A Taste of Nigeria
About the Chef
Mrs. Helen Egbe
Mrs. Helen Egbe is a wife and mother in Amichi, Nigeria. She is passionate about care and service to others through her cooking for several communities, especially Amichi. She has cooked for volunteers during annual medical missions!
Main Dish: Traditional Nigerian Jollof Rice
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 dried bay leaves
5 to 6 cups stock (vegetable, chicken, or beef) or water, divided
2 teaspoons unsalted butter (optional), divided
4 cups uncooked long grain rice
Salt, to taste
Black and white pepper, to taste
Extra: sliced onions, tomatoes
Ingredients:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
6 fresh tomatoes, chopped, OR a 400-gram tin of tomatoes
6 fresh, red poblano peppers or 4 large red bell peppers
3 medium-sized red onions roughly chopped
1/2 to 1 hot pepper if desired
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons Caribbean curry powder
Directions:
In a blender, combine tomatoes, red poblano (or bell) peppers, part of the chopped onions, and hot peppers with 2 cups of stock, blend till smooth, about a minute or two. You should have roughly 6 cups of blended mix. Pour into a large pot/ pan and bring to the boil then turn down and let simmer, covered for 10 - 12 minutes.
In a large pan, heat oil and add the rest of the onions. Season with a pinch of salt, stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the bay leaves, curry powder and dried thyme and a pinch of black pepper for 3 - 4 minutes on medium heat. Then add the tomato paste - stir for another 2 minutes. Add the reduced tomato-pepper mixture, stir, and set on medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes till reduced by half, with the lid on. This is the stew that will define the pot.
Add 4 cups of the stock to the cooked tomato sauce and bring it to boil for 1 - 2 minutes.
Add the rinsed rice and butter, stir, cover with a double piece of foil/baking or parchment paper and put a lid on the pan—this will seal in the steam and lock in the flavour. Turn down the heat and cook on low for 30 minutes.
Stir rice—taste and adjust as required.
If you like, add sliced onions, fresh tomatoes and the 2nd teaspoon of butter and stir through.
Serve with fried plantain and protein of choice!
