Thursday, April 29, 2010

Unusually Usual – Jollof Rice

Don’t be intimated by the name; it’s just our usual tomato rice with an unusual name; cooked usually with a bit of unusual ingredients. Unusual ingredient sounds a bit of exaggeration. Carrots and peas and chicken don’t sound unusual to me, you may ask? Oh! Dear. They do, they do sound unusual in tomato rice. [At least for me]

So, when I sighted upon PJ’s African cooking event and her jollof rice, I knew my blog space was craving for it, quite some time now. [After all, we thrive on the same recipes]. Along with the basic ingredients (of course, rice and tomato), you add nearly any kind of meat, vegetable or spice. There you go. You can call it ‘Jollof rice’ instead of our usual boring ‘Tomato rice’.

Ok. I know. It’s bad. Let’s not compare. Jollof meaning ‘one pot’ is a common dish in west-africa, especially Nigeria. Spices, and sometimes curry powder are added to the rice to give it a unique color and flavor. Healthy, simple and delicious are the terms I can relate to this captivating one-pot rice dish.
  IMG_2322
 
[Recipe adapted from What's for eats]
2 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Cumin seeds
1 tbsp Curry powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Onions, sliced thinly
2 Cloves Garlic chopped
2 Cups Water
1 Cup Basmati Rice [Washed and soaked for 15 minutes]
2 tbsp Tomato paste
1 can diced or whole tomatoes
1/2 cup Mixed Vegetables[Carrot, peas, beans, Cabbage]
1/2 cup Chicken pieces cubed[Optional].
Salt and pepper to taste 
 
IMG_2345
In a wide pan(make sure, its got a tight lid), heat oil, add the cumin seeds, garlic and the masala powders. Fry for a minute. Add the onions and fry till the raw smell goes.

Add the tomato paste, along with the crushed tomatoes and cook for few minutes.
Stir in the vegetables and Chicken if using. Season to taste.

Add water and bring it to boil. Add the basmati rice, and check for salt and spice. Reduce the flame to low, cover tightly and cook for 40 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the moisture evaporated.
Switch off.Keep the lid closed for another 15 minutes. Serve.

If using a pressure cooker or rice cooker, transfer the contents after adding the basmati rice, and cook accordingly.
 
Note:  I used only peas, just for a lighter meal.
 
As you know, sending this recipe to AWED event started by Divya and hosted by Seduce Your Tastebuds

24 comments:

  1. Super one-pot wonder. I do love the name. Tomato rice gets a makeover and a very fancy-schmancy name!

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  2. Wonderful and tempting rice, looks super delicious..

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  3. Tomato rice looks great and colourful..like the name..

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  4. Kalai, this looks so tempting, and the recipe is so like Indian tomato bhath :)

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  5. The name sounds really very interesting and the ingrediants are jst doubling up the hunger...seeing the snaps my food craving has just jumped to score the highest....very very tempting dish dear.....

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  6. the rice dish looks so yummy n delicious.i am also looking for something to post for this event..
    colorful rice and very differnt from our rice recipes..

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  7. kalai,

    Jollof rice looks nice, Yes you can see world cuisine are some time interconnected in some ways.

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  8. I started craving for that rice now....looks super and delicious :)

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  9. Rice looks wonderfully tasty and colorful.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  10. wow rice luks colourfull and tempting...perfect rice!

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  11. The Jollof Rice name is quite unusual but it looks like Indian food.
    I'll try to make it, sans chicken

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  12. Hy Kalai,

    This rice looks so droolworthy...delicious...!

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  13. Rice looks colourful and delicious dear :-)

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  14. Loved this fancy version of tomato rice, looks delicious and especially liked the fact that it includes so many vegetables :-)

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  15. Hi....this is so delicious, love to try this....

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  16. Nice.. I hopped over to read more on Jollof and seeing they use coconut oil in Africa for cooking came as a surprise.. thanks to your post learned some more. Great recipe and pictures.

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  17. Looks rich and colorful, luv it.

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  18. Hi Kalai..

    Visiting your blog for the first time and congratulations for creating such a nice space.
    You recipes are really innnovative.
    Following you

    sayali

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  19. Very interesting one, but loved the ingredients used, am sure must be very delicious...

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