Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe

Let one of D.C.'s top chefs teach you about this one-pot side

That side of rice at dinner is about to get a lot more interesting. Kwame Onwuachi, the former Top Chef contestant who recently opened Kith and Kin in Washington, D.C., shares his recipe for jollof rice, a Nigerian dish amped up with dried crayfish, curry powder and habanero chile. It's flavorful and spicy with vibrant color, thanks to a mix of puréed tomatoes, peppers and onions.

 

Recipe adapted from Kwame Onwuachi, Kith and Kin, Washington, D.C.

Jollof Rice
5 from 37 ratings
Kwame Onwuachi, the former Top Chef contestant who recently opened Kith and Kin in Washington, D.C., shares his recipe for Nigerian jollof rice.
Prep Time
15
minutes
Cook Time
45
minutes
Servings
6
to 8 servings
Total time: 1 hour
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried crayfish
  • 10 garlic cloves
  • 3 Maggi beef bouillon cubes
  • 2 medium plum tomatoes, cored and diced
  • 1 red bell pepper—stemmed, cored and roughly chopped;
  • 1 red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 habanero, stemmed
  • 3 tablespoons red palm oil
  • 3 cups purée
  • 4 cups basmati rice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 6 cups water
Directions
  1. In a blender, purée the ginger, curry powder, dried crayfish, garlic, bouillon cubes, tomatoes, red pepper, red onion and habanero until smooth.
  2. In a medium saucepan, heat the palm oil over medium heat. Add the purée and bring to a simmer. Slowly cook until most of the liquid has reduced and the sauce has developed a sweetness, 20 minutes.
  3. Add the rice and salt, and cook, letting the rice begin to absorb the purée, 5 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Cook, covered, until all of the water has absorbed and the rice is fully cooked, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork, then serve.
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