Swahili Rice Recipes: Mcheleng (Rice with milk)

Rice-based foods are common in urban and Swahili populations, as a result, the majority of rice dishes have Kiswahili names. For instance, “Mseto” is the term used to describe rice dishes that include components like beans, green peas, or potatoes. The rural areas occasionally eat rice meals.

The most popular is pilau, one of Kenya’s hot rice dishes. Recipes for plain rice are also included in this section. Some cultures include milk in their rice recipes, as is the case with the Kalenjin and Swahili populations.

Mcheleng (Rice with milk)
This creamy smooth dish is unique to the Kalenjin community and is commonly known as ‘mcheleng’. It is
made with milk and milk cream. Loved for its convenience, it is enjoyed by the entire family but is mainly a delicacy for children. It is eaten mainly as a lunch or dinner dish often accompanied by a meat or legume stews.

Ingredients
– 2 ¾ cups (500 g) raw white rice
– 2 ¼ cups (488 g) water
– 2 ¼ cups (541 g) milk, cow
– 1 ¼ cups (284 g) milk cream, cow
– 1 tbsp. (14 g) salt iodized

Preparation 10 minutes | Cooking 30 minutes | Serves 4
• Put milk, all the water, and cream into a cooking pot.
• Add salt and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Add rice and cook for 20 minutes or until all the liquid
dries up.
• Remove from heat and cover.
• Serve while hot.

It’s comfort food when you serve cooked rice with sugar and cinnamon. It was always and still is one of my favorite dishes that my mother frequently made. As a result of my upbringing on a dairy farm where milk was in plentiful supply, this rice was prepared with creamy whole milk. Even though it tastes better with whole milk, I now typically cook it using 1% milk.
Sweetness isn’t the aim of this rice and milk dish. Traditionally, this kind of arroz con leche is given to family members who might be feeling under the weather.

Content courtesy of Kenya Food Recipes, Mama Ntilie & NFH
A Recipe Book of Common Mixed Dishes With Nutrient Values, As Prepared By Communities