Jollof Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cups (750g) easy cook basmati rice
- 4 large plum tomatoes or 1 can of plum tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoon freshly milled or ground nutmeg
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 medium size onion
- 4 seasoning cubes
- 1 scotch bonnet (yellow). Remove stalk & seeds, finely chop (optional)
- 1 large sweet red pepper. Remove stalk & seeds
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- freshly chopped chives
- 1 crayfish seasoning cube or 1 tablespoon of ground crayfish
- A small piece of ginger or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1- 2 serving spoon vegetable oil
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Jollof rice is widely consumed across West African countries as a popular every day meal and an important festive meal.
There are many variations of Jollof rice but all contain common basic ingredients which include fresh tomatoes, onions, chilli, red peppers and tomato paste. Thyme, curry powder and bay leaf are desirable spices that are also used.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves:4 - 6 people
Nutritional data: 422kcal per serving
Method:
- Blend the tomatoes, sweet pepper and onion together. Pour blend in a large pot, then add the scotch bonnet, thyme, nutmeg, curry powder, crayfish cube and chicken stock. Also add 750ml of water. Bring to the boil. Pound or grate the ginger and add to the boiling mix. Stir slowly, add tomato puree and allow to boil for about 5 minutes under high heat.
- Turn heat down, slowly introduce rice and stir in. Add some hot water enough to cook the rice, cover pot first with a sheet of foil paper and then with the pot lid. Allow to steam for about 10 minutes.
- Open pot and check if rice is cooked. Add more hot water if required. When all water/moisture has evaporated, gently stir rice avoiding scraping the bottom of the pot, also avoid overcooking rice. Crush and sprinkle seasoning cubes, stir well to distribute seasoning, then taste for salt, (use more or less seasoning cube depending on preference). Add two serving spoons of butter and mix well. Also add a serving spoon of vegetable oil to give the desirable glister.
- Serve hot with fried meat, fish or grilled chicken. Garnish with chives.
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