Although jollof rice is not originally a Ghanaian dish, it has come to stay and is now counted among the favourite meals in Ghana.
Its old name is Thieboudienne, and when the Wolofs were located in different parts of West Africa, they brought Jollof rice and developed it in many ways. The Ghanaian Jollof rice is made from rice infused in a rich tomato-pepper broth in a unifying mix, having an aromatic scent, fluffy texture, and delicious flavor.
The dish is usually served with beef, chicken, seasoned fried fish, shito, or a mixture of veggies and optionally a touch of tomato sauce.
How to prepare jollof
Ingredients
- 4 cups of rice
- 8 pieces of Chicken thighs and drum sticks
- 3 large onions
- Pepper, garlic, ginger (amount optional)
- Chicken seasoning/ seasoning of choice
- 2 cups mixed veggies
- 1 can Tomato Plumps &Tomato puree
- Salt to taste
- Maggie cube( optional)
Step by Step
- Prepare chicken, wash and pat dry.
- Add salt to season
- Blend some onion, ginger, garlic and pepper
- Add to the chicken, add chicken season if you want.
- Steam the chicken for about 8-10 min.
- Blend plump tomatoes, with some onion and pepper depending on how spicy you want your Jollof rice.
- Slice the remaining onions into medium sizes.
- Start making the stew or gravy by frying the sliced onions in about 3 table spoons of veggie oil and allow to cook for about 2 mins
- Add 4 tablespoons of tomato puree and keep stirring for about 8 min till it is reduced.
- Add the blended tomato mixture and allow to cook and reduce for about 10 more minutes, Stirring intermittently.
- When the steamed chicken is ready, strain out the stock and allow to cool.
- Deep fry chicken for the golden brown crusty finish.
- Put the fried chicken aside.
- Add the stock to the stew and allow to cook for about 5 minutes
- Add your chicken to the stew (optional as chicken can be served separately when the Jollof rice is done).
- Add the mixed veggies and cook for a couple of minutes (scoop some stew out if preferred to be served with Jollof rice later).
- Add the rice and reduce the heat to very low. Cover the rice with kitchen foil and allow the food to steam through.
- Check and keep stirring intermittently till rice is cooked through, about 20 min.
- Scoop some of the rice in a small bowl and press to form a nice mold, turn into your serving plate. Add your chicken to the Jollof rice.
- Can be served with up to four people with either salad, gravy etc.
