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Jollof rice ! Nigerian jollof rice is one of the most popular dish in Nigeria. Infact, this delicacy needs no introduction. I present to you my recipe for achieving the perfect smoky Nigerian party jollof rice.
What is Jollof rice
Jollof rice is a popular rice dish in West African countries. It is one pot rice that is popularly served at wedding parties, birthday parties, naming ceremonies and other types of Nigerian parties. There are different variations of West African Jollof rice. There is Senegalese jollof rice, Ghana jollof rice, Liberia jollof rice, Nigerian jollof rice to mention a few. Jollof rice is cooked in tomato sauce with spices. Mostly spicy jollof rice because Africans don’t play with their peppers and heat however it can be cooked to suit preference.
According to Wikipedia, Jollof derives it’s name from the name of the Wolof people. In Senegal and Gambia, the dish is referred to in Wolof as ceebu jën or benachin. In French-speaking areas, it is called riz au gras. ” There are variations to the dish across the region, however jollof has spread along with the diaspora to become the best known African dish outside the continent” .
Nigerian Jollof rice
Nigerian jollof rice is the ultimate African rice dish. No Nigerian party is complete without jollof rice. A Nigerian party without jollof rice is not a party. That is how highly Jollof rice is regarded. Nigerian jollof rice is legendary. If there’s no other food present at a party, you can be sure Nigerian jollof rice would be. Typical charactetistics of Nigerian jollof rice include rich red colour, smokey flavour, seperate grains, full and delicious.
Nigerian Jollof vs Ghana Jollof
The rivalry is very well alive and doesn’t seem it will be ending soon. The social media wars on whose Jollof rice is better, the competitions, the celebrations all comes down to whose jollof rice is better? is it Nigerian jollof or is it ghana jollof ? You all already know which i will go with..don’t you? When it comes to Jollof rice, no one does it better than Nigeria. Nigerian jollof rice is the best !
Jollof rice recipe
This jollof rice recipe is the best jollof rice recipe ever. I have had thousands of reviews and comments from people who have used this recipe and people who i have cooked for using this recipe. When you try this recipe, you will have to agree with the thousands of review. It’s also easy and quick recipe. You will need less than an hour to cook this dish.
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Ingredients for Nigerian Jollof rice
Full ingredient list and direction in recipe card at the end of this page.
Easy cook rice (standard measuring cup)
Scotch bonnet/habanero (ata rodo)
Bell pepper (tatashe)
Plum tomatoes
Brown or red onion
Red onion
Fresh tomatoes
Tomato puree
Vegetable or sunflower oil
Butter
Curry powder
Dried thyme
White pepper
Stock Cubes
Chicken or beef broth
Salt
How to cook jollof rice
Blend the scotch bonnet, bell pepper, plum tomatoes and red onion. This should give you a rich red colour. Set aside.
Note: If you don’t take spicy food please reduce the quantity of the scotch bonnet.
Wash the rice thoroughly and also set this aside. No need to parboil.
In a pot, add vegetable oil, chopped onions and tomato puree. Fry the tomato puree for 3 minutes. Keep stirring to avoid it burning.
Tip: One of the secret of getting a good result for party Jollof rice is by using aluminium pot. Remember the iya alases (cooks) use ikoko irin/adogan which is heavy duty aluminium pot for party cooking. Avoid on stick as the burnt part will lift with the rice and not stick to the pot thereby not achieve the smoky flavour popular with party jollof rice.
Add in the blended pepper mix, stock cubes, curry powder, thyme and white pepper. Fry for 5 – 8 minutes.
Notice how I didn’t overload this recipe with spices? I never overload food with spices even for events catering and trust me my food ends up tasting amazing. I know that from feedbacks 🙂
how to cook jollof rice
Add chicken broth, water and let it boil. It is important you do not add too much water as doing this will make your jollof rice soggy.
