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Here’s how to make Nigerian jollof rice. You only need rice, tomato stew, and seasonings to savor Nigeria’s party rice at home! Best enjoyed with chicken.

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Nigerian jollof rice

Nigerian jollof rice is considered Nigeria’s party rice.

With its bold color, mouthwatering aroma, and distinct smoky taste, it’s one of those dishes that just makes celebrations extra special.

This ultimate fusion of Nigerian curry, herbs, tomato stew, and parboiled long-grain rice is made in a single pot, and you can easily make it at home!

Often described as iconic, unifying, and even controversial, this staple, one-pot wonder is a rice dish everyone should have in their cooking repertoire. 

What Is Jollof Rice?

Not to be confused with Nigerian fried rice, which, by the way, is another delicious Nigerian rice recipe you shouldn’t miss, jollof rice or Naija jollof rice is a flavorful single-pot dish made with parboiled long-grain rice, herbs, spices, and tomatoes. 

I highly doubt you will fail to spot jollof rice at a Nigerian party with its bold, dark orange, reddish color.

It’s definitely an iconic dish, and we’re only talking about its color; wait until you find out how its flavor makes this Nigerian jollof rice recipe special. 

The foundation for the rice’s distinct, smoky, savory flavor with just the right kick is tomato stew. Once you have that nailed down, making the rest of jollof party rice is pretty straightforward. 

What Is Jollof Rice

Nigerian jollof rice has different versions across Africa. One of which is the classic smoky jollof rice that is made over a wood fire. 

I know this isn’t the most convenient method, so keep reading to know how to cook jollof rice and get the iconic smoky flavor even without using wood fire.  

Why You’ll Love This Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe

  • Easy: This easy jollof rice recipe comes together in a single pot! Plus, we’ll teach you how to cook jollof rice on your stovetop and oven, so you don’t need to prepare a wood fire.
  • Filling: Considered as a staple, Nigerian jollof rice is a complete dish on its own. It’s filling and full of flavor to satisfy your hunger and ease your mood. But for a hearty meal, we’ve also listed the best pairings for jollof rice below.
  • Versatile: Serve this vibrant dish at a party or make an ordinary day feel like a celebration with Nigerian jollof rice at the table. You can even customize this Nigerian jollof rice recipe with your favorite vegetables and proteins!

What Does Jollof Party Rice Taste Like?

Nigerian jollof rice tastes smoky, rich, and savory, with just the right kick to make it addictive. It’s such a tasty rice dish that it’s definitely worthy of its title “party rice.” 

Personally, I’m not a fan of “soft” rice dishes (sorry Congee fans), so I already know I’m going to like Nigerian jollof even before trying it.

Its texture is just perfect: not too soft, not too hard. 😋

What Does Jollof Party Rice Taste Like

And because it’s a one-pot dish cooked slowly, all the flavors from the tomato stew, seasonings, herbs, and spice have fused together perfectly.

You’ll get an incredibly inviting aroma in the kitchen, and the resulting vibrant orange-red rice is guaranteed to make your mouth water. 

Nigerian Jollof Rice Ingredients

  • Vegetable oil – To highlight the flavors in your smoky jollof rice, make sure to use a neutral oil.
  • Plum tomatoes – We’ll blend plum tomatoes for our base sauce to give it a deep flavor and a mouthwatering red-orange color.
  • Red bell peppers – The tomato-bell pepper blend gives the stew a more rounded flavor.
  • Red onions – This aromatic must-have creates a delectable savory tomato base for the jollof rice. 
  • Habanero or Scotch Bonnet peppers – Habanero pepper gives our Nigerian jollof rice a delicious kick. Some also like to use Scotch Bonnet pepper to boost the bold color of the rice.
  • Tomato paste – We’ll also add tomato paste for color.
  • Nigerian curry powder – We used Nigerian curry powder. Together with the dish’s smoky aroma, this spice blend gives the jollof party rice a distinct, irresistible taste.
  • Dried thyme – Its earthy, minty flavor blends well with the other spices in this Nigerian jollof rice recipe.
  • Bay leaves – You might wonder, do bay leaves even do anything? Well, yes! They actually help with the depth of flavor.
  • Chicken stock – You can also use vegetable stock on this party-style rice.
  • Long-grain rice – Use parboiled rice so you won’t end up with mushy jollof rice. Here’s how to cook parboiled rice easily.
  • Salt – To season your dish as needed.
  • Pepper – Black pepper’s sharp flavor completes the taste of our aromatic rice.

Tools Needed To Prepare Jollof Rice

  • Blender for the tomato stew
  • Knife for slicing the ingredients
  • Pot for the tomato stew
  • Saucepan for cooking the rice
  • Foil for covering the pan

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Jollof Rice Recipe

Long-grain parboiled rice substitute

You can also make jollof rice with basmati rice.

