In brief
- Riz gras: rice simmered in a tomato sauce with meat or fish and vegetables, cooked in a single pot.
- Origin: West Africa, particularly Côte d'Ivoire.
- Essential ingredients: rice, tomato, meat or fish, onion, garlic, vegetables.
- A festive dish, prepared for special occasions and family meals.
Origins and cultural history of riz gras
Riz gras is a West African dish, particularly associated with Côte d'Ivoire, where it remains a classic of festive meals. Similar versions are found in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, prepared with the same basics, rice, oil, tomato and chilli, in proportions and with vegetables that vary from one household to another.
Riz gras belongs to a large family of simmered rice dishes found across West Africa under other names: jollof rice in Nigeria, Ghana and Togo, thiéboudienne in Senegal. Each of these versions shares the same technique: the rice cooks directly in the sauce and absorbs all its flavour.
What are the essential ingredients of riz gras
The base of riz gras stays simple: a rice that absorbs the sauce well, tomato, meat or fish, and a few seasonal vegetables.
- broken rice or fragrant rice
- tomato, fresh and concentrated
- meat or fish
- onion
- garlic
- chilli
- vegetables (carrot, cabbage, potato)
What to know about riz gras
Riz gras is a West African dish, especially associated with Côte d'Ivoire, where it remains a classic of festive meals. The rice cooks directly in a tomato sauce with meat or fish, onion, garlic, chili pepper and vegetables such as carrot, cabbage and potato, until it absorbs all the liquid. Everything is prepared in a single pot, and the dish belongs to the same family as jollof rice and thiéboudienne.
Frequently asked questions about riz gras
What is riz gras?
Riz gras is a West African dish in which the rice cooks directly in a tomato sauce with meat or fish, onion, garlic and vegetables, until it absorbs all the liquid. It is prepared in a single pot, which makes it a practical dish for feeding a whole family.
Where does riz gras come from?
Riz gras is particularly associated with Côte d'Ivoire, where it remains a festive dish, but similar versions exist in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. It belongs to the same family as the jollof rice of anglophone West Africa and Senegalese thiéboudienne.
Where to find riz gras ingredients in France?
NKOSI sells riz gras ingredients (broken rice, tomato paste, garlic, chilli) and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
