Jollof Rice Recipe: Smoky Jollof

Turn ordinary rice into a rich, delicious, and aromatic Jollof Rice recipe for the ultimate dining experience!

Jollof Rice is an African delicacy cooked in homemade pepper sauce for a smoky, colorful, and savory flavor. It was first cooked in the 14th century in the Senegambian area.

Over the years, the recipe has been made into many variations. For instance, Nigerian Jollof Rice is usually made of asli basmati rice, spices, tomato sauce, and meaty liquid stock.

Introduce a new, flavorful, and succulent African dish by cooking this amazing rice. In this recipe, you will learn how to cook the Nigerian Jollof Rice recipe!

A Short History of Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is the most common rice dish in West Africa. Thus, it’s a staple dish throughout the region – including but not limited to Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Cameroon, and Mali.

There are diverse regional variations in name and ingredients. Hence, they’re called Nigerian Jollof Rice, Ghanaian Jollof Rice, or Senegal Jollof Rice, respectively, and the list continues.

Jollof rice originated from Senegal. The name “Jollof” was derived from the name of the Jolof (or Wolof kingdom) people of Senegal; as an enthusiastic advocate of African cooking, James C. McCann, a professor of history, depicts in his book, Stirring the Pot, A History of African Cuisine.

How to Make Nigerian Jollof Rice

Today, I will show you how to cook the authentic Nigerian Jollof Rice recipe. With the level of flavor it has, you will certainly be surprised at how easy it is to cook!

Ingredients

This is a list of everything you need for the Jollof Rice recipe:

Chicken

When it comes to Jollof Rice, you can never go wrong with using chicken. It is bursting with flavor to give the rice a distinct taste at every spoonful.

The best part about cooking it is you can get crispy and crunchy fried chicken and chicken liquid stock. The liquid stock will come in handy for more recipes because it is also a flavoring agent.

With the right herbs and spices, you can surely cook chicken that everyone will love! Aside from using it for Jollof Rice, I also enjoy using chicken for Chicken Gizzard Stew or Roast Chicken!

Basmati Rice

There are many rice options, but for this recipe, I suggest using basmati rice. It has a loose, fluffy, and soft quality that will cook well in the sauce.

Basmati rice also has a nutty and subtle flavor that you can certainly improve the herbs and spices. In fact, it is also one of the most commonly used grains in African recipes.

According to USDA, Basmati Rice has plenty of health benefits to offer. It’s good for your stomach, energy, endurance, and physical activity.

Sweet peppers and bell peppers

Give the dish a real African character by using sweet peppers and bell peppers to make the pepper sauce. These will also give the rice a mildly sweet flavor that will taste well with the savory chicken.

Additionally, these peppers will smell absolutely fragrant once you cook everything together. The rice will also have a vibrant red color from these peppers.

Tomato sauce

Aside from the sweet peppers and bell peppers, you will also need tomato sauce for the red color and tangy flavor. It will add acidity and umami taste to the rice too.

You can make tomato sauce at home or use store-bought sauce. It will also make it easier for the rice to absorb the sauce.

Scotch bonnet

If you love a kick of spice in your meals, then I suggest using a scotch bonnet with peppers. It has an intense hot and spicy taste that will balance the flavor of the sauce.

Aside from using a scotch bonnet, you can also use chili flakes for well-distributed flavor. I love using scotch bonnets with meaty and savory dishes like Jollof Rice!

Seasoning

Never skip the aromatics. Use onion, garlic, and ginger for a pungent, spicy, and sweet flavor. These are also guaranteed to give the dish a fragrant aroma.

Meanwhile, the best spices for the Jollof Rice recipe include curry powder, mixed herbs, cumin, smoked paprika, cumin, mace, coriander, cardamom, fenugreek, stock cubes, and sea salt.

With the fusion of these herbs and spices, I can guarantee the remarkable quality of the rice!

Sunflower oil

You will also need sunflower oil to cook the chicken and the pepper sauce. It has a high smoke point to cook the dish properly without losing flavor or quality.

Cooking this Nigerian Party Jollof Rice will make you realize that you don’t need fancy ingredients to make the best food. This recipe is easy to follow, and you won’t even notice that you’ve already cooked a masterpiece! 

Directions

Without further ado, Let’s get started!

Liquid stock

1. Put the cleaned chicken in the pot without turning on the heat.
2. Peel and chop the onion, garlic, and ginger with a knife.
3. Then, add the aromatics to the pot.
4. Season it with curry powder, mixed herbs, cumin, mace, coriander leaf, ground cardamom, fenugreek, chicken stock, curry leaves, and sea salt.
5. Toss the chicken in the seasoning to coat.
6. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes on medium fire with occasional mixing.
7. Once cooked, separate the chicken from the liquid stock.
8. Set the chicken stock aside for later use. 

Fried chicken

1. In a pot, pour sunflower oil and allow to heat over high heat.
2. Sautee onions and garlic for a minute.
3. Then, deep fry the chicken.
4. Set the oil aside.

