note":"Yields approximately 8-9 cups of cooked rice and beans"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"The beans can be soaked up to 24 hours in advance. The dish itself holds its color well and can be made a day ahead."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.","reheatingNotes":"Reheat on the stove with a splash of water to keep the rice moist, or microwave covered."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fwaakye_d6547f5a81%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=32cd4d44-ef01-46b1-86c4-c3b2eec9a26f","imageAlt":"Waakye — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["ghanaian","rice and beans","waakye","african cuisine","high protein","vegan friendly","street food"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"Waakye","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T22:00:45.188Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T22:00:45.188Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_17142e2daf","slug":"asida-traditional-african-porridge","title":"Asida (Traditional African Porridge)","description":"A thick, smooth, cooked flour pudding popular across North and East Africa, typically served with melted butter and honey or date syrup for a comforting breakfast.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":5,"cookMinutes":25,"totalMinutes":30,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Sudanese","Libyan"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_17142e2daf%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=e46cb0f8-07cd-453d-8e07-df1274fe8fc9","imageAlt":"Asida (Traditional African Porridge) — recipe cover","tags":["porridge","traditional","sweet","dough","filling","soft"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_e6582a3999","slug":"firfir-ethiopian-breakfast-fit-fit","title":"Firfir (Ethiopian Breakfast Fit-fit)","description":"A classic savory Ethiopian breakfast made with torn pieces of injera soaked in a spicy, flavorful sauce of berbere spice, aromatics, and spiced clarified butter.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":10,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":25,"activeMinutes":15},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ethiopian","Eritrean"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_e6582a3999%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=f2f625e4-ee9c-425d-8c20-8e0103664b3e","imageAlt":"Firfir (Ethiopian Breakfast Fit-fit) — recipe cover","tags":["firfir","ethiopian","spicy","breakfast","injera","african"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":10,"stepCount":5},{"id":"recipe_18a4e55c12","slug":"kitfo-ethiopian-minced-beef","title":"Kitfo (Ethiopian Minced Beef)","description":"A traditional Ethiopian delicacy featuring finely minced lean beef seasoned with spicy mitmita and rich, aromatic niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter).","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":5,"totalMinutes":20,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ethiopian"]},"course":["main"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["high_protein","gluten_free","low_carb"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_18a4e55c12%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=aeedadce-d5d5-4aa2-aa31-f13472950759","imageAlt":"Kitfo (Ethiopian Minced Beef) — recipe cover","tags":["beef","spicy","ethiopian","kitfo","high-protein","african-cuisine"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":4}]}