Street Meal · One-Pot Rice

Riz au Gras (Malian "Fat Rice")

📷 Closely related photo — Photo: Keesha's Kitchen / Unsplash · Unsplash License

Mali's 'fat rice' turns a deep orange-red as it simmers in tomato and oil — no dye required, just time on the fire.

Riz au gras is rice slow-cooked in a rich tomato, onion, and oil base, often studded with vegetables and served alongside grilled fish, chicken, or beef. In Bamako and other Malian towns, street stalls dish it up by the plate through the afternoon and evening.

Why it's made this way: The one-pot method lets street cooks prepare large batches cheaply and keep them warm for hours, feeding a steady stream of customers from a single simmering pot.