jollof rice

Jollof Rice: Smoky, spicy rice to brighten up any meal. Image: Adobe.

Jollof rice – Spice up dinner time with a taste of West Africa

Spice up dinner time with this heart-warming West African delicacy. It’s loaded with flavour and character.

jollof rice

Jollof Rice: Smoky, spicy rice to brighten up any meal. Image: Adobe.

Enjoy a taste of West Africa this winter with this jollof rice recipe. This spicy rice is loaded with flavour and extremely popular in West Africa. One bite of this flavour-infused dish and you will never want to eat your rice any other way again.

Each West African country has their own nuances to jollof rice. However, whichever country’s traditional rice you happen to taste, you will fall in love instantly. The characteristic reddish colour of jollof rice adds so much colour to any plate of food. This colour is thanks to the combination of palm oil, tomatoes and peppers.

Whip this fragrant-rich dish together in just over an hour and get ready for an African taste experience. Enjoy with fried chicken or beef. However, it is so delicious that you may oftentimes just crave a generous helping of jollof rice without any meat. It’s really that delicious!

Jollof rice recipe

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Linda Kaumphawi Course: MainCuisine: West AfricanDifficulty: Easy
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 
Total time

1

hour 

15

minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups 3 basmati

  • ½ cup ½ cooking oil

  • 3 tablespoons 3 tomato paste

  • 3 cups 3 beef stock

  • 2 teaspoons 2 curry powder

  • 2 teaspoons 2 thyme

  • 1 1 onion, sliced

  • 2 teaspoons 2 smoked paprika

  • tablespoons seasoning powder

  • salt and pepper to taste

  • For the sauce
  • 2 2 red bell peppers

  • 2 2 plum tomatoes

  • 1 1 jalapeño

  • 1 1 onion

  • 6 cloves 6 garlic

  • 5 cm 5 ginger

  • For the beef
  • 500 g 500 beef

  • 1 teaspoon 1 curry

  • 2 2 bay leaves

  • 1 1 jalapeño minced

  • 2 teaspoons 2 seasoning powder

  • 1 1 onion, diced

  • salt and pepper to taste

Method

  • Drizzle some oil on the peppers and roast the bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, jalapeño, and garlic in the oven at 200°C for 15 to 20 minutes. Leave to cool a bit, blend with the ginger, and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, season the beef with salt, black pepper, rosemary, curry powder, and seasoning powder. Set aside.
  • Add one tablespoon oil in a pan, add the seasoned beef. Mix well and leave to cook for ten minutes.
  • Add one cup of water to the boiling beef and leave to cook again for another 10 to 15 minutes or until the meat becomes tender.
  • Remove the meat from the pot and keep the stock separately. In the same pot, add the remaining oil and fry the beef on both sides until browned (about 2 – 3 minutes).
  • Add the sliced onions to the oil and cook until tender about 3 – 5 minutes.
  • Add the tomato paste and fry well for about 3 – 5 minutes.
  • Add the blended sauce, curry powder, thyme, seasoning powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5 minutes.
  • Wash the rice until the water comes out clear and drain. Stir the rice with the sauce and add the stock and water.
  • Cover the pot tightly with tin foil and then with the lid. Cook for 5 minutes on medium to high heat, then turn the heat down to low and cook for another 20 – 25 minutes.
  • Uncover the pot and stir in the beef. Serve hot.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @the.south.african on Instagram and hashtag it #recipes

Like this recipe?

Follow us @thesouthafrican on Pinterest

It’s winter and we know you need a heartwarming dish to warm you up from the inside out. We have so many options for you to try out, just have a look at our recipe page.

If you would like to submit any other recipe for publication, please complete our recipe form here.

Tags: