Spiced and cooked in flavorful tomato and pepper purée, Nigerian jollof rice is a well-loved, classic West African versatile side dish that the whole family loves.
This yummy side dish easily becomes one-pot meal by adding chicken, similar to Bosnian-style one-pot chicken rice dinner. For a vegetarian version, add carrots, peas, and celery. Whichever way you make it, it provides a burst of flavor your whole family will love.
Jollof rice goes perfectly with Nigerian suya kebabs, the recipe I made a few days ago, but it would complement any meat. It’s savory and satisfying. Puréed vegetables flavor the rice but are not visible, thus making it a kid-friendly dish. Just adjust the spices for heat level.
In my quest to simplify recipes from around the world, I discovered that is quite easy cooking the globe. The base for all dishes is spices and herbs. Stock up on it and explore the culinary world from your own kitchen. It really is as simple as that.
You can have chicken and rice every day of the week but use different spices and you’ll have a new dish each time. Trust me on that. Compare the taste of this jollof and my djuvec rice as a proof.
For once, forget peanut butter and jelly and surrender to tongue-tingling flavors and explore cuisines diverse in variety and taste. Submerge fully into magical spices and titillating food experience. You will never look at food the same way.
Don’t know where to begin with new spices? Would a spice guide be helpful? Something like Spices 101? How about spices in small batches so you don’t have to buy a big jar of something you’ll only use once in a while? I’m here to help you simplify your time in the kitchen and still have an amazing cultural experience. Let me know!
You can quickly get familiar with popular spices by cuisine by downloading this list I shared in my newsletter (if you’re not subscribed yet).
To get you inspired, I also created an interactive Taste the Globe map with countries I cooked. Hope you’ll join me on a journey to taste the globe and we’ll explore new cuisines together. If you try any of the recipes yourself, I’d love to hear about it. Comment, email, share your picture on social media and tag #allthatsjas so I can easily find you. 🙂
Don’t forget to grab my favorite homemade spice blends recipes for free (just scroll to the bottom, right before the comment section) and start making your own global dishes. You can do it! Make this Nigerian-style rice first because I know you will love it, and then go from there. 😉
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Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe
Nigerian flavorful side dish, jollof #rice, is spiced and cooked with tomato and pepper puree. #recipe #sidedish #vegan #vegetarian #glutenfree #jollof #nigerian Click To Tweet
INGREDIENTS:
Serves 4
- 2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup oil
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne (more if you like it hotter)
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups rice
- 1 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
~ Free Tip ~
- Substitute cayenne pepper with African hot ground chili pepper.
- Add 1/2 small habanero or scotch bonnet pepper for some serious heat.
ESSENTIALS
for Nigerian Jollof Rice
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DIRECTIONS:
- Purée the tomatoes, onions, and pepper in a food processor.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add spices and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the rice, puréed vegetables, water, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low; cover the pot and cook until rice is al dente, about 20-30 minutes (don’t overcook). If the rice seems a little dry, add ¼ cup water and cover, which will allow it to steam through.
- Garnish the rice with cilantro or parsley before serving.
Nigerian Jollof Rice
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 medium tomatoes roughly chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 onion roughly chopped
- ¼ cup oil
- ½ teaspoon curry powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne more if you like it hotter
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups rice
- 1 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS:
- Purée the tomatoes, onions, and pepper in a food processor.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add spices and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the rice, puréed vegetables, water, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low; cover the pot and cook until rice is al dente, about 20-30 minutes (don't overcook). If the rice seems a little dry, add ¼ cup water and cover, which will allow it to steam through.
- Garnish the rice with cilantro or parsley before serving.
RECIPE NOTES:
- Substitute cayenne pepper with African hot ground chili pepper.
- Add 1/2 small habanero or scotch bonnet pepper for some serious heat.
Pin it now: Nigerian Jollof Rice
Featured on: Eclectic Red Barn, The Cottage Market, and Fluster Buster.
Jas
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Healthy World Cuisine
March 31, 2018 at 10:03 amLoving this rice dish Jas. So simple but so full of flavor. Must try your delicious Beef Kebabs to go with it. Wishing you a super week!
Jas
March 31, 2018 at 3:32 pmThank you much, Bobbi! It exceeded my expectations 🙂 Have a happy Easter!
Marissa
April 1, 2018 at 7:07 amOh, I knew this was your recipe when I clicked on it! You always have a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. I am always looking for good meat free dishes my kids will eat…I think I just need to leave out the cayenne pepper and take the smoked paprika down a notch! Happy Easter to you 🙂
Jas
April 1, 2018 at 10:30 pmThank you so much, Marissa!You made my day 😀 Yes, no cayenne pepper for the kiddos and smoked paprika is not spicy, just adds flavor but it’s a personal preference. Hope your Easter was great!
Leanna
April 3, 2018 at 8:31 pmThis sounds delicious, but your recipes always do. Rice is a favorite around our home so this is going to be enjoyable. Thank you.
Jas
April 3, 2018 at 9:52 pmAwe, thanks so much, Leanna! Hugs
Chas
April 4, 2018 at 4:30 pmThis looks delightful, and I’ll have to add it to my list of things to try. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Jas
April 4, 2018 at 10:00 pmThank you!
Jann Olson
April 5, 2018 at 9:02 pmI love trying foods that we don’t have every day. Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Jas
April 5, 2018 at 11:42 pmMe too, Jann! I always preach: try new foods! Just ask my newsletter subscribers, lol.
Julianna
April 6, 2018 at 12:46 pmThis looks and sounds so flavourful, Jas! Your photos have my mouth watering. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Fiesta Friday this week. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Jas
April 6, 2018 at 6:49 pmThank you much, Julianna! Enjoy your weekend as well. x
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
April 7, 2018 at 4:53 pmPinned! This will be a great side for this summer!
Jas
April 7, 2018 at 7:43 pmit is such a flavorful side 🙂
Marissa
April 8, 2018 at 7:00 amUpdate: with some kid friendly changes, this was amazing. 5 stars!
Jas
April 8, 2018 at 5:38 pmThank you, thank you, thank you! So glad you tried it and liked it. Hugs
April J Harris
April 9, 2018 at 10:13 amThis looks delicious, Jas! It would be lovely either as a stand alone dish or as a side with so many things (including your lovely kebabs!). Pinning and sharing. Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party! Hope to see you again this week. Have a lovely week ahead!
Jas
April 10, 2018 at 3:57 pmThank you, April! I was surprised how much the ingredients flavor the rice. I learn something every day :). Hope your week is treating you kindly. Hugs
Lynda Hardy
April 10, 2018 at 9:01 amThis looks beautiful and so flavorful! Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs! 🙂
Jas
April 10, 2018 at 3:59 pmThank you much, Lynda!
Miz Helen
April 10, 2018 at 9:01 amThis rice looks fantastic! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Jas
April 10, 2018 at 3:59 pmMuch appreciated, Miz Helen!
Carol Cook
October 16, 2018 at 10:54 amYUM!!! This looks delicious. Pinned.
Jas
October 17, 2018 at 10:00 pmMany thanks, Carol!