Cooking Acoli

Last week I had the opportunity to help our friend Harriet cook lunch. Although, I have already had "official" lessons on cooking beans and rice, this is more a chance for me to practice speaking and writing Acoli. So, I've decided to create this simple recipe and provide the translation. If you are wanting a little taste of Northern Uganda, give it a try :)

* Note: If you don't a charcoal stove and gas oven, electric is fine :) 

Beans & Rice

Ingredients:              La rub dek:

1 cup dry beans                         kikopo acel me muranga

2 tomatoes                                 nyanya aryo

1 green pepper                          kalara acel

1 onion                                        mutungulu acel

3 garlic cloves                            garlic adek

1 tsp baking soda                      magadi/ kado atona

2 tbsp beef stock                       Muchumi Mix malaga aryo

1 cup rice                                    kikopo acel me mucele

Directions:

1.     Light the charcoal stove. Fill a pot with water and add one cup of beans. Let beans boil for one hour. 
Mok cigari. Pong agulu ki pii ci ony muranga kikopo acel. Wek muranga o yeny pi cawa acel.

  

2.    Check beans and add more water. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the pot and stir. Put lid back on and return to a boil.
Rot muranga ci med pii mokene. Med magadi, ket giwiye ci dwok ka yenyo.

             

       

3.    Chop the tomatoes, green pepper, onion and garlic. Put the onions and garlic in a  frying pan and fry. Then add the tomatoes and green pepper.
 Tong nyanya, kalara, mutungulu, ki garlic. Ket mutungulu ki garlic i i cubaria ci cel. Ci med nyanya ki kalara.

             

4.    Add 2 tbsp of beef stock to the vegetables and stir until mixed well.                          
Med Muchumi Mix malaga aryo i dek ci i rubi wang ma o rube maber.

             

5.  Fill a pot with water and add one cup of rice. When boiling, reduce the flame/ heat and cook until ready. 
Pong agulu ki pii ci ony mucele kikopo acel. Ka o yenyo, dwok mac ma nok ci ted wang ma ocek.

6.    When beans are soft, add to the fried vegetables. Pour bean water into pot as well and stir in some salt.
Ka muranga dong yom, med i dek. Ony pig muranga i cubaria ci yeny kado i iye.

       7. Enjoy your meal! 

         Cam dek!