Nigeria · Nigeria

Smoky Party Jollof Rice (West African Tomato Rice)

Name: Smoky Party Jollof Rice (West African Tomato Rice)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Nigeria
Ingredients: long-grain parboiled rice 500 g; ripe tomatoes, blended 500 g; red bell peppers, blended 300 g; yellow onion, chopped 150 g; garlic cloves 15 g; fresh ginger 10 g; scotch bonnet, minced 5 g; dried thyme 2 g; curry powder 5 g; bay leaf 2 pieces; chicken stock 600 ml; vegetable oil 60 ml; fine salt 6 g

Long-grain rice cooked in a deeply spiced tomato and red pepper base until fluffy and richly red.

60 minutes · 6 servings · Moderate

Party jollof is the version made for arrivals and celebrations, where the rice is first thrown directly into the fat to toast the grains before the spiced tomato base goes in. Toasting in fat is what gives each grain a slightly fried, nutty edge that plain simmering cannot produce. The base is cooked down slowly and sweet before the meat joins, and the lid goes on only at the very end.

Ingredients

long-grain parboiled rice500 g
ripe tomatoes, blended500 g
red bell peppers, blended300 g
yellow onion, chopped150 g
garlic cloves15 g
fresh ginger10 g
scotch bonnet, minced5 g
dried thyme2 g
curry powder5 g
bay leaf2 pieces
chicken stock600 ml
vegetable oil60 ml
fine salt6 g

Directions

1
Heat oil; sauté onion 5 minutes; add garlic, ginger and scotch bonnet 2 minutes; stir in tomato and pepper puree; cook 10 minutes until reduced.
2
Stir in thyme, curry powder and bay leaf 1 minute until fragrant.
3
Add rice and stir 2 minutes; pour stock; cover and simmer 25 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed.
Rice is fluffy and red.
4
Rest 5 minutes; fluff with a fork.

Source: WorldBite Editorial · WorldBite Proprietary Editorial Content