Elevate Your Meals: How To Cook Jollof Rice Easily In 2025

How to Cook Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is a popular dish in West Africa, particularly in countries like Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria. It is a flavorful and satisfying meal that is made with rice, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of spices. Here is a simple recipe for how to make jollof rice at home.

Contents

How to Cook Jollof Rice Is jollof rice Nigerian or Ghanaian?What is so special about jollof rice?

Ingredients:

2 cups of long grain rice
1 large onion, diced
1 can of diced tomatoes
2 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon of thyme
1/4 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 cup of vegetable oil
1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions:

In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the canned tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme, and paprika to the saucepan. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil.
Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer and add it to the saucepan. Stir to combine and reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan and let the rice simmer for 20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. This will allow the rice to steam and become even more fluffy.
After 5 minutes, fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the chopped parsley, if using. Serve the jollof rice hot, with your choice of protein and vegetables on the side.

This recipe makes enough jollof rice to serve 4-6 people. You can adjust the spiciness of the dish by using more or less cayenne pepper, depending on your preference. If you want to add more protein to the dish, you can also stir in cooked chicken, beef, or shrimp along with the rice. Enjoy!