HOW TO PREPARE JOLLOF RICE IN 7 EASY STEPS

Learning how to prepare “Jollof Rice” is one of the easiest things to do, you would agree, considering the easily accessible ingredients it comprises, and its straight-to-the-point preparation method. Rice falls under the carbohydrate class of food and it is eaten in the majority of African households. Unlike the olden days in the early 18th century, rice was majorly eaten during festive seasons. Nowadays it is eaten almost every day and might be the only food that can be eaten 5 times a week in most households. 

“Jollof Rice” is a known West African dish common in countries like Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria but its ingredients and preparation methods vary across different regions.

For instance, the Nigeria Jollof is made with: long-grain parboiled rice, tomatoes and tomato paste, pepper, vegetable oil, onions, and stock cubes. The Ghana Jollof on the other hand is made with: vegetable oil, onion, ginger, pressed garlic cloves, chilies, tomato paste, beef or goat meat or chicken, local or refined rice, typically jasmine rice, and black pepper. The meat is sometimes alternated with mixed vegetables.

The fun part of it is that rice now can be prepared in various ways, “Jollof” being one of them. This is a simple method of mixing tomato sauce and other ingredients with rice. Jollof rice happens to be one of the favorites, and most served dishes at events such as weddings, birthdays, naming ceremonies, hangouts, etc. This kind of “Jollof” has a signature taste popularly referred to as “Party Jollof ”. In this post, we’ll be learning about how to prepare jollof rice in 7 easy steps.

INGREDIENTS

• Parboiled rice
• Tomatoes, roughly chopped
• Red bell pepper
• Onion
• Scotch bonnet peppers/habanero peppers 
• Groundnut oil
• Tomato paste
• Curry powder
• Thyme
• All-purpose seasoning
• Knorr stock cube
• Bay leaves
• Water
• Chicken stock
• Salt 

PREPARING YOUR JOLLOF RICE

• Your tomatoes, red pepper, scotch bonnet(known as atarodo in Yoruba), and onions should be blended using a blender or a food processor till it’s smooth. Add little water to help with the process.
• In a medium-sized pot, pour a little oil ensuring medium heat, then add your onions. Fry till it turns golden brown making sure they don’t burn, then add in your pepper blend and fry for 2-3 minutes. 
• Add the tomato mixture into the pot, and stir your mixture properly to avoid burning.
• Cook for 30 minutes and continue to stir, after which you can add in the chicken stock. Next, add your seasonings and boil for an additional 10 minutes.
• Add your parboiled rice into the pot, using a wooden stick preferably, add water sufficient enough to cook the rice, add your bay leaves, then cover the pot. 
• To be sure of a good enough taste and softness, check the rice at intervals. Before your rice is fully done, if you feel that it needs some additional salt, you can add as you dim fit while adding some extra water if it is not as soft as you’d want. Add as appropriate, cover your pot, and allow it to cook further.
•  When the rice is done, ensure that the rice has dried up to a considerable level. To know this, the rice might already be a tiny little bit burnt at the base of the pot. You can then stir, your rice is ready!

In Conclusion

Depending on individual preferences, Jollof rice can be served alongside different types of drinks; could be some fresh juice, cocktail, wine, water, soft drink, etc. It is one meal that you don’t have to be overly conscious about be it morning time (breakfast), afternoon time (lunch), or nighttime (dinner). You can also try out some other delicacies like Fried rice, Nigerian rice salad, Nigerian pepper sauce, Nigerian peppered chicken, Roasted Chicken, and Nigerian coconut. Do not leave out checking some other mouth-watering traditional, homemade recipes, snacks, and dishes you could make for any season at all.