There is a silent debate about the best type of rice to use - long grain? basmati? brown? But truth be told, every family has their unique way of making this dish, so it is completely up to you. As someone who has tried using all kinds of rice for this dish, I can confirm that they all taste fantastic.
Ingredients
(serves 4)
- 2 cups golden basmati OR long-grain rice
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1-2 scotch bonnet peppers (depending on how hot you want it!)
- 2 medium sized tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic
- Fresh ginger (about the size of your thumb)
- 1 small onion
- 2 vegetable stock cubes
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt to taste
- 4 tbsp sunflower oil or coconut oil
- 3 cups water
- Fresh chopped basil (optional)
Blend the peppers, tomatoes, onion, ginger and garlic with 1 cup of water to form a smooth mixture.
Heat the oil in a pot and add the mixture, along with the stock cubes and seasoning. Add the remaining 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.
Add the rice to the mixture, stirring well, then lower the heat completely. Cook for about 30 minutes, making sure the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot (you might have to add a tiny bit more water as you go along). You want all the water to be absorbed and the rice texture to be light and fluffy.
Chopped basil works so well with this dish, so if you have some lying around or growing in the garden, you can add a handful towards the end.
Jollof rice can be eaten with fried plantain* or moin moin*. Why not try it with some steamed vegetables too!
*Recipes coming soon!
Looks really good
ReplyDeleteLove Jollof Rice too :)
ReplyDeleteHi Vegan Nigerian,
ReplyDeleteI am quite pleased to find your blog!!! I am curious I found your brown basmati jollof rice picture, but no recipe. Can you please post a recipe for it. I can only eat brown rice and I do like brown basmati, but can not for the life of me fathom how to make jollof rice from it.
Now if you can make brown basmati rice and beans I will follow your blog forever!!! :-)
Thanks
Consider it done! :)
DeleteI'm curious, where did you see the picture for brown basmati jollof rice? Could it be the 'Jollof Surprise' image? You'll be pleased to know that you can follow the same recipe here and just substitute the rice with brown basmati. I'll be creating a jollof rice update with brown rice at some point anyway, it's just too good!
This looks like an excellent way to cook pure basmati rice.
ReplyDeleteCan I leave out the oil?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. The grains might stick together more, but it's the taste that matters, and it will be just as good without oil.
DeleteI just made this lovely recipe and actually forgot the oil! and it came out just fine. A little clumpy as the rice sticks together, but I like that actually! (i used basmati) GREAT recipe. A new favorite.
DeleteHi Tomi,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks for taking the time to do all this. I have just started to try out your recipes. I made this rice tonight and it was delicious!!
I have a question. Hope it's not too silly. If I wanted to make, say...twice as much, would I just simply double up on all the ingredients in the list? Or does it not work quite like that? Sorry...I'm a novice!
I have some Ghanaian friends coming over on Sunday, and I want to make this for them. They like their meat, so hopefully it will go down well.
Thanks again,
Gerry
Hi Gerry, thanks for your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe!
DeleteNot a silly question at all. Yes, you will need to double the ingredients to make twice as much although you will need to be careful with the scotch bonnet pepper. Depending on how spicy you would like it, I'd still stick with 1 or 2 of them.
I hope your Ghanaian friends like it, have a wonderful weekend!
Tomi :)
Thanks Tomi,
ReplyDeleteYes, the pepper was my main concern! If I doubled that quantity, I'd need the fire brigade standing by! These things are SO strong! 😝🔥
Gerry
This was great! I used brown rice which seemed to take up more time and require more water. I really enjoyed the combination of all the flavors (especially the curry).
ReplyDeleteThanks, really glad you liked it! :)
DeleteHi Tomi, I've just made a vegan version with added vegetables. I had honestly forgot to look at your blog, I do hope you approve of my slight diversion from the original. I will bare your recipe in mind in the future, and give it a go when I make Jollof again. Kind wishes
ReplyDeleteHi Shaheen, the addition of vegetables is a great idea! Thanks for checking out my blog :)
DeleteDo I add uncooked rice or precooked rice? I know it may seem like a dumb question lol
ReplyDeleteNot a dumb question at all lol. I use uncooked rice in this recipe :)
DeleteOk thank you
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog and I love it. Question: did you cook the rice before you added it to the mixture?
