BEST, QUICK, EASY, AND CHEAP DINNER IDEA FOR YOU.
Some days ago, I returned from work tired and hungry. I wanted an appetizing dinner yet didn't want to spend so much time in the kitchen. If the dinner took long, it would be a burnt offering. If you don't gerrit, forget about it I sat on a chair lost in thoughts. It was like solving a riddle. A delicious dinner meal that saves time? You’ve probably been in my shoes before? Can you relate?
I had a long list of options. Among them were Semovita and Egusi soup, White rice and fish stew, Plantain porridge, Custard and Moi moi, Jollof Rice, Eba with Okro soup.
Guess what my final decision was? I decided to cook Jollof Rice for dinner. I had the ingredients within reach and wouldn’t need to purchase anything in the market.
Jollof Rice is a common food in most West African Countries: Nigeria, Cameroun, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Lonne, Liberia, etc. Jollof Rice is popular party food. Without Jollof Rice, parties don’t seem…(words reserved) I can remember vividly how my neighbor’s children preferred party Jollof Rice to their mother’s meal. Have you ever wondered why party Jollof Rice tastes different from the ones prepared in our homes?
Jollof Rice is rice cooked in tomato sauce with spices. It is easy to prepare. The ingredients are cheap and easy to get in any market.
Together, let’s cook Jollof Rice in less than 40 minutes with 5 simple steps.
Ingredients for Jollof Rice
Blended peppers (combination of Red-bell pepper, tomatoes, scotch bonnet, and onions)
1 cup of Cooking oil
2 Seasoning cubes
100g tomato paste
Salt to taste
5 cups of Beef/Chicken stock
2 tablespoons of butter
3 cups of rice
Vegetables (optional)
Jollof Rice spices
1 tablespoon of Curry
1 tablespoon of thyme
Garlic cloves
Ginger
2-3 Bay leaves
5 Simple Steps to Cook Jollof Rice.
Are your ingredients ready? Let's start.
Heat cooking oil in a large pot on medium-high heat. When the oil is heated, add sliced onions. Cook for 2 minutes till you notice a slight change in the onions. Add tomato paste, garlic, ginger, and bay leaves. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Add blended pepper and cook till oil floats on the sauce. Cook for 10 minutes. Add salt, seasoning cubes, curry, and thyme. Cook for 5 minutes. Stir at intervals to prevent burning.
Wash your rice thoroughly. Add washed rice into the sauce and stir till it's properly mixed. Add beef stock, stir and cover with a tight lid. Increase the heat supply for 15 minutes.
Once it boils, lower the heat supply to medium. Check the rice, and add little water if needed. Steam for 10 minutes. Add butter, sliced tomatoes, and onions. Stir and steam again until it's done.
If you love the smoky flavor of Jollof Rice. Leave the rice on medium-high heat for 5 minutes. If not, turn off your heat supply. Dinner is ready.
Serve with Chicken, Beef, Fried plantains, Coleslaw, Moi moi, or Fish.
How was it? I would love to hear from you in the comment section.
Avoid these common mistakes when cooking Jollof Rice
Do not add too much water. For your Jollof Rice to turn out well, add little water at intervals not at once.
Do not over-stir your rice. Over-stirring can lead to the breakage of the grains.
A wooden spoon can minimize the rate at which your Jollof Rice burns.
Use the correct heat, medium-high heat. Too high heat can make your rice burn quickly even when it’s not done.
Tomato paste adds color. Don't use more than required. It will make the food burn more.
Use a heavy-bottomed pan to reduce the chances of rice burning
Before lifting your pot from the stove, leave it covered to absorb moisture
How long can Jollof Rice last?
Jollof Rice can last 2-4 days if properly cooked and preserved. Store in air-tight containers with lids and place in the freezers. Put it in the microwave the next time you need it. The taste remains perfect.
Nutritional values of Jollof Rice
Do you know Jollof Rice has all of these nutrients?
Calories: 28%
Carbohydrates: 27%
Protein: 20%
Fat: 34%
Fiber: 25%
Vitamin A: 114%
Sodium:63%
Potassium: 18%
Calcium: 7%
Have you had a busy day at work? You got home worried about what to prepare for dinner. What’s your best dinner idea? I’d love to hear in the comment box. For more recipes, stay connected to this blog. Recipe
WRITEN BY FAVOR.
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