Plain Rice: All the Many Ways to Enjoy This Popular Dish

As rice becomes a staple food in Ghana, you can’t overlook all the many ways you can enjoy it. One of the simplest ways to enjoy a quick rice dish is what’s popularly called plain rice.

It’s just a cup or two of rice, cooked with no extras, like, say, jollof rice or waakye.

While it may be tempting to feel bored about the plain rice business – at least when compared to other flashy siblings like fried rice, you’re not without options to enjoy your plain rice. Over the years, I’ve spoken to people who have shared with me creative ways to enjoy a dish of plain rice. It comes with pairing it with any of the options listed below.

With good old ground pepper

While many people are quick to suggest banku or kenkey when we talk about foods you can eat with fresh ground pepper, plain rice deserves a fair shout in those conversations. When you get the right proportion of pepper, tomatoes, ginger, and onions to suit your tastes just fine, you’ll enjoy this combo.

Add your favorite serving of fish (tuna, salmon, anchovies, eggs for those who love those), and you have a highly nutritious, filling dish of plain rice. Just make sure you brush your teeth not long after. This combination is especially recommended for those who wish to avoid the extra oil in most stews.

Plain rice with groundnut soup

Think groundnut soup only goes with fufu or that Sunday afternoon omutuo? Think again. Groundnut soup works magic with plain rice, too. More points for when the soup has become a little thicker, making it as viscous as most traditional stews.

With palm nut soup

Similar to the ground nut soup treat, the plain rice + palm nut soup combo is another timeless classic that many food lovers swear by. If you’ve never tried it, give it a shot. You will love it, especially when the soup is thick.

With garden egg stew

Garden egg stew isn’t reserved for only yam or plantain slices (ampesi). It works just as well with plain rice. If you’ve never tried it, there’s always a first time.

If you’ve fallen out of love with this combo, you can always rediscover your spark. I’ve done plain rice and garden egg stew many times, and I’ve never regretted it. Garden eggs are rich in fiber, and that’s something you should always consider in your food choices.

With gravy stew

Love the exciting taste of simmering veggies and a mix of tomato paste, possibly with some salmon thrown in to boot? Well, this stew goes pretty well with plain rice. And really, it’s many people’s favorite. If it’s not your thing, you should consider trying it soon.

Even better, you can boil an egg to make things more delicious – and nutritious. Like many things, eat the egg cautiously and in moderation.

With beans stew

Someone once recommended I spread a few spoons of gari on this mix. I pleaded with them to lead me not into temptation. But seriously, plain rice with beans stew is another lovely option food (rice) lovers can’t get enough of.

It is satisfying, considering the beans double as protein and stew. Yes, the quality of this meal – and how much you would enjoy it – depends on how nice the beans stew is.

Just make sure the beans have no weevils before you cook it, it’s well cooked, and the oil used for the stew has no issues.

The only little gripe I’ve had with this combo is that it occasionally weighs me down when I eat too much of it. But then again, almost any meal will weigh you down when you take in too much of it.

With light soup

Many people underrate some things because they’ve never tried it. I even sneered at the idea of eating rice with light soup. Light soup goes with fufu and nothing else, I’ve always remarked, at least to myself.

But one Saturday evening, circumstances forced me to try a dish I’ve always scoffed at – plain rice with light soup. The results?
Shocking. Amazing. I fought a twinge of regret. The results pleasantly surprised me.

And since then, my perspective on rice with light soup changed. Thankfully, for the better. If, like me, you’re a skeptic of this combo, I urge you to shelve your doubts and try it out. Come back and share your experiences.

But seriously, this is an underrated treat. Yes, it takes some getting used to at the start. At best, you’ll love it. At worst, you would have a new experience under your belt.

Plain rice has plenty compliments

We all have many options available if we want to enjoy a serving of plain rice. From among these different stew and soup alternatives, you can surely find a favorite. Or many new ones. Next time you feel for a rice-filled lunch, count on any of these options to give you a satisfying meal.

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Image credit: Cover image: Photo by Pille R. Priske on Unsplash: