Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (2024)

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Jollof Rice is a one-pot delicious Nigerian dish. You can skip the chicken and still enjoy flavorful, perfectly cooked rice, which you can serve alongside any grilled meat. There are different versions of this dish, because it got popular in various countries like Ghana and Cameroon, and they have added their own touch to it. Watch the video tutorial in this post and learn how to make this classic African dish!

this recipe

What is Jollof Rice?

The Jollof Rice Recipe I’m sharing today is simple and straight forward! I have added baked chicken, but you can skip the chicken or replace it with fish. This African delight consists of fluffy rice that’s full of fantastic flavor coming from warm spices and vegetables like bell pepper, onion, and garlic.

Jollof rice is perfect for parties and can be a delicious quick dinner.

Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (2)

Ingredients in Jollof rice

There is a list of ingredients, but fortunately, they are all available in stores, and you might be using them already.

Onion and tomato.

Ginger and garlic.

Carrot and bell pepper.

Oil and butter.

A few warm spices like turmeric, thyme, and curry.

Rice.

Water.

Chicken. You can use a whole chicken or your favorite parts.

Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (3)

How to make Jollof Rice with chicken?

First, you have to bake the chicken and for that, wash and cut the chicken. Season, the chicken with the spices mentioned in the recipe below. Lightly sprinkle the chicken with oil, cover the chicken with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes. Keep aside.

In a blender, add the tomatoes, bell pepper, ginger, and garlic and blend until smooth, then keep it aside.

Fry the onion and carrot, and when the onion is translucent, add the pureed tomato and bell pepper. Stir for few minutes and then add the spices and salt.

Later add the tomato paste, water, butter, and chicken bouillon. When the water boils, add the soaked rice and top it with the baked chicken.

Cover the pan and cook until the rice is done.

(More details in the recipe card below.)

Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (4)

Can I use store-bought Rotisserie chicken?

Of course! The rice is full of flavor; it will make the chicken tastes even better.

Can I use short grain rice?

Short grain rice tastes delicious in this jollof rice recipe. Try not to use brown rice since it will take a longer time to cook, and that might dry the chicken.

Other recipes call for hot pepper how come this recipe doesn’t?

It is a personal preference; you can add hot pepper if you wish.

What to serve with Jollof rice?

Jamaican Brown Chicken Stew.

Chili Chicken Fry.

Roast Chicken.

📖 Recipe

Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (5)

Jollof Rice With Chicken

Flavorful and perfectly cooked rice,which you can serve alongside any grilled meat.

4.55 from 20 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main

Cuisine: African

Keyword: Jollof Rice

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 450kcal

Author: Muna

Ingredients

  • 1 medium chopped onion
  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1- inch fresh ginger
  • 1 medium carrot chopped
  • ¼ bell pepper
  • 1 cube chicken bouillon
  • 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 cup long-grain rice washed and soaked for 20 minutes
  • ½ teaspoon curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon thyme or oregano
  • 1 tablespoon butter

FOR THE CHICKEN

  • 1 whole chicken cut in half
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  • Rub the chicken with the mixed spices from both sides. Sprinkle the chicken with a small amount of oil.

  • Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven of 400F/200C for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 25 minutes.

  • In a blender, add tomato, bell pepper, ginger, garlic, and blend well.

  • In a pan, heat two-tablespoon oil and then add the onion and carrot. Stir for three minutes on medium-high heat until the onion is translucent.

  • Add the tomato and bell pepper mixture to the fried onion and stir until the oil separates.

  • Add all the spices and stir for two minutes.

  • Add the tomato paste and stir for a minute. Add the water and let it come to a boil. Check if you need more salt at this stage.

  • Add the butter and chicken bouillon and stir for a minute. Cover and let it come to a boil.

  • Add the rice and stir for a few seconds; when it comes to a boil, add the cooked chicken—cover and cook for 15 to 17 minutes.

  • Turn off the heat and keep the pan covered for another 10 minutes.

  • Serve hot with your favorite salad on the side.

Video

Notes

  1. Instead of chicken bouillon, you can omit the water and use 2 cups of chicken stock.
  2. If you wish to use short-grain rice, soak it for 15 minutes only.
  3. When using a pressure cooker, do not soak the rice and use 1 and half cup water or stock instead of 2. Close the pressure cooker’s lid and cook on high heat until you hear a whistle. Reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 30 seconds, then turn off the heat. Allow the pressure to be released naturally; this will cook the rice evenly.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcal

Did You Make This Recipe?Please let me know how you liked it! Tage me @MunatyCooking

Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (6)

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Jollof Rice with Chicken a Nigerian Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the secret to great jollof rice? ›

Heat & Steam

When you check on the texture of the rice and it is not soft enough to your liking, cover tightly and leave to steam further. The steam is all that is needed to soften the rice. When ready, you can cook on high heat for a few minutes to infuse that smokey flavour jollof rice is known for.

