Nigerian Jollof Rice
From: Nigeria
Servings:
6
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
40 minutes
Difficulty:
Medium
Ingredients
- 2 cups Parboiled long-grain rice
- 4 whole Roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1 whole Red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 0.5 whole Medium onion, finely sliced
- 2 whole Habanero or Scotch bonnet peppers
- 0.5 cup Neutral oil (vegetable or sunflower)
- 4 tbsp Tomato paste
- 2 whole Bay leaves
- 1 tsp Dried thyme
- 1 tbsp Curry powder
- 1 tbsp Bouillon powder (Maggi/Knorr)
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 2.5 cups Chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 tbsp Butter (optional)
Instructions
- Blend tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and habanero peppers with 0.5 cup water until smooth.
- Rinse parboiled rice in several changes of water until water runs nearly clear. Drain well.
- Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add sliced onion and bay leaves; fry until softened and just browning (3-5 minutes).
- Stir in tomato paste and fry for 3-5 minutes until darker, then add blended pepper mixture.
- Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and oil separates at the top.
- Add thyme, curry powder, bouillon, salt, and pepper. Cook another 2-5 minutes.
- Add drained rice and stir well to coat all grains with sauce.
- Pour in stock (enough to come just above the rice). Stir once and cover tightly with foil under the lid.
- Bring to boil over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, then reduce to low.
- Cook covered for about 20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Optional: increase heat to medium-high for 1 minute without stirring to create crispy bottom layer.
- Let rest covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
- Remove bay leaves, dot with butter if desired, and serve hot.