Ghanaian Jollof Rice is savory and spicy rice cooked in a seasoned tomato base with local spices that give off distinct West African flavors and aroma. This jollof rice recipe is easy to make, budget friendly, yet delivers restaurant-worthy results.
This savory rice pilaf captures the essence of traditional Ghanaian cuisine, and are often served with Homemade Chifles - Fried Green Plantain Chips and Ghanaian Meat Pie Recipe.
Why You'll Love This Jollof Rice Recipe
As soon as this flavorful Ghana jollof rice hits your plate, you will be transported directly to West Africa! With origins dating back centuries, Ghana Jollof rice has evolved into being one of the staples of Ghanaian cuisine and culture. I know you will love it!
The best thing about this exciting recipe is that it can be easily made from everyday pantry ingredients - making it both delicious and convenient. Learn how to master this classic West African favorite today!
Ingredients Overview
This flavorful Jollof rice Ghanaian style is one of the most popular dishes in West Africa, and has gained an international following. Bursting with spices, vegetables, it's sure to tantalize your taste buds and make you wonder why it hasn't been on your dinner table sooner!
Our Ghanaian jollof rice recipe is meatless, but Ghana jollof often has the addition of diced chicken or beef, and can be served as a one pot meal!
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Ghanaian Jollof Rice
Don't let the thought of cooking authentic African food intimidate you; this dish is surprisingly easy to prepare and packed full of amazing flavors - perfect for any home cook's repertoire.
Prepare The Onion Paste
Using any small food processor, you'll start by making the onion paste.
Step 1: Add the quartered onions to the mini food processor, as well as the vegetable oil, fresh ginger chunk, garlic cloves, and habanero pepper.
Step 2: Pulse until you have a smooth paste. Transfer to a medium sized bowl to mix with the tomatoes in the next step.
Step 3: Empty the can of diced tomatoes into the mini food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl with the onion, garlic, habanero paste, and mix with a spoon or spatula.
Step 4: Dice the remaining ½ onion. Saute the diced onions with oil on medium high heat until fragrant.
Step 5: Add the rice vegetable stock, tomato paste and bullion cubes to the Dutch oven. Stir ingredients, then cook on high until it starts to bubble. Reduce heat to very low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove the lid and stir in the frozen mixed vegetables, adjust salt and pepper. Stir and replace the lid. Cook for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve while hot.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delectable Ghanaian jollof rice as a side dish to our Ghanaian Meat Pies, Broiled Chicken Thighs, and Air Fryer Frozen Asaparagus. You can serve this jollof rice with our Ghana Meat Pies recipe. Add a few Challah rolls to sop up any juices, as our Challah rolls recipe is similar to the Ghana Sugar bread often served with this popular West African meal.
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few easy variations you can make using this Ghanaian style jollof rice recipe:
- Substitute the habanero chili pepper with any type of chili pepper you prefer, as habanero chilies are extremely HOT.
- If you use brown rice, you will need to allow for the longer cooking time that brown rice requires.
- When making this Ghanaian jollof rice recipe, add some diced or shredded chicken at the same time you add the frozen mixed vegetables.
- Add some shredded or cubed beef, or cooked ground beef, when adding the frozen mixed vegetables to this Ghanaian jollof rice recipe.
Tips for Success
- For less spicy heat, remove the habanero seeds from the pepper, or use ½ of a jalapeno pepper instead, or even a teaspoon of canned Hatch chili peppers.
- Be sure to use Nitrile gloves when handling any type of chili peppers, as even mild ones will burn your eyes simply brushing hair out of your face.
Storage Options
- Store any leftover Ghana jollof in covered plastic or glass storage containers. Keep refrigerated until ready to reheat.
- Jollof rice easily reheats in the microwave.
Related Recipes
- Ghanaian Meat Pie
- Chili Seasoning Mix
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Coconut Rice In Rice Cooker
- Aroma Rice Cooker Instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, cover in plastic or glass freezer safe containers. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and then microwave to reheat.
Jollof is rice cooked in a spicy, well-seasoned tomato stew. It is a dish enjoyed in several West African countries.
Jollof is considered a Ghanaian or Nigerian recipe, but is also common in Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Liberia, and many other countries in the West Africa region. Each country and tribe has its own variations, with Nigerian jollof using a great deal more chilies and less tomato base.
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Get The Recipe!
Jollof Rice Ghanaian style
Equipment
- 6 qt Enameled Dutch Oven
- Nitrile Gloves
- Mini Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1½ large onions quartered
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 inch ginger root fresh
- 3 cloves garlic peeled
- 1 Habanero pepper or any chili pepper you prefer
- 28 oz diced tomatoes one 28 oz can
- ½ onion diced
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil to saute diced onions
- 2½ cups dry rice
- 1½ cups stock chicken, vegetable, or beef
- 6 oz tomato paste one 6 oz can
- 4 bullion cubes chicken, vegetable, or beef
- 12 oz frozen mixed vegetable
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add the quartered onions to the mini food processor, as well as the vegetable oil, fresh ginger chunk, garlic cloves, and habanero pepper. Pulse until you have a smooth paste. Transfer to a medium sized bowl.1½ large onions, ¼ cup vegetable oil, 1 inch ginger root, 3 cloves garlic, 1 Habanero pepper
- Empty the can of diced tomatoes into the mini food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer to bowl with the onion, garlic, habanero paste and mix with a spoon or spatula.28 oz diced tomatoes
- Dice the remaining ½ onion. Heat the Dutch oven pot with the remaining oil, and saute the diced onions on medium high heat until fragrant.½ onion, 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Add the bowl of onion pasted and tomato puree to the Dutch oven of sauteed onions. Cook for a few minutes until it starts to bubble.
- Add the rice vegetable stock, tomato paste and bullion cubes to the Dutch oven. Stir gently to blend the ingredients, then cook on high until it starts to bubble. Reduce heat to very low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes2½ cups dry rice, 1½ cups stock, 4 bullion cubes, 6 oz tomato paste
- After 15 minutes, remove the lid and stir in the frozen mixed vegetables, adjust salt and pepper. Stir and replace the lid. Cook for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve while hot.12 oz frozen mixed vegetable, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
Notes
- For less spicy heat, remove the habanero seeds from the pepper, or use ½ of a jalapeno pepper instead, or even a teaspoon of canned Hatch chili peppers.
- Be sure to use Nitrile gloves when handling any type of chili peppers, as even mild ones will burn your eyes simply brushing hair out of your face.
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