Jollof Rice
Ingredients
- 5 cups Mahatma® Basmati Rice
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 12 oz tomato paste
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
For the Tomato Sauce
- 6 roma tomatoes
- 4 red bell peppers
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper (aka habanero)
- 1 medium onion
- 3 garlic cloves
Instructions
As many Latino families know, a great rice dish can be the powerful foundation of a home-cooked meal. This recipe was created for Mahatma® Rice by Vanessa Bell, Latina Mom and blogger at “De Su Mama”. Made with a few key ingredients: Mahatma® Basmati Rice, tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, scotch bonnet peppers (aka habaneros), salt and spices – Jollof Rice is the perfect Introduction to traditional African recipes.
Step 1
First, prepare the tomato and pepper sauce by blending all of the ingredients in the blender until it reaches a smooth texture. Once it is done, set aside.Step 2
In a large pot, preheat the cooking oil over medium heat and add the chopped onions. Sauté the onions for about 3 to 5 minutes or until they are translucent.Step 3
Add the tomato paste to the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes. Next, add in the garlic and bay leaves and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stir the mixture often.Step 4
Once the tomato paste mixture has cooked down, add in the blended tomato mixture from before and cook down until it has thickened and turned dark red in color. Stir in and season with thyme, curry powder, salt and pepper.Step 5
Stir in the rice, making sure it is completely coated in sauce. Then, add in the chicken broth and stir. Let the liquid and rice come to a boil.Step 6
Once it has boiled, reduce the heat and cover with a tight lid. Cook until the rice has reached the desired consistency, about 30 minutes.
African Taste
Get your bags ready and take yourself on an adventure with this savory Jollof Rice recipe that comes all the way from West Africa! Although there is some debate between Nigerians and Ghanaians about the specifics, we know one thing for sure, our long-grain Mahatma® Basmati Rice pairs perfectly with the spicy flavors of the habanero pepper and vibrant colors of this dish.
Give your recipe a more meaty touch and serve alongside your favorite seasoned chicken wings or thighs. You can also try your hand at some fried plantains. End on a sweet note with some sombi, or rice pudding. It’s quite simple and you undoubtedly have arroz con leche ingredients handy!
Hot Tips
If you want to turn the heat down, leave out the Scotch Bonnet Pepper or simply substitute it out for another that has less kick. If you like your recipes nice and hot, add a little sriracha to your chicken and fried plantains – we see all of you sriracha lovers out there.
Not eating meat? No problem, substitute the chicken broth out for vegetable broth. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, make your own homemade vegetable broth.
Find more rice dishes infused with flavor like an arroz con pollo or the best Mexican rice recipe in our recipe collection!
If you are looking for the perfect side dish, try our: coconut basmati rice.
