Ayimolou (Togolese Rice and Beans with Tomato Sauce)
In short: Rice and beans cooked slowly together with palm oil until tender and flavorful, then served with a spicy fried tomato sauce. It takes about 1 h 50 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 25 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 1 h 50 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 510 kcal
Ayimolou, rice and beans cooked together in one pot, is eaten all over Togo, at breakfast, lunch or dinner, and at weddings and birth ceremonies. The beans are cooked first, then the rice goes in with palm oil and cooks in the bean liquid until everything is tender. A spicy tomato sauce is served alongside, often with fried plantain.
Instructions
- Put the beans in a large pot with plenty of fresh water. Bring to a hard boil for 10 minutes, then simmer for 40 to 60 minutes until tender but not mushy (black-eyed beans need only 25 to 30 minutes).
- Drain the beans, keeping the cooking liquid. Measure 800 ml of the liquid, adding water if needed.
- Return the beans to the pot with the palm oil, onion, whole chili and salt. Pour in the 800 ml liquid and bring to a boil.
- Stir in the rice, cover tightly, turn the heat to the lowest setting and cook for 20 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
- Rest the pot, still covered, for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan and cook the sliced onion for 6 minutes.
- Stir the tomato paste into the onion for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes, chopped chili and salt. Cook for 10 minutes until thick and oily.
- Fluff the rice and beans with a fork, discard the whole chili and serve with the hot tomato sauce.
Tips
- Boil red kidney beans hard for the full 10 minutes in step 1 to destroy a natural toxin. This does not apply to black-eyed beans.
- Fried plantain, sliced avocado or a green salad go well alongside. A spoonful of palm oil stirred in at the table is also traditional.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between ayimolou and waakye?
They are neighbors in the same family of rice and bean dishes. Waakye in Ghana is typically colored with sorghum leaf, while ayimolou is simpler and cooked with palm oil.
Can I use canned beans?
Yes. Use 3 cans, drained, and skip the first two steps. Use 800 ml water in step 3.
How long do leftovers keep?
Refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of water in a covered pan.
How long does it take to make Ayimolou (Togolese Rice and Beans with Tomato Sauce)?
About 1 h 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ayimolou (Togolese Rice and Beans with Tomato Sauce)?
About 510 kcal per serving, with 16 g of protein, 84 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 510 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 84 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 770 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
