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Chura gerte (Gambian rice and peanut porridge)
Chura gerte: The Gambia's sweet morning porridge of rice and groundnuts
Groundnuts are The Gambia's great crop, and chura gerte, rice porridge cooked with ground roasted peanuts, is how many families in Banjul and Serekunda start the day. Broken rice is simmered until soft and creamy, then the peanut paste goes in with sugar, a pinch of salt and sometimes vanilla or nutmeg. It is thick, comforting and nutty, a bowl that keeps children going until lunch. Some households pour sour milk over the top; leave it out, as here, and the porridge is vegan. Avoid adding the peanut paste in one lump; whisk it in loosened with hot liquid or it clumps. Chef's tip: stir the peanut paste into the rice only once the grains are completely soft, because rice cooked in peanut from the start catches on the base and stays chalky.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 7 oz broken ricerinsed
- 5 cups water
- 4 oz roasted unsalted peanutsskinned; or 100 g smooth peanut butter
- ¾ cup waterfor blending
- 2 ½ oz sugaror to taste
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 pinch grated nutmeg (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Bring 7 oz broken rice and 5 cups water to the boil in a heavy pan, then simmer over a medium-low heat, stirring now and then, until the grains are completely soft and starting to break down.
20 minStep 2: Meanwhile, blend 4 oz roasted unsalted peanuts with ¾ cup water to a smooth paste.
Step 3: Stir the peanut paste into the rice and simmer gently, stirring often and scraping the bottom, until thick and creamy.
8 minStep 4: Stir in 2 ½ oz sugar, 1 pinch salt, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 pinch grated nutmeg. Add a splash of water if it has become too thick to pour from a ladle.
Step 5: Serve hot in bowls. It thickens as it cools; loosen leftovers with water when reheating.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 64 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chura gerte (Gambian rice and peanut porridge) take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of broken rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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