Jollof Rice. The Easy Way.

This rich spicy rice dish, wildly popular with Nigerians, is synonymous with celebration and enjoyment. Here it’s made with brown rice, tons of vegetables, using very simple steps. What's there not to love.

Quick Directions .

Ingredients and Step-by-Step Instructions are further below

1. Prepare seasoned tomato broth for boiling rice

2. Boil rice following package instructions using prepared broth

3. Add frozen vegetables 15 mins before rice is ready

4. Cook for remaining 15 mins plus 5 mins more

Jollof rice ingredients

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons of olive oil (or any cooking oil)

• 2 big red onions (or yellow onions)

• 1 whole garlic bulb

• 2.5 Cups Brown Rice (or any rice)

• 5-6 Cups water depending on boiling instructions for rice

• 2 x 15oz cans of fire roasted tomatoes

• 1 x 6oz can tomato paste

• 6-8 maggi cubes depending on salt preference. Start with 6 and add more if preferred when tasting during cooking

• 1 habanero pepper (I use 3 - 4)

• 2 tablespoons Curry Powder

• 3 whole bay leaves

• 2 x 16 oz Frozen mixed vegetables

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sautée Onions and Garlic

   1. Dice onions and sautée onions on low heat until soft

   2. While onions are getting soft on low heat...

   3. Peel all the cloves of whole garlic (trick for doing this is here. The lady uses a bowl and plate as a lid to shake the garlic. I use a small pot which already has a matching lid. If you know a better way, let me know)

   4. Mash them with flat side of your knife, then cut them up into small pieces (no need to be perfect or to make the pieces super tiny)

   5. Place mashed cut garlic with onions and cook for 30 secs to a min.

2. Add Liquids and spices for cooking Rice

   1. Add cans of fire roasted tomatoes

   2. Add tomato paste

   3. Add one cup less water than the amount specified in the directions for 10 servings of Brown rice. So if directions call for total of 5 cups, Add only 4 cups. The canned tomatoes liquid provide make up for the reduced liquid

   4. Add maggi cubes

   5. Add a whole habanero pepper (which you will remove later). This is a very spicy pepper. I  use 3 or 4 whole habaneros. One is  a good place to start.

   6. Add curry powder

   7. Add bay leaves

   8. Following  instructions of boiling rice from rice package, Cook until 15 min before rice is ready per instructions of your rice. While rice is cooking watch for need to add water or open lid to let water evaporate quicker

   9. Remove any whole habanero peppers you’ve added

   10. Add frozen vegetables. Cook another 20 mins .

Meal prep suggestion: Jollof Rice, Stewed Beans and Roasted Plantains

Meal prep suggestion: Jollof Rice, Stewed Beans and Roasted Plantains