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Jollof Rice

Name: Jollof Rice
Prep time: 50 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients: 3 cups long-grain parboiled rice; 4 tomatoes; 2 red bell peppers; 2 scotch bonnet peppers; 1 onion; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 2 cups chicken stock; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 1 tsp thyme; 1 tsp curry powder; 2 bay leaves; 2 seasoning cubes; salt to taste

Jollof Rice reads umami 5.7, salinity 4.2 and richness 3.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Nigerian main, about 50 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 6.1 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 4.2 / 10
Sour & Bright — 2.7 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.7 / 10
Rich & Fat — 3.9 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 3.7 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 5.7 · Salinity 4.2 · Richness 3.5 · Sweetness 3.4 · Heat 3.2 · Allium 2.9 · Fruity 2.6 · Sourness 2.4 · Herbaceous 2.0 · Warm Spice 1.6 · Earthy 1.5 · Nutty 1.3 · Bitterness 1.2 · Citrus 1.0 · Floral 0.6 · Smoke 0.5

What's in it (13)

3 cups long-grain parboiled rice
4 tomatoes
2 red bell peppers
2 scotch bonnet peppers
1 onion
3 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp curry powder
2 bay leaves
2 seasoning cubes
salt to taste

Time & effort: about 50 min · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 140.7 kcal, 4.2 g protein, 3.9 g fat, 22.2 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Blend tomatoes, bell peppers, scotch bonnets, and onion into a smooth puree and fry in hot oil with tomato paste until the raw smell disappears and the paste darkens.
Add stock, season well, and stir in washed rice.
Cover and cook on low heat, checking and stirring, until the rice is cooked and all liquid is absorbed with a slight smoky bottom crust.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Sierra Leonean Jollof Rice — Sierra Leonean
Sheet-Pan Sausage, Peppers, and Onions — Italian-American
Ground Turkey Enchilada Casserole — Tex-Mex
Classic Beef Chili with Kidney Beans — American
Beef Enchiladas with Chili Gravy — Tex-Mex

Keep reading: what umami, salinity, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.