Party Jollof Rice

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Party Jollof Rice

Duchess Nena’s party jollof rice is the absolute business! It is a festive/celebratory dish enjoyed by many West African people. It is a spicy one pot rice dish with a rich tomato base with origins from the Wolof tribe found in Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Golden Sella Rice (a type of basmati rice found in supermarkets or Afro-Caribbean shops). If you cannot find this buy long grain easy cook rice.
• 2 tins plum/chopped Tomatoes
• 1 tube tomato puree
• ½ cup frozen mixed vegetables /frozen peas
• 2 Onions (1 red onion, 1 white)
• 2 Bay leaves
• ½ teaspoon Thyme
• ½ teaspoon Rosemary
• 1 teaspoon Curry powder
• Sea salt to taste
• ¼ cup cooking oil (preferable Avocado)
• 2 Vegetable stock/Bouillon cube 
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 scotch bonnets
• ½ finger of Ginger
• 2 cloves of Garlic

Method

1. In a blender/food processor add tomatoes, bell pepper, ½ onion, 1 whole scotch bonnet, 2 cloves garlic and ½ finger ginger. Blend till smooth. 

2. Chop or slice red onion.

3. In a pan, heat oil and add the sliced/chopped onion and stir-fry for 1 minute. Then add a tomatoes puree and cook for a further minute.

4. Add the blended mix, the bay leaves, curry powder, dried thyme, bouillon cube/powder pinch of salt and cook for minutes on medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes till reduced. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. This stew will be the base for the jollof.

5. Wash the rice thoroughly and parboil in a separate pot for 5 mins. Rinse and add to the stew and mix. 

6. Cover pot with foil/parchment paper before putting a lid over it. Put on low heat and cook for ½ hour. Mid way, stir rice as sauce tends to stay at the bottom of the pot. This will ensure the rice cooks evenly.

7. Once rice is done, add sliced white onions and the the mixed frozen vegetables and stir through. 

8. To get the ‘party’ flavour, transfer jollof into an ovenware and cook in a preheated oven at 200 for 10 mins. This will give it a smoky taste like it’s bene cooked over an open fire. Hence the name ‘party jollof.’ 

You can find more of Nena’s amazing recipes in her cook book Igbo Vegan. Igbo Vegan – Duchess Nena