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    Chicken Jollof Rice

    Wedding, funerals, naming ceremonies, get togethers, celebration times = Jollof Rice in many West African countries. If you have been lucky to be invited to one of their party times, you would notice this vibrant, flavorful rice dish that they love and adore.

    Spiced and stewed in a tomato based broth and seasoned with curry powder, thyme and scotch bonnet peppers, this is a rice dish you are gonna love!!

    jollof rice in a cast iron pan

    What is Jollof Rice?

    The name Jollof is said to come from the Wolof people of Senegal. Known by many different names in different countries, Jollof is a one pot rice dish often called “reddish one-pot dish”. It is popular in many West African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, Cameroon, Mali, Sierra, Ivory Coast and Liberia. There are several regional variations, the difference being the method of cooking or the ingredients used .

    Everybody is quite passionate and possessive over their beloved jollof, ready to go to war proving theirs is the BEST out there. These verbal “Jollof Wars” are well known, especially between Nigeria and Ghana. Typically this dish is rice cooked in a tomato based sauce or broth. Often it is supplemented by some veggies and meats like chicken, beef or goat, sometimes even seafood.

    jollof rice in a cast iron pan

    I decided to cook my first Jollof taking inspiration from both Nigerian and Ghanaian styles, as both seem to have ingredients I thought I would like in my jollof.

    You can cook this on your stovetop or in the oven, but today I am using the oven method. I find it easier and love how the chicken ends up so tender and the rice so perfect.

    Ingredients Needed

    ingredients for jollof rice on a cutting board
    • Basmati rice – Nigerians use par boiled long grain rice and Ghanaians use jasmine or basmati rice. I am more used to basmati and have loved it all my life, so basmati it is.
    • Tomato sauce – So important to create those vibrant flavors and colors. One of the most distinguishing ingredient of jollof.
    • Onion – To create the base.
    • Bell peppers – I used red and yellow bell peppers.
    • Garlic – I love plenty.
    • Ginger – Another of my favorites.
    • Curry powder – The popularity of this spice blend in African cuisine is famous.
    • Thyme – Great flavor.
    • Chicken – Bone in, skin on thighs and/or drumsticks are best for jollof. The end result is tender fall off the bone meat.
    • Chicken broth – To cook the rice.
    • Bay leaves – A little extra flavor.
    • Salt and Pepper – To taste.
    • Scotch bonnet peppers – You need a little heat here, but it’s up to you how much. Easily customized. If you can’t find them, habanero are a good alternative, though they have slightly less heat.
    three habanero peppers on a cutting board

    Jollof Rice Recipe

    I start by seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper, making sure it’s well-coated. Then, I shallow fry it in my preheated, oiled pan. I’m using my beloved cast iron because I’ll finish cooking it in the oven later, so it’s perfect for this. I cook the chicken over medium to medium-high heat, frying each side for about 4-5 minutes. I’m looking for that gorgeous golden-brown color on both sides

    chicken thighs cooking in a cast iron skillet

    Once the chicken is nicely golden on both sides, I remove it from the pan and set it aside. Around this time, I start preheating the oven to 350°F.

    chopped onions and peppers in a cast iron skillet

    In the same pan, I add the chopped onions and peppers, letting them sauté until they get nice and soft. Then, I stir in the chopped garlic and ginger, letting everything cook for about a minute.

    onions, peppers, garlic and ginger in a cast iron skillet

    Next, I pour in the tomato sauce, followed by thyme, curry powder, and some diced Scotch bonnet pepper. These peppers bring a serious kick, so I’m super careful while handling them, making sure to wash my hands really well afterward. 

    tomato sauce added to sauteed onions, pepper, garlic and ginger

    I season with a little salt and pepper, being careful with the salt since we’ll be adding chicken broth, which already has plenty of sodium. Then, I mix everything together really well. After that, I add the basmati rice and stir it for about a minute to make sure the rice is nicely coated with all those delicious flavors.

    rice added to mixture of onions, peppers, tomato sauce, spices and herbs

    I pour in the chicken broth and give everything a good stir to make sure it’s all well combined. Then, I place the chicken back into the pot, nestling it into the rice, and toss in a couple of bay leaves for extra flavor. I cover the pot with foil and transfer it to the preheated oven at 350°F, letting it cook for an hour. 

    all ingredients for jollof rice in a cast iron skillet ready to bake

    You will be notified that the rice is almost done when the most amazing smells started wafting out of your oven. When you open that foil you will be greeted by beautifully colored, steaming, comforting rice sprinkled with perfect fall off the bone chicken.

