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Jollof Rice (similar to Jambalaya) is a dish made in all the regions of Nigeria, with each region having its own variation influenced by traditions and local produce. No occasion is considered complete without this all-in-one pot, spicey, and colorful national dish!

 INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups rice (precooked)

• 5 tbsp Tomato paste

• 4 large tomatoes

• 2 large bell peppers (red, green, or yellow) chopped

• 1 onion chopped

• 3 habaneros

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 2 cubes beef stock

• 1 tsp curry

• ½ tsp thyme

• 3 bay leaves

• ½ tsp allspice

• ¼ cup butter 

• 1 tsp salt

• Chicken or beef, cut into chunks, or Shrimp.

• Plantains

 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cook the rice until slightly soft and set aside to cool.

2. In a blender prepare the sauce: tomatoes, peppers, and habaneros into a smooth puree.

3. Fry the onion in the oil until cooked through. Add the puree and fry for 7-10 minutes or until the oil is on top of the tomato sauce.

4. Season the tomato sauce with salt, stock cubes, curry, thyme, all-spice, and bay leaves. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

5. Add the rice and stir into the sauce. Reduce the heat to the minimum.

6. Place the butter on the rice and cover the pot with a foil paper and a lid.

7. The steam plus the tomato sauce should be enough to finish cooking the rice. If, however, it is not cooked enough, add some stock a little at a time and cook until the rice is done.

8. While the rice cooks it could be good to prepare the chicken or beef and fry the plantains.

9. Serve the jollof rice with chicken and fried plantains.