Chicken Jollof Rice African Recipe - Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in jollof rice? ›

6) The Two Secret Ingredients:

White pepper is added along with the spices and seasoning while Butter is added at the end, say a few minutes to doneness. White pepper give Jollof rice its prominent flavour and taste while Butter gives it a rich look and taste.

And the winner of best jollof rice goes to The Gambia!

Some of my favourite seasonings to use are:

Tumeric. Nutmeg. Paprika powder. Herbs other than just thyme which is great, but oregano and bay leaf are special.

While the white pepper and bay leaf give your Jollof rice a prominent flavour and taste, butter gives it a rich look and taste. Jollof rice needs steam and not liquid to cook perfectly. You'll need to trap in as much heat as you possibly can to achieve the perfect consistency.

The browning of sliced onions together with the tomato paste and equal amounts of thyme, curry powder, ginger powder and paprika. Then the final seasoning mix of Maggi, dried thyme, curry and salt goes in with the rice. All of these layers make up the richness and vibrancy of the dish.

Some rice types e.g Jasmine and most Asian rice are more glutenous and could result in very sticky jollofrice. Not washing your rice properly can also cause your jollof rice to be sticky. Be sure to wash until water runs clear. Also overcooking the rice could also be the factor.

The dish is typically made with long-grain rice, tomatoes, chilies, onions, spices, and sometimes other vegetables and/or meat in a single pot, although its ingredients and preparation methods vary across different regions. The dish's origins are traced to Senegal.

Popular chef, Hilda Baci has weighed in on the Ghanaian jollof vs Nigerian jollof debate. According to Baci, Nigerian jollof is the better version, alluding to the flavour building it comes with. The former Guinness World Record holder made this known when speaking in the latest episode of the 90s Baby Show.

Congratulations to Gambia. Senegalese got the best Jollof rice.

Which is the richest country in Africa? ›

GDP, a key measure of national wealth, shows Nigeria as the richest African country in 2021, primarily due to its large population and petroleum-focused economy.

Fried plantain is a perfect side dish for your fried rice, jollof rice, beans and fried eggs. The plantain is one of the best Africa's favorite dishes. This recipe makes your plantain crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Jollof rice is also rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. Vitamin A is important for eye health, while vitamin C helps to boost the immune system, especially important when traveling.

In Nigeria, fufu (akpu) is made solely from fermented cassava giving it its unique thickness compared to that found in other west African countries. It is eaten with a variety of soups with vegetables and lots of beef and fish.

Tomatoes give jollof rice its unique reddish colour. Fresh tomatoes are best used to prepare large quantities of jollof rice as they are cheaper than processed purees. Along with tomatoes, scotch bonnet also contributes to the colour of the rice. But it also adds extra spice.

A tip is to make sure the pepper is more than raw tomatoes used. Using more raw tomatoes will water down the colour of your Jollof rice. Tomato purée is the secret to the signature red Jollof colour. Substitute the rest of the needed tomatoes for tomato purée.

Ingredients: Tomato Concentrate (49%), Sunflower Oil (40%), Vegetable Cube Stock, Mixed Herbs & Spices, Garlic, Mustard, Ginger, Black Pepper, Paprika, Scotch Bonnet, Bay Leaf, Nutmeg, Hydrolysed Soya Beans, Bicarbonate, Salt, Ammonia Caramel, Yeast Extracts, Natural Preservatives.