Thumpy Rose As the sun rises in the East, it’s given a run for its money with how Kenyan food recipes can light up your day. In these recipes is vegetarian stir-fry rice, or Wali wa Kukaanga, as the locals call fried rice. I don’t know about you, but there is something satisfying about throwing whatever is in my fridge into a pot and having a flavorful dish be the end result. An easy one-pot meal to please your nutritional and taste needs. What’s more, it makes one of the best plant-based dinner recipes for beginners. Yes, beginners! ‘Good things take time’ doesn’t apply in our kitchen. Here, good things take exploration and openness to try new things… fine, sometimes time is involved. But not today, not with the flavorfully easy Wali wa kukaanga. And the best thing is you don’t have to take our word for it. You can try these recipes in the comfort of your own home as you watch Gordon Ramsey on TV. After you taste it, you’ll be tempted to go head-to-head with him.
What does Wali wa kukaanga taste like?
It taste nothing like any basic stirred fried rice. Did you think all fried rice are basic? Not this Kenyan dish. Serve it to your friends or family who appreciate the finer things. They will love how the cumin flavor pairs with ground gloves, whilst the ginger and paprika delivers a subtle spicy kick. As a Liberian, I’ve made my native version of fried rice and I adore how simple it is. This Kenyan fried rice made me feel like I was dinning at a bougie restaurant. The spices will differ for most Wali wa kukaanga recipes out there. Our recipe aims to serve spices native to Kenya.
Wali wa kukaanga origin
If you’re a regular HumbleVege visitor, or even better, a subscriber, you should be fluent in Swahili by now. Surely all our lessons in-between recipe ingredients haven’t gone to waste! And here is another lesson: Wali is Swahili for rice, and kukaanga means fried. So that brings us to vegetarian stir-fry rice.
As for the origins of this dish, we know it is Swahili, but the specific tribe isn’t obvious with the many sub-groups that exist. But we can tell you how Wali wa kukaanga is different from other vegetarian stir-fry rice in Africa. In this article on Benin spices you’ll find that countries in the West like their heat. I would describe it (but not limit it) as red food. Look at Liberian Jollof rice for example. You have your garlic and black pepper. Those may sound like amateur spices to some, but they add in chilies for that extra kick.
North Africa has a different approach to spices. You’ll find lots of use of saffron, nutmeg, cloves… you know the fancy stuff. But don’t be intimidated, in our article on the North you’ll find that they use lots of common spices like cinnamon and ginger as well.
Are you wondering how spices like nutmeg could be seen as fancy? Well, they aren’t as common in some parts of Africa. Available, yes. But you’ll see the aunties walk right past them and towards the common paprika, or peri peri if you are in Southern Africa. And yes, we are still talking about Wali wa kukaanga, peri peri can go on ALL plant-based dinner recipes for beginners.
Do you know where Wali wa kukaanga originated? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Truly plant-based dinner recipes for beginners
Now we’ve seen most of the different spices in East Africa for Wali wa kukaanga, you can add them to all your Kenyan food recipes. Or use them to switch up your easy one-pot meals. Ginger one day, saffron, or cloves when you’re feeling extra. These may sound like scary ideas to beginners, but recipes like these Kenyan food recipes are truly easy. Even if you only learn how to cook rice, you can add some spices for flavor and build your way up to easy one-pot meals like this, with some carrots and peas.
Related: Spiced Tofu Stir Fry Rice
Recipes like these are helpful for those who are learning to cook or who live alone because they allow room for exploration. The amount or type of spice you put all depends on your preference, and you can figure that out as you go along. Don’t like how turmeric tastes in rice? Don’t add it. Love mediocre amounts of black pepper? Go crazy! This is YOUR dish. You don’t even have to make the rice and veggies how we do it. Some people prefer brown and chewy rice while the more sane population likes it white and soft. Or are they an insane population? You can take a look at this article and share your opinion.
Another benefit for those who live alone: if you have leftover rice but don’t want to have dinner for lunch, you can mix it up by making it into Wali wa kukaanga. Why waste food, when recipes are easy to transform?
An easy one-pot meal for your moyo (heart)
This recipe is so flavorful and easy. Perfect for a lazy day or when you’re in a rush. Let us know how you like it and subscribe for more amazing recipes that will bless your taste buds all the way to your heart. Curious about a no-animal-meat food lifestyle? Check out our Instagram page for real-life inspirations 
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Elevated Fried Rice- Wali wa Kukaanga
Did you think all fried rice are basic? Not this Kenyan dish. Serve it to your friends or family who appreciate the finer things. Enjoy the elegant spices, which offer satisfying taste to your palate.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups of raw rice
- Quarter purple Onion diced
- 3TBSP Oil
- Half tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- Half tsp cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp cloves ground
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 2 cloves garlic dices
- 10 oz mixed veggies
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Disclaimer: Make sure you cook your rice in advance and allow it to cool in the refrigerator.
To make your wali wa kukanga, start by adding oil in a medium sauce pan on low-medium heat. When the oil is hot add the cumin seeds and cook for 1 minute.
Next. add the onion, and garlic to the cumin mixture and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the ginger next and cook for 1 minute. Following this, add the salt, ground cumin, paprika and ground cloves. Take your cooled rice and add it to the mixture and stir it well to combine this vegetarian stir fry rice. Next, add your frozen or thawed mixed veggies to the spiced rice and stir it well to combine the vegetables into the rice.
After that, cover the pot and turn the heat to low. Allow it cook for 10minutes. Are Kenyan food recipes easy or what! This perfectly easy plant-based dinner recipes is for beginners and good for those who live alone.
Enjoy!
Notes
Note, I guesstimate the portion to be 4.5 servings because I eat small portions. For those who eat bigger portions, this is a 2.5 servings easily.
Related: Yummy Liberian Fry Rice