ReplyDeleteI was noticing from many days that your blog is helping too many readers as your articles are easy to understand and helpful to us.
ReplyDeleteBasmati Rice
I think my mother is a rarity in that she adds mixed veggies to her jollof - but whenever she makes it, it's always gone! I'm going to have to try your recipe out!
ReplyDeleteBrown Basmati Rice which is being offered by Amira Nature Foods Ltd is naturally low in fat and is gluten-free, has an exquisite fragrance and has a higher fiber content and is more nutritious than milled rice
ReplyDeleteOh I think you have just saved me! My finance is Nigerian and I have been a vegetarian for 30 years. My biggest anxiety has been what am I going to cook! Every Nigerian recipe I had found up to this point, even if it sounded vegetarian (Nigerian vegetable soup) turned out to include copious amounts of meat. I am so relieved to find your site!!! I will be making all of your recipes!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteOh I think you have just saved me! My finance is Nigerian and I have been a vegetarian for 30 years. My biggest anxiety has been what am I going to cook! Every Nigerian recipe I had found up to this point, even if it sounded vegetarian (Nigerian vegetable soup) turned out to include copious amounts of meat. I am so relieved to find your site!!! I will be making all of your recipes!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so delicious :) I have never tried it before but I will give it a try and I believe my family will love it.
ReplyDeleteVery informative, keep posting such good articles, it really helps to know about things. Thanks for sharing useful information.....
ReplyDeleteBasmati Rice
Tomi, thanks for posting; I loved this rice!! I was just reading Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel Americanah, and jollof rice was mentioned a lot, so I really wanted to try it and experience some Nigerian cuisine; I was so glad to find a vegan version!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great, I want to try it in my pressure cooker :)
ReplyDeleteI just watched an interview with the cast of Black Panther and couldn't make out what they were saying, but it was this dish that came up - Nigerian vs Ghanaian - so I went searching and found your recipe. I'm not really a fan of rice, though, so I'm gonna try it with quinoa and veggies. We'll see...:)
ReplyDeletehow many servings does this make
ReplyDeleteThis makes about 4-5 servings.
Deletehow long does it take to make
ReplyDeleteAbout 30 minutes.
DeleteHi Toni, greetings from North Carolina, US! I heard about Jollof Rice on a podcast last week and found you when I googled "vegan Jollof." I made it this evening - wow! So easy, so tasty. Thanks for this recipe, I look forward to learning more from your site and I've subscribed to your YouTube. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Glad you loved the vegan jollof :)
Deletecan you share what brand curry powder you used?
ReplyDeleteSure! I normally use a brand called 'Lion'.
DeleteFellow vegan Nigerian here, I just wanted to say thank you so much for this recipe. It's amazing. You are a lifesaver.
ReplyDeleteHello Vegan Nigerian please recommend a vegan stock cube
ReplyDeleteKallo stock cubes are vegan. Alternatively, you can use maggi liquid seasoning
DeleteI've made this a thousand time so wanna say thank you !
ReplyDeleteCould I substitute the red bell pepper for a green bell pepper?
ReplyDeleteIn this case I’ll say no. It’s perfectly possible to do so but you’ll have a completely different dish on your hands.
DeleteSounds good - thank you!!
ReplyDeletewhat is the curry powder mix is it indian caribbean suriname ... curry powder is such a general term
ReplyDeleteHey, in Nigeria we just know it as curry powder. It’s the common, most generic type you can buy from the supermarket. Often labelled mild/hot curry powder. Usually contains turmeric, coriander, cumin, ginger, cayenne pepper etc.
DeleteSo tasty, thanks a lot 😋
ReplyDeleteHi, is it possible to make this with sticky rice please? Also, have you ever tried an oil-free version at all please?
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing!