The History of Jollof Rice: The West African Wedding Staple Countless Nations Love

No one can deny that food is the tastiest way to present one's heritage or favorite cuisine at a wedding. One of our favorite savory wedding food traditions comes from West Africa. Filled with flavor, the history of jollof rice is rich and has even caused great debates about which African region makes it best. Keep reading to learn what components make up this red rice, its origin and why it's an essential celebratory meal for many African groups. And for those who love to cook, we've included a simple, yet yummy jollof rice recipe so you can enjoy it at home.

Jollof rice facts you need to know: What Is Jollof Rice? | History | How to Find Jollof Rice | Recipe | How to Incorporate Jollof Rice into Your Wedding

What Is Jollof Rice?

"Jollof rice is a tomato-stew-based delicacy that's a staple in every Nigerian home and most African communities. It's originally made with red bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, spices and meat/chicken stock," explains Abayomi (Mariam) Are, a catering expert and head chef at Mariam's Kitchen.

If you're wondering how jollof rice tastes, Are describes it as "very savory and rich...usually eaten with sweet plantains and a protein of choice." But the flavor of this side or main dish depends on which version you're cooking (we'll talk more about that later). Some jollofs are smoky, others are spicy and many have a hint of sweetness. And if you're curious about how jollof rice gets its eye-catching red color, it's because of a combination of fresh tomatoes and tomato paste (or sometimes puree).

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

History of Jollof Rice

Even though West African jollof rice originated in one place, its popularity has spread, like many wedding traditions around the world. Because of this, different African communities have added their own spin to the original recipe. "For example, Ghanaians use jasmine rice, Nigerians use parboiled rice and Senegalese use long grain rice," Are says. Are also wants people to know how versatile jollof rice is. "Ghanaians make goat meat jollof, Senegalese add veggies and in our native [Nigerian] jollof we cook it with assorted meats and dry seafood."

Jollof Rice Origin

Historians believe jollof rice originated in Saint-Louis, Senegal, during colonial rule in West Africa between 1860 and 1940. It's said that French colonizers brought broken rice from Indochina to replace current food crops in the region. Gradually, broken rice became more popular than whole rice grains, which led to the creation of jollof rice. It's thought that the African rice was originally made by the Wolof people, a large ethnic group inhabiting Senegal and parts of the Gambia and Southern Mauritania, and historians say the word "jollof" is based on the group's name.

Jollof Rice Tradition

The reason why this fare is commonplace at African events is because it's a cultural symbol of national pride, history and unity. Jollof rice is a celebratory food served at birthdays, graduations, baby-naming ceremonies and much more. "Nigerians even have a specific type of jollof rice we cook for big parties and weddings. It's called 'party jollof.' It's very rich in flavor and has a smokey and semi-burnt taste. If you don't have party jollof rice at your birthday party or wedding, then we question if you're really having a Nigerian event in the first place," Are explains.

How to Find Jollof Rice Near You

Don't know how to find a caterer that will make this delicious dish for you? Are offers some guidance: "Couples can access jollof rice from West African restaurants in their local neighborhood. Many online, service-based caterers like myself provide ready-made/made-to-order jollof rice and other African dishes via delivery, pickup or shipping via our website," Are says. You can also find highly-rated African caterers on The Knot Vendor Marketplace who will cook the right cuisine for your wedding.

Jollof Rice Recipe

If these food descriptions are making your mouth water, learn how to make jollof rice yourself. Below, Are provides a recipe for a delicious Nigerian-style jollof rice. "The key to having a perfectly cooked jollof rice is all in the base stew," Are explains.

Jollof Rice Ingredients

For the spices, specific measurements aren't provided because the amount depends on each person's preference—add what tastes best to you.

• 2 red bell peppers
• 1 onion (medium size)
• 1 cup tomato paste
• 3 chicken bouillon cubes
• All-purpose seasoning
• Salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Ginger powder
• A few bay leaves
• 2 cups parboiled rice
• 2 plum tomatoes
• 1 habanero pepper (optional)
• 1 cup neutral oil

How to Make Jollof Rice

Follow these steps to make jollof rice.

1. Blend the peppers and onions (and optional habanero pepper) with two cups of water in a blender and add the mixture to a bowl.
2. Heat the neutral oil over medium heat in a medium to large pot. Add your tomato paste and dry ingredients to the pot, and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Next, add your blended mixture to the pot and cook it for 15 minutes or until it starts bubbling. The stew base must be cooked well to give it a nice stovetop flavor. If you would like that smoky/charcoal flavor, you can roast your peppers and onions before blending.
3. Add 2 cups of parboiled rice to the cooked stew and stir intermittently for 30 minutes on medium-high heat.
4. Once your rice has cooked halfway, allow your rice to steam for 10 to 15 minutes by reducing the heat to low and putting a lid on the pot. Then, you're all done! This recipe serves at least four people and can be eaten immediately or stored for later.

How to Incorporate Jollof Rice into Your Day

No matter what West African country you ask, they'll all agree that jollof rice is a flavor-packed dish that deserves to be highlighted because of its history and ability to bring everyone together. "Jollof rice has helped reveal another huge part of our culture and we want diverse groups to experience it," Are exclaims. Whether you want to honor your African heritage or are looking for wedding food ideas where you can show appreciation for your favorite meal, we suggest serving large portions of jollof rice at your celebration. Serve tasty additions like coleslaw, fried plantains, meat and hard-boiled eggs with your jollof rice to make your wedding menu even more delectable. .