What are the 2 types of jollof rice? ›

Two other kinds of Jollof are popular, Party and Native Jollof. Party Jollof, also called Party rice, is imbued with smoky flavors and commonly cooked outdoors, over firewood.

What do Nigerians eat with jollof rice? ›

The dish is then served with the protein of choice (which in theory may be any meat but often beef, turkey, chicken or croaker-fish; much less commonly lamb, pork, etc.) and very often with fried plantains, moi-moi, steamed vegetables, coleslaw, salad, etc.

What are the ingredients of Jollof rice I need? ›

Jollof rice is a staple in West African cuisine. It's made from rice, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other seasonings. The dish is cooked in one pot. It's simple and easy to make at home—and the end result is absolutely delicious!

How do you get the bitter taste out of Jollof rice? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps. This is a good trick for if you're cooking and realize that you added too much of a bitter ingredient.

Which spice is good for jollof rice? ›

Although variation exists even within Nigeria, Nigerian Jollof usually includes parboiled long-grain rice, tomatoes and tomato paste, peppers (including red pepper for subtle sweetness and habanero for that essential heat), vegetable oil, onions, curry powder, dried thyme, and stock.

Why is my jollof not tasty? ›

You are not using enough tomato/pepper blend

You blend 2 pieces of tomatoes, 1 chili pepper, 1 red bell pepper and half an onion and hope to make enough rice for a small wedding. Ko le werk. The key to an awesome Jollof rice experience is that each grain of rice is saturated in the delicious Jollof sauce.

Is it good to add butter in jollof rice? ›

Add the butter and work it through the rice, cover the pot again with the foil and steam further until rice is cooked. If the rice burns at the bottom, do not worry because that also adds to the unique taste of Nigerian Jollof rice.

What is Nigeria's national dish? ›

Jollof rice is Nigeria's national dish that is believed to be the origin of the popular Cajun dish known as jambalaya. The other name for the dish is benachin, meaning one pot in the native language of the Wolof people who created it.

Is jollof rice wet or dry? ›

There is this untold battle between Nigerians and Ghanaians on whose jollof rice is better. The Ghanians tend to have a softer and mushier rice; while the Nigerians enjoy their version steamed, a little dry and in single grains.

What is a fun fact about jollof rice? ›

The Origins of Jollof Rice: A Culinary Treasure from Ancient West Africa: Jollof Rice traces its roots back to the ancient Wolof Empire of Senegal and The Gambia. Renowned for its bold flavors and exquisite taste, the dish quickly spread across the West African region and beyond, becoming a symbol of culinary artistry.

What is the white stuff Nigerians eat with their food? ›

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.

Which is better Ghana or Nigerian jollof rice? ›

Each country has its own unique style of preparing and seasoning jollof rice, and the debate over which is best largely comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the spicier, tomato-based jollof rice from Nigeria, while others prefer the milder, smoky flavor of Ghanaian jollof rice.

What is Jollof seasoning? ›

Ingredients: Salt, Sugar, Onion, Ginger, Yeast Extract, Coriander, Thyme, Garlic, Chilli, Green Bell Peppers, Cinnamon, Bay Leaves. HEALTH RECIPE ALERT. Why not swap make it even easier and swap out the spices and use some of this ready made Jollof Seasoning mix in the NHS Approved recipe below!

What spices do Nigerians use? ›

Some of the most commonly used spices in Nigerian cuisine include:
  • Pepper. Pepper is used in almost every Nigerian dish and comes in various forms, including black pepper, cayenne pepper, and chili pepper. ...
  • Ginger. ...
  • Garlic. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Cumin. ...
  • Cloves. ...
  • Nutmeg. ...
  • Cinnamon.
Mar 11, 2023

Why is my Jollof not tasty? ›

You are not using enough tomato/pepper blend

You blend 2 pieces of tomatoes, 1 chili pepper, 1 red bell pepper and half an onion and hope to make enough rice for a small wedding. Ko le werk. The key to an awesome Jollof rice experience is that each grain of rice is saturated in the delicious Jollof sauce.

What does bay leaf do to Jollof rice? ›

Bay leaf (Dry) in Jollof rice simply helps to build up the flavour profile of the Nigerian party jollof rice (cooked on firewood). This indirectly comes in contact with formaldehyde oozing off the burning woods to give it a distinct taste, it also aids the digestion of the food.

References

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