When this boils, add the already washed rice. The water level should be a little bit above the rice. Stir and cover with foil before covering with the pot lid and cooking on low heat.
The foil help locks in the steam and low heat ensures the rice doesn’t burn fast.
After about 15 minutes open the pot of rice. At this stage, the rice should be almost cooked and you will see some of the stew nicely settled on the rice. Use a spoon to turn this with the rice while taking care not to get to the very bottom of the pot with the spoon.
When you’ve done this, it’s now time to add the remaining sliced onions and tomatoes. I grew up seeing the iya alases and my mum doing this. I reckon it’s done because of the appeal it gives when looking at the jollof rice like most garnishing. If you’d prefer you can add sliced mixed peppers or vegetables at this stage.
Cover the pot and leave to cook for another 5 minutes.
Open the pot and stir the rice. The rice would have burnt a little. That’s perfectly ok . Afterall, trademark of Nigerian party jollof rice is the burnt smokey flavour????. Infact it’s best to let it burn to achieve the smokey flavour.
There you have it! Your very tasty, no stickiness, no mushiness, beautifully coloured party jollof rice.
What to serve jollof rice with
You can serve jollof rice with sides like
Tips for making jollof rice
Choose good pot. Aluminium pot is best for smokey party jollof rice.
Once rice goes in the sauce, stir it once and don’t stir again till it’ cooked the bottom until you are ready for it to burn.
Tightly cover the pot If the lid is not use with lid or foil paper tk seal the steam in.
Use good pepper ratio mix to get rich jollof rice
Chicken or beef broth (usw vegetable stock for vegan jollof rice)
Cook jollof rice on low heat
Frequently asked questions about jollof rice
How do i make smokey party jollof rice?
By burning the rice towards the end. It’s the smoke from burning the rice that gives it’s distinct flavour.
How do i make jollof rice red
The colour of jollof rice depends on the pepper base and tomato puree ratio. Tomato puree helps achieve that but be careful not to use too much as it can make your jollof rice taste tangy. With this recipe you get red rich jollof rice
How do i make non sticky jollof rice
Mushy jollof rice happens when you add too much water to the rice. Jollof rice needs mainly steam to cook so be careful not to add too much water. Follow the guidelines in this recipe.
Can i make jollof rice in the oven
Yes. At the stage the rice goes in, pour in oven bowl, cover with foil and bake. Will provide detailed oven jollof rice recipe in another post.
What rice is best to use for Nigerian jollof rice?
Easy cook rice. Long grain rice or golden sella basmati rice. My favourite brands are Tollyboy easy cook rice and Tropical golden sella basmati rice. Tilda is also a good brand.
How to store jollof rice
Leftover jollof rice can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Keep in airtight container or freezer bags, label with dates and freeze. When needed, reheat in the microwave from frozen.
Other recipes you will love
You will also like this Instant Pot Spanish Rice post on my other blog recipe vibes
Jollof rice – Nigerian Jollof rice
Ingredients
- 5 cups Rice easy cook or golden sella basmi tice
- 1-3 scotch bonnet
- 3 large bell peppers
- 400g canned tomatoes
- 1 large brown or red onion sliced
- 1 large red onion
- 2 fresh tomatoes sliced
- 150 g tomato puree
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1.5 tbsp curry powder
- 1.5 tbs thyme
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 5 stock cubes
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3.5 cups Water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a pot, add vegetable oil, chopped onions and tomato puree. Fry the tomato puree for 3 minutes. Keep stirring to avoid it burning.
- Add chicken broth, water and let it boil. It is important you do not add too much water as doing this will make your jollof rice soggy.When this boils, add the already washed rice. The water level should be a little bit above the rice. Stir and cover with foil before covering with the pot lid and cooking onlow heat.
- Now add in the blended pepper mix, stock cubes, curry powder, thyme and white pepper. Fry for 5 – 8 minutes.
