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 de Paella

45 min

Riz Jollof Nigérian — Le Roi des Plats Festifs

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

Marmite Universelle 2 Anses Antiarina - Cuisine Afro-Caribéenne

29,67 €

Marmite Géante 35L Inox - Cuisine Créole & Restaurant

69,99 €

Ensemble 6 Casseroles Inox Design Moderne - Cuisine Africaine & Caribéenne

93,79 €

Batterie de Cuisine 3 Pièces Inox - Casseroles Épaisses pour Cuisine Afro-Caribéenne

34,43 €

Casserole en Verre Borosilicate - Résistant à la Chaleur avec Couvercle

40,87 €

Cocotte en Fonte CAST LINE 28cm - 5,9L Noir Authentique

62,82 €

Pot en Granit 4.2L avec Couvercle Verre - Cuisine Afro-Caribéenne

52,02 €