Jellof Rice is a beloved West African dish, particularly popular in Nigeria. It's a flavorful one-pot meal made with rice, tomatoes, onions, and a blend of spices. Known for its vibrant red color and rich taste, Jellof Rice is often served at celebrations and gatherings, and is enjoyed with a...
Ingredients
- 3cupslong-grain parboiled rice
- 1/4cupvegetable oil
- 1piecelarge onion (chopped)
- 3piecelarge tomatoes (blended)
- 1/2cuptomato paste
- 2piecered bell peppers (blended)
- 2piecescotch bonnet peppers (blended)
- 2cupschicken or beef broth
- 1tbspthyme
- 1tbspcurry powder
- 2piecebay leaves
- 1tspblack pepper
- 1tspwhite pepper
- 2tspsmoked paprika
- 1/2tspground crayfish (optional)
- 1cupmixed vegetables (carrots, peas, green beans)
- 1pinchsalt
- 1cupcooked chicken or beef (optional)
How to make Jellof Rice
Rinse the rice in cold water until the water runs clear. Set aside.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.
Add the blended tomatoes, tomato paste, blended red bell peppers, and scotch bonnet peppers. Cook for about 10-15 minutes until the tomato mixture reduces and the oil starts to separate.
Add the thyme, curry powder, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, white pepper, smoked paprika, and ground crayfish. Stir well to combine.
Pour in the chicken or beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Add the mixed vegetables and cooked chicken or beef (if using). Stir to combine and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until the rice is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender.
Remove the bay leaves and serve the Jellof rice hot.
Tips & Tricks
For extra flavor, you can add a bit of smoked fish or shrimp to the rice.
Make sure to stir the rice occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
