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Riz Gras Burkinabè (Burkinabè Spiced One-Pot Rice with Soumbala)
Rich tomato broken rice simmered with beef, hearty vegetables, and pungent fermented soumbala.
The story
In Burkina Faso, Riz Gras is the star of Sunday meals and celebratory gatherings, distinguished from other West African Jollof variants by the mandatory inclusion of soumbala (fermented néré seeds). This pungent seasoning infuses the tomato and meat broth with a deep, earthy funk that pairs seamlessly with large chunks of local vegetables like cabbage and eggplant.
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