Pepper sauce

1. Rinse and chop the tomatoes, bell peppers, and sweet peppers using a knife.
2. Peel and slice the garlic, red onion, and ginger.
3. Then, blend in a blender until smooth. 
4. Heat the oil from the fried chicken in a pot.
5. Sautee onions for one minute.
6. Add curry powder, mixed herbs, mace, cumin, chicken stock cubes, and smoked paprika.
7. Fry for three minutes. 
8. Then, pour in the blended pepper sauce and cook for ten minutes.
9. Add the chicken liquid stock and bay leaves, and stir.
10. Cook further for 15 minutes.
11. Season with sea salt. Taste and season as needed. 

Jollof Rice

1. Rinse the rice several times until the water is clear.
2. Add the rice into the pot to cook it with the sauce.
3. Submerge the grains for a stronger flavor.
4. Cover it with parchment paper and the lid. 
5. Then, cook it on low heat for 25 to 30 minutes. 
6. Add the onions.
7. Let it simmer for five minutes until the rice is cooked to perfection. 

Have you ever cooked so tasty, fragrant, and appetizing? Indeed, this Jollof Rice recipe is the one to beat! It’ll certainly be a meal to remember! 

Tips

Chicken

Buying chicken

• The chicken should have pink and plump flesh without tears.
• Check if the chicken has a neutral smell.

Storing chicken

• According to Taste of Home, chicken must be refrigerated or frozen immediately.
• It can last up to two days in the fridge and up to several weeks in the freezer.

Preparing chicken

• In an article by Master Class, rinsing or soaking the chicken is unnecessary.
• Simply pat it dry with kitchen towels. Slice it on a cutting board specifically used for meat.

Tomatoes

Buying tomatoes

• Bon Appetit suggests buying tomatoes with a bright and intense color.
• The heavier it is, the juicier it will be.
• Moreover, the stem should also be attached and in a healthy green color. 

Storing tomatoes

• Ripe tomatoes can last up to two days at room temperature and two weeks when refrigerated.
• Place it in an area away from heat with the stem pointing downward.
• Arrange them in a single layer in a container.

Bell Peppers and Sweet Peppers

Buying peppers

• According to The Produce Moms, bell peppers and sweet peppers should have a smooth, shiny, and firm skin.
• Their stems should also be fresh and green in color. 

Storing peppers

• Refrigerate the bell peppers in resealable bags to last for up to a week. 

No-Blender Pepper Sauce

If you don’t have a blender, then you can make the sauce using a food processor.

On the other hand, you can boil or steam the ingredients and use a sieve to get the right consistency.

Jollof Rice Recipe Variations

To make this Jollof Rice recipe vegan, you can simply omit the chicken and replace it with mixed vegetables or other nutritious dishes.

Aside from chicken liquid stock, you can also use the beef liquid stock for a meaty and umami taste. There are also many protein-rich food you can add to this dish.

You may also use other herbs and spices such as parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, pepper, and other spices you prefer. You can also cook turkey, beef, fish, and more!

Recommended Tools

• Blender: Make the sauce using a blender to achieve a smooth consistency
• Pot: Cook the chicken and the Jollof Rice in a pot.
• Spatula: Stir the ingredients with a spatula. 
• Parchment paper: Cover the rice with parchment paper and lid.

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How to Serve Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is so flavorful, rich, and savory that you can serve it with any dish you want. You can pair it with an egg and relish its goodness! It’s perfect for breakfast to dinner as it can put you in a good mood all day.

It is best served with the following:

• Roast Chicken
• Fried Fish Fillet
• Grilled Croaker Fish
• Fish Stew
• Egusi Soup
• Fried Eggs

Meanwhile, drink options can include any of the drinks below to balance the flavor and refresh your taste buds:

• Iced Tea
• Zobo Drink
• Orange Juice
• Cherry Juice
• Beetroot Apple Juice

According to Everyday Health, the suggested serving size for rice is ½ cup every day. Imagine the standard size of a cupcake mold, which is how much rice you should have daily.

Storage Tips

At room temperature: Eat Jollof Rice within four hours at room temperature. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What country is jollof rice originally from?

The Jollof Rice was originally cooked in Senegal as early as the 14th century. Later on, other regions and countries developed their own versions of the recipe.

What does jollof rice taste like?

With the ingredients in this recipe, the Jollof Rice tastes like a combination of sweet, spicy, warm, savory, meaty, umami, and intense flavors.

What is so special about jollof rice?

Jollof Rice is special because it is cooked in a delicious and savory sauce. It is a traditional meal in Africa that’s also cooked with vegetables and flavoring agents. It is also rich in protein and other nutrients to complete your meals.

What is the secret ingredient in Jollof Rice?

You might be surprised that the secret ingredient to jollof rice is smoked paprika! It gives the dish a savory flavor and fragrant aroma for an appetizing meal.