Christmas Jollof Rice!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! – or not. I’m trying so hard not to shed tears – this is going to be my first Christmas without my family. From the Christmas Eve celebration to some other Event Specials, I will definitely miss the merriment of the season.

Let’s be real here though. It’s the Christmas Jollof Rice that is my problem.

Well… I’ve decided to recreate something similar with my friends family – my recipe of the Christmas Jollof rice.

It might not hold a candle to my mum’s own, but it is worth considering – I promise.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of Rice, a cup of ground tomatoes, 1 sachet of tomatoes paste, 2 Kilo of Chicken, 3 Large Onions sliced, 1/2 Tablespoon Salt, 1 Tablespoon Chicken Stock Powder, ¼ Tablespoon curry powder, 3 chopped medium sized carrots, 5 pods of runner beans, 3 seasoning cubes, 2 bay leaves, margarine, oil and plantains.

PROCEDURES

Firstly, prepare the sauce for the rice

Secondly, steam the ground tomatoes with the sachet tomato paste.

Heat the oil in a pan {Try not to chase your neighbors out with fried oil}.

Add some sliced onions to the oil.

Pour the steamed ground tomatoes to the heated oil .

Allow to boil for about 5 minutes.

Add ¼ tablespoon of curry powder

Sprinkle ¼ tablespoon of salt .

Spice it up with 1 tablespoon of chicken stock powder.

Put 3 seasoning cubes { Actually do this to your taste}

Boil the rice with a considerable amount of water.

As the rice is boiling, add the already prepared sauce to it. Then, leave it to boil for about 10 minutes .

Check the rice from time to time to add water. {Actually to avoid answering the name “burna girl/boy”}.

When the rice is almost soft, add the margarine.

Stir very well.

Add the bay leaves { This is to choke all your neighbors with the aroma of good food}

Add the runner beans and carrot. {If you want the rice to emulate the type you see on TikTok}

Allow to cook for about 3 minutes.

Finally, add the remaining sliced onions. Do this especially to spite your loved ones that detest onions.

Lest I forget, roast or fry your chicken. Marinate if you still have enough money left. Fry your plantains to complete the Christmas joy in the food.

This writer is about to leave her address after this post. After you try out the recipe, ensure to bring the Christmas Jollof over. This is just to check if you got the recipe correct.

No other reason, I promise.🌚

If you would like to check out other food-themed pieces, click here.