African Family Recipes: Comfort Meals from Across Africa

Nigerian Jollof Rice

A family-size, smoky, one-pot Nigerian jollof rice with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

• 3 cups long grain parboiled rice
• 4 large tomatoes, blended
• 1 red bell pepper, blended
• 1 scotch bonnet, blended (adjust to taste)
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bouillon cubes
• Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Wash rice in warm water until water runs clear, then drain.
2. Heat oil in a heavy pot, sauté onions, then stir in tomato paste and fry 5 minutes.
3. Add the blended tomato, pepper, and scotch bonnet. Cook 15 to 20 minutes until oil floats to the top.
4. Stir in curry, thyme, bay leaves, bouillon, and salt. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil.
5. Add rice, stir once, cover tightly, and cook on low 25 to 30 minutes until tender. Stir gently before serving.

Notes

• For smoky flavor, leave the pot on low heat 5 extra minutes without stirring.

Easy Egusi Soup

A Nigerian egusi soup with palm oil, greens, and assorted meats.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups ground egusi
• 1/2 cup palm oil
• 1/2 cup blended pepper
• 2 tbsp ground crayfish
• 1 cup cooked stockfish
• 1 lb assorted meat (beef, goat, or chicken), cooked
• 2 cups chopped spinach or ugu
• 2 bouillon cubes
• 1 onion, diced
• Salt

Instructions

1. Mix ground egusi with a little water to form a paste.
2. Heat palm oil, sauté onion, then add pepper. Cook 5 minutes.
3. Add meat, stockfish, crayfish, bouillon, and salt. Stir.
4. Drop egusi paste in lumps. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
5. Stir, add 1 cup water if needed, and cook 5 more minutes.
6. Add greens, cook 3 minutes, and serve with swallow or rice.