Just remember to cook your rice so it’s not soft or crunchy. Here’s the technique on how to cook parboiled rice!

Plum tomatoes substitute 

Plum tomatoes are our top pick for this Nigerian jollof rice recipe’s tomato stew because they are soft and sweet. If unavailable, substitute them with Roma tomatoes.

Pro tip: Do not use tomatoes that are too watery or have too many seeds!

Nutmeg

Want to give your Nigerian party rice dish a more interesting and unique taste? Try making it with a teaspoon of nutmeg!

How to Make Nigerian Jollof Rice

Ingredients:

Tools you need:

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for your Nigerian jollof rice.

step 1 nigerian jollof rice recipe

STEP 2: Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, red peppers, onions, and two cups of stock until smooth.

STEP 3: Transfer the tomato mixture to a large pot and bring to a boil.

STEP 4: Turn down the heat and let the tomato mixture simmer for 10 minutes, partly covered.

STEP 5: Heat vegetable oil in a pan. Stir fry some sliced onions and season with salt.

STEP 6: After about 3 minutes, add the curry powder, black pepper, thyme, and bay leaves. Continue cooking on medium heat for 3 minutes.

step 6 nigerian jollof rice recipe

STEP 7: Stir in the tomato paste. After 2 minutes, add the tomato mixture and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, partly covered or until the tomato stew is reduced by half.

step 7a nigerian jollof rice recipe
step 7b nigerian jollof rice recipe

STEP 8: Add the remaining stock to the pan and bring it to a boil.

step 8a nigerian jollof rice recipe
step 8b nigerian jollof rice recipe

STEP 9: Add the rice. Stir and cover with foil and lid.

step 9 nigerian jollof rice recipe

STEP 10: Turn down the heat and cook for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.

step 10 nigerian jollof rice recipe

STEP 11: Taste and season your jollof rice as needed.

STEP 12: Allow the covered rice to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your party rice!

step 12 nigerian jollof rice recipe

What to Eat with Jollof Rice

Nigerian jollof rice is undoubtedly the life of the party with its vibrant color and delicious fusion of smoky, savory flavors. And while you can enjoy the tomatoey rice dish on its own, it’s also a versatile meal that you can partner with yummy dishes.

If you ask me, the best pairing is Nigerian jollof rice and chicken. Goat meat, beef, or fish with jollof rice will also be amazing. 🤤

What to Eat with Jollof Rice

But since you’re already making Nigerian jollof, why not cook other Nigerian dishes?

Our easy but delicious moi moi recipe and Nigerian salad will be perfect for the flavorful and colorful Nigerian jollof party rice!

Tips About Making Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe

  • Always rinse your parboiled rice in cold water before using it with the other ingredients. This will stop the cooking process and remove the excess starch in the rice to avoid mushy jollof rice. 
  • Here’s a trick to cool your rice faster: spread it on a flat dish and blot the excess moisture with a paper towel!
  • Make sure that you’re using enough oil in your tomato stew. This will keep the tomatoes and onions from burning since the water will evaporate during cooking.
  • Consider adding parsley for a tastier Jollof party rice. Or, for a more traditional flavor, use chunks of smoked fish in the dish. 
  • Can you cook jollof rice in the oven? Yes! Just rinse the rice, add all the ingredients, cover, and bake for half an hour. Then, stir everything, add your choice of veggies if you have any, and bake for another 5 minutes. Remember to adjust the baking time according to your elevation.

How To Store Jollof Rice

  • Fridge: After cooling, transfer your Nigerian jollof rice to an airtight container. It should keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days!
  • Freezer: You can also freeze your jollof rice in a freezer-safe container for 3 months.
  • Reheating: To reheat, microwave your leftover smoky jollof rice on high for 4 minutes. Then, just do 1-minute intervals until it’s heated through. 
How To Store Jollof Rice

Where Is Jollof Rice From?

So, who created jollof rice? There is actually a heated debate about where jollof rice is originally from.

The name itself originates from a Senegambian kingdom called the Jolof Empire

Then, the delicious dish evolved into different varieties all over Africa.

The ingredients and preparation for jollof rice differ from country to country, and interestingly, you might even find different versions of this dish from house to house!

What Type of Rice Is Best for Jollof Rice?

Jollof rice is best made with long-grain rice that is parboiled.

If you don’t have parboiled long-grain rice, you can also use basmati rice or jasmine rice for this Nigerian jollof rice recipe.

How to Cook Jollof Rice Without Tomatoes

If fresh tomatoes are unavailable, don’t worry; you can still cook jollof rice!

