Nigerian Coconut Jollof rice

Ingredients

• 3 cups rice
• 250 g whole tomato (5 medium*)
• 60 g tatashe (2 pieces, fresh paprika pepper*)
• 20 g shombo (6 pieces, fresh cayenne pepper*)
• 150 g onions (1 medium*)
• 5 scotch bonnet (fresh pepper*)
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sliced onion ((1 large))
• 1/2 tablespoon crushed garlic ((3 cloves))
• 1/2 tablespoon crushed ginger ((1-inch))
• 1/4 cup tomato paste ((tinned tomato))
• 1/2 tablespoon dry thyme
• 1/2 tablespoon curry powder
• 2 dry bay leaf
• 4 seasoning cubes
• salt
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 cups meat stock

Instructions

1. 1

   *If you have your Tomato stew base available then skip these ingredients and just use 1 cup of the stew base.

2. 2

   Wash rice, place in a pot, add enough water to cover the rice by about 1 inch.

3. 3

   Boil rice until halfway done, drain in a sieve, run cold water on the rice to cool it down and stop further cooking. Drain and set aside.

4. 4

   Meanwhile, wash the tomatoes, peppers and onions, deseed the tatashe and put all in a blender. Blend into a very smooth puree.

5. 5

   Pour into a medium-sized pot and place over medium-high heat, do not cover the pot. Boil until the liquid has evaporated.

6. 6

   Place a clean dry pot over medium heat, add vegetable oil. When it is hot, add chopped onions and fry until it softens and becomes translucent.

7. 7

   Add garlic and ginger, stir until you smell them.

8. 8

   Add tomato paste, thyme, curry and bay leaves, stir for 1 minute.

9. 9

   Pour in the boiled tomato puree, add seasoning cubes, stir well and fry.

10. 10

    Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue frying, stirring often. The oil will separate from the tomato puree and have no raw tomato taste.

11. 11

    Add coconut milk, stock and some water, enough to cover the rice. Stir and bring to a boil.

12. 12

    Add the parboiled rice. Stir and taste for salt and other seasonings. Add salt, correct seasoning.

13. 13

    Cover tightly and cook until little water is remaining, reduce heat to low and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed. If the rice is not soft enough add a little water and continue steaming until it is done.

14. 14

    Take off the heat. Stir and cover to dry out about 5 minutes.

15. 15

    Serve with a protein of choice.