Jollof rice

Jollof (/dʒəˈlɒf/), or jollof rice, is a rice dish from Senegal.[3] The dish is typically made with long-grain rice, tomatoes, onions, spices, vegetables and meat in a single pot, although its ingredients and preparation methods vary across different regions.

Jollof rice
Jollof rice with stew and garnish
Alternative namesBenachin, riz au gras, ceebu jën, zaamè
TypeRice dish
Region or stateSenegal, West Africa[1][2]
Main ingredientsRice, tomatoes and tomato paste, onions, cooking oil, fish, lamb, goat meat, chicken, or beef

History and origin

The origins of jollof rice can be traced to the north of present day Senegal[4] that used to be a part of the Jolof Empire in the 14th century, where rice was grown. The dish has its roots in a traditional dish called thieboudienne, containing rice, fish, shellfish and vegetables.[5]

According to Senegalese historians thieboudienne was invented around the 19th century by Penda Mbaye, a cook from Saint Louis.[6]

The dish spread throughout the region through the historical commercial, cultural and religious channels linking Senegal to other West African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and beyond, many of which continue to thrive today, such as the Tijāniyyah Sufi brotherhood bringing thousands of West African pilgrims to Senegal annually.[7]

Geographical range and variants

Jollof rice is one of the most common dishes in West Africa. There are several regional variations in name and ingredients;[1] while it is called ceebu jën or benachin in Senegal and neighbouring countries such as Mauritania, in Gambia for example it is known as benachin, in Mali it is called riz au gras or zaamè in Bamanankan. The dish's most common name of Jollof derives from the name of the Jolof Empire,[8]. In other French-speaking areas, it is called riz au gras. Despite the variations, the dish is "mutually intelligible" across the regions and has become the best known African dish outside the continent.[2][9][10][11][12]

Ingredients
Jollof rice with fish, plantains, cucumber, and tomatoes.

Jollof rice traditionally consists of rice, cooking oil, vegetables such as tomato, onion, red pepper, garlic, ginger and Scotch bonnet chilli peppers. To enhance the colour of the dish, tomato paste (purée) is added. As seasoning, spices, salt, stock cubes (a blend of flavour enhancers, salt, nutmeg and herbs), curry powder and dried thyme are used. To complement the dish, chicken, turkey, beef or fish are often served with the dish.[13][14][15]

Regional variations and rivalry

Each West African country has at least one variant form of the dish, with Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cameroon particularly competitive as to which country makes the best jollof.[15] This is especially prominent between Nigeria and Ghana,[16] in a rivalry dubbed the "Jollof Wars".[17][18]

Nigerian jollof

Although considerable variation exists, the basic profile for Nigerian jollof rice includes long grain parboiled rice, tomatoes and tomato paste, pepper, vegetable oil, onions, and stock cubes. Most of the ingredients are cooked in one pot, of which a rich meat stock and a fried tomato and pepper puree characteristically forms the base. Rice is then added and left to cook in the liquid. The dish is then served with the protein of choice and very often with fried plantains, moi moi, steamed vegetables, coleslaw, salad, etc.[19] In the riverine areas of Nigeria where seafood is the main source of protein, seafood often takes the place of chicken or meat as the protein of choice.

Ghanaian jollof

Ghanaian jollof rice is made of vegetable oil, onion, ginger, cloves of pressed garlic, chillies, tomato paste, beef or goat meat or chicken (some times alternated with mixed vegetables), local or refined rice, typically Jasmine rice and black pepper. The method of cooking jollof begins with first preparing the beef or chicken by seasoning and steaming it with a pureé of ginger, onions and garlic and frying it until it is well-cooked.[20] The rest of the ingredients are then fried all together, starting from onions, pepper, tomato paste, tomatoes and spices in that order. After all the ingredients have been fried, rice is then added and cooked until the meal is prepared. Ghanaian jollof is typically served with side dishes of beef, chicken, well-seasoned fried fish, or mixed vegetables.[21][22]

Jollof in Ghana is also served alongside shito, a popular type of pepper which originates from Ghana, and salad during parties and other ceremonies.[23]

Guinea Bissau

Jollof rice made in Guinea Bissau is carefully prepared with ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, tomato paste, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, garlic, and bay leaves. These ingredients are slowly cooked with vegetable oil and spices to enhance the common Jollof flavor. Typically this dish incorporates ginger to bring a spicy flavor to the white grain rice. In the end, this dish is usually served on its own, but, sometimes it is served with chicken, okra, and or fried plantains.

Worldwide popularity

Since the 2010s there has been increasing interest in West African foods in the western world. Jollof food festivals have been held in Washington, DC, in the US, and Toronto, Canada. "World Jollof Day" has been celebrated since 2015 on 22 August, gaining traction on social media.[15]

See also

References
  1. Ayto, John (2012). "Jollof rice". Senegalese Thieboudienne Is a Dish That Feeds, Satisfies, and Unites (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0199640249.
  2. Le ceebu jën, art culinaire du Sénégal.
  3. "UNESCO - Le ceebu jën, art culinaire du Sénégal". ich.unesco.org (in French). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  4. "UNESCO - Le ceebu jën, art culinaire du Sénégal". ich.unesco.org (in French). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  5. "UNESCO - Le ceebu jën, art culinaire du Sénégal". ich.unesco.org (in French). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. archyde (17 December 2021). "Thieboudiene listed in the intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO". Archyde. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  7. "Know Your History: Jollof Is An Indigenous African Dish And Was Named After The Wolof Tribe Of West Africa. - RiddimsGhana". Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  8. "Wolof empire | historical empire, Africa | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  9. Davidson, Alan (11 August 2014). "Jollof rice". The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. p. 434. ISBN 978-0-19-967733-7.
  10. Brasseaux, Ryan A.; Brasseaux, Carl A. (1 February 2014). "Jambalaya". In Edge, John T. (ed.). The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Volume 7: Foodways. University of North Carolina Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-4696-1652-0.
  11. Anderson, E. N. (7 February 2014). Everyone Eats: Understanding Food and Culture, Second Edition. NYU Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-8147-8916-2.
  12. "Ghana Jollof Recipe: Steps To Preparing Jollof Rice The Ghanaian Way". BuzzGhana - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  13. "Classic Nigerian Jollof Rice Recipe on Food52". Food52. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  14. "Ghana Jollof Recipe: Steps To Preparing Jollof Rice The Ghanaian Way". BuzzGhana - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  15. Sloley, Patti (7 June 2021). "Jollof Wars: Who does West Africa's iconic rice dish best?". BBC Travel. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. Oderinde, Busayo. "Busayo Oderinde: The Nigerian Versus Ghanaian Jollof Rice Debate". Bella Naija. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  17. "Know the Differences Between Nigerian and Ghanaian Jollof Rice". Demand Africa. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  18. Adam, Hakeem. "A Brief History of Jollof Rice, a West African Favourite". Culture Trip. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  19. "How to cook Nigerian Jollof Rice". All Nigerian Recipes. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  20. "Ghana: Jollof Rice". The African Food Map. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  21. Sekibo, Kojo (14 January 2020). "Traditional Ghanaian Jollof Rice Recipe". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  22. "Ghana Jollof Recipe: Steps To Preparing Jollof Rice The Ghanaian Way". BuzzGhana - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  23. Sekibo, Kojo (14 January 2020). "Traditional Ghanaian Jollof Rice Recipe". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 16 January 2020.


Further reading
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