Swap fresh tomatoes with tomato seasoning mix instead. 😋

There are also variations of jollof rice without tomatoes or tomato products. The recipe is made with a red paste from blended bell peppers, red chilis, and onions. 

FAQ About Nigerian Jollof Rice

How to make smoky jollof rice?

You can make a smoky jollof rice with liquid smoke for that authentic party rice flavor! Use a tablespoon for every 3 cups of rice. 

Is jollof rice spicy?

Jollof rice has a spiced, smoky flavor. Yes, it can be spicy, but it depends on how much chilis you’ll use in your jollof rice recipe. 

Which is better Ghana or Nigeria jollof rice?

Of course, Naija jollof, but I’m biased. It all depends on personal preference. 

What is the difference between Ghanaian and Nigerian jollof rice?

A quick way to tell which is which when it comes to jollof rice is Ghanaian jollof rice is typically made with basmati rice, while Nigerian jollof rice uses long-grain, parboiled rice. 

How to dry out overcooked Jollof rice?

If your rice is overcooked, place it on a fridge shelf to cool it down. Then, spread the rice on a tray and place it in the oven to help dry it out. 

Can I cook Jollof rice in a rice cooker?

Yes, you can cook jollof rice in a rice cooker! Follow the recipe instructions for cooking the rice and open the rice cooker’s lid after 10 minutes. 

How To Make Nigerian Jollof Rice

Nigerian Jollof Rice

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Here’s how to make Nigerian jollof rice. You only need rice, tomato stew, and seasonings to savor Nigeria’s party rice at home! Best enjoyed with chicken.

Instructions

    1. Gather the ingredients for your Nigerian jollof rice. 
    2. Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, red peppers, onions, and two cups of stock until smooth. 
    3. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large pot and bring to a boil. 
    4. Turn down the heat and let the tomato mixture simmer for 10 minutes, partly covered.
    5. Heat vegetable oil in a pan. Stir fry some sliced onions and season with salt. 
    6. After about 3 minutes, add the curry powder, black pepper, thyme, and bay leaves. Continue cooking on medium heat for 3 minutes.
    7. Stir in the tomato paste. After 2 minutes, add the tomato mixture and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, partly covered or until the tomato stew is reduced by half. 
    8. Add the remaining stock to the pan and bring it to a boil.
    9. Add the rice. Stir and cover with foil and lid.
    10. Turn down the heat and cook for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through. 
    11. Taste and season your jollof rice as needed. 
    12. Allow the covered rice to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your party rice! 

Notes

  • The secret to getting the perfect Jollof rice texture is using parboiled rice. Then, rinse it in cold water because using hot rice immediately with the other ingredients can overcook it and make it soggy.
  • Why is my Jollof rice sticky? Besides rinsing the rice to remove the excess starch, you want to drain and cool it completely. You can also spread the rice in a flat dish to speed up the cooling process, then blot the excess water with a paper towel.
  • For the tomato stew, use enough oil to avoid burning the tomatoes and onion. During cooking, the water content of the stew will evaporate.
  • Add a dash of parsley for a kick on your Jollof rice! Chunks of smoked fish can also give this Nigerian rice dish a more traditional flavor.
  • You can also bake your jollof rice! Here's how: rinse the rice, add all the ingredients, cover, and bake for half an hour. Then, stir everything, add veggies if you have any, and bake for another 5 minutes. You can adjust the baking time depending on your elevation.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 46mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 10g

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.

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Updated in October 2023 with new photos and minor recipe adjustments for improved quality. Enjoy!

Conclusion

And that’s it! You just learned how to cook a party-worthy Nigerian jollof rice!

This easy Nigerian jollof rice recipe will give you a tasty, comforting rice dish you can enjoy on its own or with other yummy African dishes.

Don’t know what pairing to try first? Consider Nigerian jollof rice and chicken!

And for those who want to make a smoky jollof rice but don’t have access to a wood fire, you can always try our hack with liquid smoke for a fuss-free fragrant rice. 

Nigerian jollof rice recipe

Loved this Nigerian Jollof rice recipe? Try these delicious dishes next and delve into the diverse world of African cuisine:

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Nigerian Jollof Rice and chicken 1
Nigerian Jollof Rice and chicken 4

Here’s a bonus mouthwatering content:

Check out our previous photos to give you inspiration on what else you can add to your jollof rice!

Nigerian Jollof Rice at its best
Nigerian jollof rice is indeed a party on a plate!
Nigerian Jollof Rice with Chicken
We can thank tomato stew for jollof rice’s mouthwatering color!
Nigerian Jollof Rice Tomato Stew
You can make your own chicken stock for jollof rice!
Chicken for Nigerian Jollof Rice
step 7 Nigerian Jollof Rice

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