    The rice is perfectly fluffed when baked in the oven and is flavored with just the right amount of spices and herbs. By adding the chicken (or any other meat), this is a complete one pot meal and you don’t need to cook anything else. Though next time I might try it with a side of my tomato cucumber raita.

    Can I can cook it on stovetop?

    Yes, in fact it’s a bit quicker. Follow all instructions up until the point you would place you dish in the oven. At this point, bring everything up to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook 15-20 minutes. As cooking times vary depending on your stove, I recommend checking after 15 minutes. You want your rice tender and all liquid absorbed.

    Variations

    Throw in any vegetables you like! I have tried mushrooms, carrots and even half ears of corn. You can also try this with beef, I would recommend stew meat. Shrimp is another great option, but you want to cook them separately and add them at the end, otherwise they can get overcooked and rubbery.

    jollof rice in a cast iron pan

    Next time you have some party coming up… some get together… some company coming in… blow them away with these amazing African flavors. Bring festivity and celebration into your home with this colorful one pot meal! Have fun!!

    Chicken Jollof Rice, on my Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

    jollof rice on the gypsy plate alongside sliced cucumbers

    For more great African dishes, try our…
    Chermoula Sauce
    South African Chicken Curry
    Kedjenou Chicken
    Moroccan Lentil Soup
    Chakalaka

    Featured image for Jollof Rice post.

    Chicken Jollof Rice

    Yield: 6 servings
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

    This colorful and tasty one pot meal is a West African classic. Simple preparation, then in the oven it goes. Impress your guests with this easy and exotic treat!

    Ingredients

    • 6 chicken pieces (legs and/or thighs)
    • 2 Tbsp cooking oil
    • 2 cups basmati rice
    • 3 cups chicken broth
    • 1 onion
    • 2 bell peppers (I used red and yellow)
    • 1 cup tomato sauce
    • 5 cloves garlic
    • 1 Tbsp chopped ginger
    • 3 tsp dried thyme
    • 3 tsp curry powder
    • 3 bay leaves
    • 2 scotch bonnet peppers (vary depending on your heat tolerance)
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
    2. Preheat oil cast iron skillet, or other oven safe pan, over medium high heat.
    3. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in pan. Brown 4-5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
    4. Chop vegetables, ginger and garlic.
    5. Add onions and peppers to same pan, cook until soft.
    6. Add garlic and ginger, stir and cook 1 minute.
    7. Stir in tomato sauce, thyme, curry powder, chopped scotch bonnet peppers, salt and pepper. Once well mixed, add rice and stir well.
    8. Pour in chicken broth, stir, then place chicken pieces in the pan. Add in bay leaves.
    9. Cover pan with foil. Place in preheated oven and bake 1 hour.

    Notes

    Scotch bonnet peppers are very hot. If you are heat sensitive, you can omit them or use less quantity. After chopping, be sure to wash hands thoroughly. Do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose until your hands are washed.

    Leftovers: This meal is perfect as left overs, as all the flavors are enhanced the next day, so go ahead and make a huge pot. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. You can freeze in an airtight container, but for best quality I recommend eating within one month.

    Nutrition Information
    Yield 6 Serving Size 1
    Amount Per Serving Calories 444Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 169mgSodium 936mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 3gSugar 5gProtein 35g

    Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.

    Did you make this recipe?

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    long pin of chicken jollof rice
    pinterest image of chicken jollof rice
    Picture of Alpana, blogger and recipe developer at GypsyPlate

    Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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