Chef John's West African Jollof Rice
Chef John's West African Jollof Rice features fluffy basmati simmered in a rich tomato and red pepper sauce layered with smoked paprika, curry, thyme, and gentle heat from habanero. Each spoonful balances warmth, sweetness, and savoriness, making it a standout side or a satisfying main for weeknight dinners or festive gatherings.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook30 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's West African Jollof Rice, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 1 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 83 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 49
- Heart Health
- 43
- Metabolic
- 23
- Digestive
- 29
- Inflammatory
- 22
- Performance
- 42
- General Wellness
- 1
For the sauce, place the tomato, red bell pepper, habanero pepper, fresno chili, garlic, ginger, and water in a blender. Blend on high until smooth, then set aside.
- 2
Warm the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and salt and sauté until the onion begins to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Make a space in the center of the pan, add the tomato paste, and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the paprika, curry powder, cumin, thyme, pepper, and turmeric; cook another 1 to 2 minutes until everything is well combined.
- 3
Turn off the heat and stir in the rice, coating every grain with the oil-tomato mixture. Add the bay leaf and chicken bouillon paste.
- 4
Turn the heat to high, stir in the tomato sauce, and bring to a strong simmer. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not remove the lid or stir the rice.
- 5
After 20 minutes, turn off the heat and set a timer for 12 minutes. Let the rice rest without removing the lid.
- 6
When the 12 minutes are up, remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork, separating all the grains. Serve topped with green onions and chopped cilantro.
- Calories 322.51 kcal Moderate 16%
- Protein 5.44 g Moderate 11%
- Carbohydrate 52.91 g 19%
- Total Fat 9.64 g Moderate 12%
- Saturated Fat 1.53 g Moderate 8%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 1.87 mg Low Source 1%
- Sodium 283.07 mg Moderate 12%
- Dietary Fiber 2.65 g Low Source 9%
- Total Sugars 4.31 g --
- Added Sugars 2.48 g Low Source 5%
- Calcium 30.49 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 1.47 mg Low Source 8%
- Potassium 264.91 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 22.12 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 31.23 mg Good Source 35%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's West African Jollof Rice is made with 21 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 45 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Basmati Rice, Black Pepper, Chicken Bouillon, and Curry Powder. Each serving provides about 322.51 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's West African Jollof Rice made of?
- The main ingredients are Basmati Rice, Black Pepper, Chicken Bouillon, Curry Powder, Dried Bay Leaves. The full list of 21 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's West African Jollof Rice?
- About 45 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 322.51 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's West African Jollof Rice easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 21 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's West African Jollof Rice healthy?
- Chef John's West African Jollof Rice has an easyChef Pro health score of 44/100. Per serving, it provides 322.51 calories and 5.44 g of protein, or 11% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 283.07 mg (12% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.53 g (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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