Maru we-llham {Mauritania}

Maru we-llham is a traditional Mauritanian recipe for a classic one-pot dish of meat and rice in a mustard sauce with mixed vegetables. The traditional recipe include cassava, eggplant, garlic, and cabbage; I used onions, chard, and radishes. So, not traditional...but delicious! And I was so excited to make an African dish that didn't involve peanut sauce!

  

2 Spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced

2 bay leaves

4 chicken thighs, cubed

2 carrots, cut into coins

5 French breakfast radish, cut into coin

1 bunch rainbow chard, cut into wide slices

2 T prepared mustard

water

6 handfuls of rice

freshly ground sea salt

freshly ground pepper

Heat a splash of oil in a large soup pot. Add the onions and fry until softened and beginning to brown. Add the chicken and cook through. Add the mustard, bay leaves; season to taste with salt and pepper then cook for 5 minutes. Add 6 C of water and bring to a simmer then stir in the carrots, radishes, chard, and rice. Bring back to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed. Serve immediately.