Nigerian Style Jollof Rice Recipe

Co-authored by Hema Agwu

Last Updated: February 19, 2023 Approved

Are you looking to expand your culinary horizons? Jollof rice, a spicy and traditional dish of West African origin, is a great place to start. Although it's prepared differently in various countries, we'll walk you through the best way to make a Nigerian version of this classic dish. Before you know it, your jollof rice will be ready to serve and share with friends.

Ingredients

2 cups of rice
1 onion
1 red bell pepper / tatashe
500ml chopped tomatoes
100g tomato purée
2 scotch bonnet
100ml vegetable oil
Maggi
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon curry
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon ginger
2 cups water or stock

1

Blend your tomatoes, scotch bonnet, and tatashe together.

Chop your onions and keep them aside.

2

Put your rice into a bowl and soak with hot water.

Allow this to soak for 10-15 minutes. Then, wash with warm water and keep aside, or parboil your rice and wash. This is important as you will get rid of excess starch in the rice.

3

Heat up your oil.

Put your oil in a pot and allow it to heat up.

4

Add your chopped onions and allow them to fry.

Be sure not to burn the onions in the process.

5

Add and fry your blended ingredients and purée.

Allow them to fry until you get rid of the sour taste (about 10-15 minutes).

6

Add your maggi, garlic, ginger, curry, thyme and salt.

Mix it all together. Be careful with your maggi as you do not want it too salty (2 maggi cubes for a cup of rice). Add your stock or water, and mix too. Taste to adjust to any seasoning.

7

Pour your rice into the pot and mix together.

Make sure it is covered in the tomato sauce.

8

Cook on low medium heat.

Check your rice after at least 10 minutes, using a wooden spatula to dip into the rice. This helps with getting the sauce to get the bottom of the pot, so that it does not start burning when the rice is not cooked.

9

Cook until soft.

Do not overcook your rice or get your rice too soggy. When rice is soft, lower the heat and allow to simmer so the water will get completely dry.

10

Serve the rice.

Serve with fried plantain and your choice of meat, if desired.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the secret to making jollof rice?

Hema Agwu
Nigerian Chef
Hema Agwu, known as “The Suya Guy,” is a Nigerian Chef and the Co-Founder of Brooklyn Suya. A self-taught chef, he specializes in creating the perfect suya, a traditional Nigerian spice blend. Chef Agwu expanded his palette with flavors from Morocco, Eritrea, and the U.S. Over his career, he’s been featured in several publications and on The Cooking Channel’s The Spice of Life.

Hema Agwu

Nigerian Chef

Expert Answer

You need to use a special pot that can burn a little bit on the bottom. You want your dish to have a smoky flavor, and that comes from the burning at the bottom of the pot.
Question

What is Scotch bonnet?

Community Answer

Scotch bonnet is a type of Caribbean pepper. They are hot so, take caution!
Question

How do I make fried rice?

Community Answer

Check out the article on How to Make Fried Rice.