You can cook jollof rice without parboiling the rice, it is one of the great ways of making rice without it turning soggy. I tried this method and it turned out really nice and I thought to share with my readers.
Nigerian party jollof rice is one popular rice dish that I cant even compare to rice dishes, it is very tasty, aromatic and colourful. Other countries like Ghana and Senegal have their own version of jollof rice, but I feel this Nigerian party jollof rice stands out when it comes to taste and look; this is not exaggeration, but a simple truth and I will love to share my own tips on how to achieve this perfect jollof rice.
This is my little secret I used when preparing Nigerian jollof rice especially when I want to get that perfect red party jollof rice colour. In order to get that perfect redness, I use 50% of paprika (red bell peppers/tatashe), 40% of fresh tomatoes and 10% of tomato paste. If you use only paprika, your rice will turn out very dry because paprika (bell pepper) isnt really juicy as fresh tomato and if you use only tomato, it will not give the rice that redness that you need so, it is best you combine both paprika and tomato to make this.
Sometimes, I prepare my jollof rice by using 60% of the paprika and 40% of fresh tomatoes leaving out tomato paste . I think this is the method I love most because I always end up with a juicy pot of rice. I found out that you can blend in chilli peppers (shombo) as your base, it gives it that redness too but you have to go gentle with it as it is very hot. In this case, I advise you take time to remove the seeds so that you dont end up with a peppery rice dish which you may end up not eating at last. When making this rice, I go moderate with all the spices.
However, if youre making this rice see the ingredients and follow the steps below and you will achieve that party jollof rice colour. I made a quick YouTube video for this too click it above to watch.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for jollof rice
- 2 cups un-parboiled rice
- 2 cups chicken or beef sock
- 7 medium sized paprika (Tatashi)
- 4 small sized fresh tomatoes
- 4 scotch bonnets (Ata rodo)
- 3 stock cubes
- 2 medium sized onions
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons ground crayfish
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon of curry powder
- 4 bay leaves
- 3 cloves of garlic, optional
- Salt to taste
Steps on how to make perfect party jollof rice
- Combine bell peppers, scotch bonnets, tomatoes and boil for 5 minutes until they are soft.
- Transfer the peppers into a blender and pulse until you get your preferred consistency, then set aside.
- Blend crayfish, chop onions, mince garlic and set all aside. Place a medium pot on heat.
- Add about 3 tables spoons of oil, add the garlic and onions and saut for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Dissolve the tomato paste with a little water, add to the onion and stir fry until the oil floats to the top.
- Add the pepper mix and stir fry for 3 minutes. Season the content with stock cubes, crayfish, curry, thyme, and add some chicken or beef stock and stir to prevent it from burning at the bottom. You can add more water if the stock isnt going to be enough.
- Rinse your rice under running water until the water turns clay. Add the rice to the pot on heat and stir well.
- Taste for salt and add bay leaves to it. Wrap the pot lid with a foil paper use it to cover the rice to steam cook it.
- Press one grain of rice against your fingers to see if it is soft enough, if it needs more water add and continue cooking until the water dries out.
- Stir the rice once it is soft and the water has dried and take out the bay leaves.
Serve your jollof rice with baked chicken and a chilled drinks. Bon appetit!.
Steps on how to make perfect party jollof rice with pictures
1. Combine bell peppers, scotch bonnets, tomatoes and boil for 5 minutes until they are soft. See how I made my tomato and pepper puree.
2. Transfer the peppers into a blender and pulse until you get your preferred consistency, then set aside.
3. Blend crayfish, chop onions, mince garlic and set all aside. Place a medium pot on heat.
4. Add about 3 tablespoons of oil, add the garlic and onions and saut for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
5. Dissolve the tomato paste with a little water, add to the onion and stir fry until the oil floats to the top.
6. Add the pepper mix and stir fry for 3 minutes. Season the content with stock cubes, crayfish, curry, thyme, and add some chicken or beef stock and stir to prevent it from burning at the bottom. You can add more water if the stock isnt going to beenough.
7. Rinse your rice under running water until the water turns clay. Add the rice to the pot on heat and stir well.
8. Taste for salt and add bay leaves to it. Wrap the pot lid with a foil paper use it to cover the rice to steam cook it.
9. Press one grain of rice against your fingers to see if it is soft enough, if it needs more water add and continue cooking until the water dries out.
10. Stir the rice once it is soft and the water has dried and take out the bay leaves.
11. Serve your jollof rice with baked chicken and a chilled drinks. Bon appetit!.