Jollof rice

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Jollof rice, also called 'Benachin' meaning one pot in the Jollof language, is a popular dish all over West Africa. Its base consists of rice, tomatoes and tomato paste, onion, salt, and chili pepper, to which optional ingredients can be added such as vegetables, meats, and other spices.

The cooking method is to use groundnut oil to fry the finely-chopped onion, tomatoes and ground pepper (plus any other optional ground or chopped spices), and then to add stock and to cook the rice in this mixture so it takes up all the liquid. The rice takes on a characteristic red colour from the mixture. It can be served with cooked meat, chicken, fish or vegetables separately on the plate or they can be stirred in at the end. It is often served with fried plantain and salad.

Optional ingredients can include garlic, peas, thyme, African nutmeg, tea-bush leaves, partminger (a herb of the basil family), curry powder.

There are many variations on Jollof rice throughout West Africa. Many nations there including Ghana and Nigeria lay claim to it. Jollof rice is also the traditional dish of the Jollof tribe in the Senegambia region.