Wali Ya Mboga (Swahili Rice and Vegetables)

Updated at: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:57:52 GMT

Step 1

Place rice in a medium bowl and pour in cold water to cover. Agitate rice with your hands until water is cloudy. Drain and repeat until water is almost clear (about 3 times). Pour in water to cover rice by 2"; soak at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.

Step 2

Stir yogurt, ginger, half of garlic, ¾ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ¼ tsp turmeric in a medium bowl to combine. Season with pepper. Add chicken thighs, turning to coat. Let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.

Step 3

Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add onion and sprinkle with ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is frizzled and deeply browned, 15–17 minutes. Transfer onion to a plate and set aside.

Step 4

Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in same skillet (still over medium-high). Working in batches if necessary, remove chicken from marinade and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving oil behind.

Step 5

Add tomato paste, coriander, cumin, chile powder, remaining half of garlic, remaining 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt, and remaining ¼ tsp. turmeric to skillet. Cook over medium-high, stirring often, until tomato paste turns a shade darker in color, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir in 1 cup water, and bring to simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors come together and sauce has thickened, 10–12 minutes. Return chicken to pan and stir to coat in sauce. Remove from heat; cover and keep warm.

Step 6

Drain rice and cook in a large pot of boiling generously salted water 15 minutes. Stir in Swiss chard. Continue to cook until rice is tender and chard is wilted and bright green, about 3 minutes more. Drain in a colander and let sit 10 minutes to allow moisture to steam off.

Step 7

While the rice rests, combine onion, lemon juice, chiles, tomatoes, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl. Toss with a fork to combine, breaking up the onion slices. Let kachumbar sit 5 minutes.

Step 8

Stir yogurt and remaining ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in another small bowl.

Step 9

To serve, fluff rice with a fork, making sure Swiss chard is evenly distributed; transfer to a platter. Scatter reserved onion over and arrange chicken on top. (Or for a more casual look, return rice to pot and gently stir in chicken and onion.) Serve with kachumbar and salted yogurt alongside.

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