THE GHANAIAN OILED RICE RECIPE

'Angwa Mo' is simply rice fried and cooked in oil. 'Angwa Mo' is a classic favourite of most Ghanaians as it's a flavourful and quick recipe to follow.

The rice is usually cooked with (salted beef) and served with omelette and or tinned Sardines. The inclusion of salted beef gives the rice an umami flavour which works perfectly with the browned onions.

Ideally using Thai fragrant rice (popularly known as perfumed rice in Ghana) for this recipe gives the dish an aromatic flavour. You can use long grain or basmati rice as a substitute.

The browning of the Onions gives the rice a golden colour and sweet flavour to the dish. Frying the diced salted beef gives the beef a nice crunch, allows the beef to take on the sweet flavour of the Onions and slight heat from the chillies. The crunchy bottom of the rice is incredible and everyone will fight for a portion.

In the absence of salted beef, you can use salted Ham or Fish like Koobi (dried salted Tilapia), however for that authentic Ghanaian flavour, you need your salted beef. You can find the salted beef at most African grocers in London.

I've used smoked Ham and Coconut oil for a creative recipe, where I served it with pan seared Duck. Recipe coming soon .

The amount of oil used for this dish is more than necessary and can be reduced. The quantity of oil used, is to ensure the cooked rice, maintains a perfect glossy sheen. You can substitute the Sunflower oil for Coconut oil (for a healthier version).

If you're using the salted Beef, be mindful of the amount of salt you use. Once you add the water, taste to ensure it's perfectly seasoned. If not add a few pinches of salt at a time (not more than half a levelled teaspoon) to the recipe.

I washed my salted Beef under cold water for a few seconds to get rid of any excess salt (this enabled me to control the amount of salt I used).

The intoxicating smell of the oiled rice could make your tummy rumble and send off an open invitation to your neighbors. Don't be surprised if you get a knock on your door, when you try this recipe.