How to Cook West African Jollof Rice

October 12, 2022

West African Style Jollof Rice

 

Ingredients

1 cup Basmati or long grain or parboiled rice

5 large tomatoes or substitute with 1 large can Diced Tomatoes

1 large red capsicum (bell pepper)

1 large brown onion

2 cups stock (Chicken/meat/vegetable broth)

¼ Cup Canola Oil (any vegetable oil will do)

2 tablespoon West African All-Purpose Jollof Dry Spice

1 or 2 chilli peppers (or 1 teaspoon Scotch Bonnet Habanero Cameroon Chilli Pepper)

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Salt to taste

 

Cooking instructions

1. Chop the tomatoes, onion, capsicum and chilli pepper into small pieces.
2. Place in a food processor and blend to a smooth paste.

NOTE: Use a non-stick medium sized pot that has a well fitted lid to cook this dish.

3. Heat the oil in the pot over a medium heat and add in the blended paste.
4. Stir gently and mix the paste well in with the oil.
5. Reduce the heat as the paste starts to sizzle, and cover the pot with the lid.
6. Simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently as it reduces to a thick consistency.
7. Add the West African All-Purpose Jollof Dry Spice, bay leaf and Scotch Bonnet Habanero Chili (if used), stir well to release the spice flavours and fragrance.
8. Add the chicken/meat/vegetable stock, salt to taste, stir well to mix, cover the pot and bring the mixture to a boil.
9. Add the rice and stir until well mixed in with the mixture.
10. Place a sheet of aluminium foil to cover the pot, folding the edges around the rim to keep the steam inside the pot as it cooks.
11. Cover the pot with the lid over the aluminium foil, and cook on low heat for about 15 to 20 minutes.
12. As the rice cooks and absorbs the stock, stir the rice gently to make sure that it cooks evenly and does not burn at the bottom.

Have a kettle of hot water handy to add small quantities to the rice when or if required.

13. When the rice is soft enough and all the stock is absorbed, that is your indication that the jollof rice is cooked.
14. Remove and discard the aluminium foil, gently stir the jollof rice to mix evenly and turn the heat off.
15. Serve Jollof rice hot with any side dish of your choice. Popular side dishes served with Jollof rice include fried plantain, peppered fried meat, chicken turkey or fish, Gizdodo (Gizzard and plantain) coleslaw or vegetable salads or steamed vegetables.

 

Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jollof_rice_with_fried_fish_and_plantains_garnished_with_cucumber_and_tomatoes.jpg

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