Burkinabé Cuisine: Attcheke

Showcasing Burkinabé cuisine one meal at a time – today, attcheke.

Attcheke, a manioc cous cous-like dish served with a few onions and green peppers is another carb filled typical meal here in Burkina Faso. The meal is often garnished with a fish for 200 CFA more, and my favorite version is from a restaurant in Ouaga that mixes in a bit of mayo that makes a nice sauce. The example above is from a kiosk next to the town square in Fada, though I added some of my own tomatoes and onions to make it a little less carb-dominated.

Cost (including fish): 450 CFA ($1).

Burkinabé Cuisine: Ragou

Showcasing Burkinabé cuisine one meal at a time – today, ragou.

Ragou, (sadly not the Italian ragu) is boiled yams in a tomato sauce, and another common dish here in Burkina. The sauce the same tomato sauce used for riz sauce and also includes a couple of chunks of lamb or goat meat (often with its share of bones). Cost: 400CFA ($0.89).

Burkinabé Cuisine: Riz Sauce

Showcasing Burkinabé cuisine one meal at a time – today, riz sauce.

Riz sauce, or rice with sauce, is about exciting as it sounds. However, as with many things in Burkina, I’ve become used to the dish over time, and now actually like it, though lately find myself ordering it less and less. A restaurant will bring out the meal as a plate of white rice, and separately a small bowl of  your chosen sauce – peanut or tomato. I usually prefer the peanut sauce (pictured above), though both include a few over boiled vegetables such as cabbage and onions to make things a bit more interesting, plus a lot of palm oil. Additionally, there are two or three small pieces of meat, usually goat or lamb (often with plenty of bones hiding in there). Cost: 500 CFA ($1.11).

Burkinabé Cuisine: Riz Gras

A new feature where I’ll be showcasing Burkinabé cuisine one meal at a time – today, riz gras.

Riz gras, which translates literally to fat rice, is a rice dish with various infused flavors, most commonly including the standard Maggi cube, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and plenty of palm oil. However, if you go to the right restaurant, you can find upgraded versions of the dish that offer a good amount of toppings that make it a more of a true meal, rather than just flavored rice. I prefer the Senegalese joint in town where they include a number of vegetables, sauces, and even fish on top. My go-to lunch spot’s meal of choice. Cost: 500 CFA ($1.10).