- After about 15 minutes open the pot of rice. At this stage, the rice should be almost cooked and you will see some of the stew nicely settled on the rice. Use a spoon to turn this with the rice while taking care not to get to the very bottom of the pot with the spoon.
- Add the remaining sliced onions and tomatoes.
- Cover the pot and leave to cook for another 5 minutes. Open the pot and stir the rice. The rice would have burnt a little. That's perfectly ok . Afterall, trademark of Nigerian party jollof rice is the burnt smokey flavour. Infact it's best to let it burn to achievethe smokey flavour.
Video
Notes
This post was first published January 6 2014, Now republished with few new pictures November 2019. Below are more pictures from 2014.
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Wow I just tried it and it came out perfectly well, so delicious, I love it, thanks a lot for sharing the recipe with us.
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Hey dear I’m in love with your recipes! I have a question for this jollof recipe, I noticed you didn’t add chicken/meat broth is it necessary or I should discard it? Cuz I was told that the broth of meat adds flavour as well. Pls let me know, thanks!
Hello Vanessa, thank you. I definitely use chicken or meat broth in my jollof rice recipe. It’s what I reffered to in the recipe as ‘Chicken stock’
i cooked dis today,it was da bomb!Thanks for sharing dis receipes!happy new year !
Hello Onyeka.Good to know it turned out well. Thanks so much for the feedback and a happy new year to you too
I just tried this recipe! WOWWWWW!! It’s sooo good. Thanks a lot for sharing
You’re welcome naijababe 🙂
Please what’s tomato puree because I really want to try this
Hello Onyi, It’s the thick tomato paste. Popular brand name is Derica. Hope this helps
U are a home saver… this is my hubby best rice, but mine always stick together
I will surely give this a try. Though I was a bit disappointed that you didn’t include pictures to the recipe.
I apologise for not putting much pictures in this post. It was my first post on the blog and I have come a long way since then. I will make another jollof rice post soon with step by step pictures 🙂
I tried your jollof rice recipe for Christmas and OMG, it came out really perfect. This is the first time I’m getting jollof rice right. My husband really loves it. He’s eaten it over and over again. Thanks for sharing!
Next to try is fried rice and vegetable curry sauce! Can’t wait to see satisfied look on my family’s faces.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I am glad to hear of your positive outcome. Feedbacks like this put a smile on my face and make it worthwhile blogging. Happy new year to you.
I just tried your way of making the jollof rice and I must say it was spectacular. I am still amazed at how great it tastes. Thank you so much for the recipe and keep up the great work.
I tried this recipe today infact am still on it, taste so good but the rice is still hard.
Hello Kay, sorry I’m just responding. Hope you eventually got it to soften. Depending on how hard, you only just need to add a little water or cover with foil and let the steam soften it
I just put it in the oven and it came out perfect.
Welldone Kay
Tried this recipe today, OMG it came out perfect.thanks for sharing this kemi.
You’re welcome Shade. Good to know you nailed it.welldone.
Will have to get an aluminium pot, have never got my jollof Rice this good
Temmyt, don’t forget to feedback when you do try it 🙂
Seen! A bit diffrent from my stlye(never seem to get the party aroma). So will try this step-by-step and measurement by measurement and see how it goes. Thanks!
Madam Sunshine, Let me know the outcome when you try it out 🙂
Nice one
Thank you Lizzygusada????
Good to hear Tocyn. Weldone 🙂
Followed your recipe to make my jollof rice. Very simple n easy steps. thks
Looks good. What’s the diffr between red and Brown onions? I only know of red and white or is white the same thing as brown?
Please make a post on how you get your chicken so nice and Brown. Thanks
Krystal, white onion is different to brown. White onion has white skin, brown onions has brown skin and red onions, red skin. I will post a pix of all 3 so you can see the difference.
I also will make a post on the chicken????
That looks really yummy. I might be getting an aluminium pot for my jollof rice.
Thanks Funmi.. Yes try out aluminium pot and don’t forget to give us feedback on how it goes????