Ghanaian Jollof Rice
Smokier and more aromatic than its Nigerian cousin. Ghanaian jollof leans on long-grain jasmine rice and bay-and-thyme bouquet. Cook the rice in the stew, never separately.
- Total time:
- 1 hr
- Servings:
- 6
- Per serving:
- 360 kcal
- Cost per serving:
- $1.60
- Difficulty:
- medium
Step-by-step
Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, scotch bonnet, and one onion until smooth. Reduce in a saucepan 15 minutes.
Rinse rice in cold water. Drain.
In a heavy pot, heat oil. Sauté remaining diced onion 4 minutes.
Add garlic-ginger paste, tomato paste, and shito (if using). Cook 3 minutes.
Stir in reduced tomato base, bay leaves, thyme, and salt. Simmer 8 minutes.
8 min timer
Add rice and stock. Stir once. Cover. Lowest heat possible.
Cook 25 minutes without lifting the lid. Rest covered 10 minutes off heat. Fluff.
25 min timer
Cook's tip
The "smoky" Ghanaian flavor comes from leaving the heat slightly high so the bottom catches. Listen for crackling at minute 22.
Storage
Refrigerate 4 days.
Freezer: Freezes 2 months.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360
- Protein
- 7g
- Carbs
- 60g
- Fat
- 10g
- Fiber
- 3g
- Sugar
- 7g
- Sat Fat
- 1g
- Sodium
- 680mg
Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What is shito?
A Ghanaian condiment made of dried shrimp, chilies, and fermented fish paste. Adds smoky depth. Buy at African grocers.
Nigerian vs Ghanaian jollof. what is the difference?
Ghanaian uses jasmine rice with a smokier, herb-forward base. Nigerian uses parboiled rice for a denser, peppery result. Both are excellent.
Reviews
Aisha K.
2 weeks ago
Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.
✓ Would make again
Tola O.
3 days ago
Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.
✓ Would make again
Marcus B.
1 week ago
First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.
✓ Would make again
Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.
You might also like
veganRed Red (Ghanaian Bean Stew with Fried Plantain)
Black-eyed peas simmered in a smoky tomato-palm-oil sauce served alongside sweet fried plantain. a Ghanaian one-bowl wonder that costs almost nothing and tastes like everything.
- Time
- 1 hr
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.95/serving
veganKelewele (Spicy Ghanaian Fried Plantain)
Cubed ripe plantain tossed in ginger, garlic, and chili, deep-fried until candied edges form. Ghana's favorite late-night street snack.
- Time
- 27 min
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.20/serving
veganNigerian Jollof Rice
Smoky, deeply flavored one-pot rice with tomato, scotch bonnet, and bay. the dish that starts arguments in every African household, here in its simplest weeknight form.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.45/serving
veganWeeknight Chickpea Coconut Curry
A creamy, deeply spiced one-pot curry built from pantry staples. Vegan, gluten-free, freezer-friendly, and tastes like it simmered all day.
- Time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 410 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $2.20/serving
veganProvençal Ratatouille
Slow-cooked summer vegetables. eggplant, zucchini, tomato, pepper. silky, garlicky, herb-infused. Vegan main or stunning side.
- Time
- 1 hr 10 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $2.40/serving
veganEgyptian Koshari
A glorious five-layer pile of rice, lentils, pasta, chickpeas, fried onions, and spiced tomato sauce. The most popular street food in Egypt for good reason.
- Time
- 1 hr 10 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.60/serving