Jollof Rice: The King of African Dishes — Origin, Recipe and Secret

What is jollof rice?

Jollof rice is a rice dish cooked directly in a spicy tomato sauce, flavoured with onion, garlic and spices. Its characteristic reddish-orange colour comes from the tomato base in which the rice simmers. It's usually served with roast chicken, fried plantain and a vegetable salad.

What sets jollof rice apart from simple tomato rice is the technique: the rice simmers in a concentrated, aromatic stock until fully absorbed, creating a slightly crispy layer at the bottom of the pot (the "party jollof") much loved by connoisseurs.

Origin and the great Jollof war

Jollof rice originates from the Djolof Empire (present-day Senegal), from which it gets its name. From there, it spread throughout West Africa through migration and trade. Today, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Côte d'Ivoire all claim their version is the best.

The "Jollof War" is a passionate online debate between Nigerians and Ghanaians arguing over the supremacy of their respective versions. Nigerian jollof rice is known for its intense colour and bold spices, while the Ghanaian version is said to be milder.

Secrets to perfect jollof rice

Secret number 1: a well-concentrated tomato base. Fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes and tomato paste are blended together and cooked over high heat until the water fully evaporates. This concentration gives the rice its deep colour and rich flavour.

The key steps

1. Blitz and fry: blend tomatoes, red peppers and chillies, then sauté the mixture until fully reduced (20-25 min). 2. Season: add stock, spices (curry, paprika, thyme, bay leaf, garlic, ginger). 3. Rice in: add the washed rice and let it absorb the stock, covered. 4. Steam finish: at the end of cooking, lower to very low heat and cover with foil to finish steaming.

All our jollof rice recipes

Jollof rice recipes and variations

Jollof Paella

45 min

Nigerian Jollof Rice — King of Party Dishes

85 min

Equipment for perfect jollof rice

Good jollof rice needs a thick-bottomed pot to keep the rice from sticking too quickly. Discover our selection of pots and casseroles suited to African cooking.

Pots and casseroles for African cooking

Antiarina Universal Stockpot with 2 Handles - Afro-Caribbean Cooking

29,67 €

Giant 35L Stainless Steel Stockpot - Creole Cooking & Restaurant

69,99 €

Set of 6 Modern Design Stainless Steel Pots - African & Caribbean Cooking

93,79 €

3-Piece Stainless Steel Cookware Set - Heavy-Duty Pots for Afro-Caribbean Cooking

34,43 €

Borosilicate Glass Saucepan - Heat-Resistant with Lid

40,87 €

CAST LINE Cast Iron Dutch Oven 28cm - 5.9L Authentic Black

62,82 €

Granite Pot 4.2L with Glass Lid - Afro-Caribbean Cooking

52,02 €