African Rice Recipes (2024)

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Author: Imma

Many African dishes, particularly with soups and stews are best paired with rice. Rice can be made into some pretty tasty dishes –Be it as a side dish, an accompaniment or a one-dish meal. It will find It’s way to your dinner table in more ways than one. African Rice Recipes (1) Taste the flavors of Africa with these 6 Amazing African Rice Recipes that will make you fall inlove with rice all over again!

  1. East African Pilau Rice- An intensely Flavored packed vegan rice, somewhat of a celebratory dish. It varies in preparation, but it is Super Spicy! Not Spicy Hot! But a spice haven- loaded with earthy spices. AND to make it even more flavorful, it is cooked with coconut milk. Seriously not kidding when I said it is intensely flavorful. So go on and indulge! Get the RECIPE HERE.

African Rice Recipes (2)

  1. Brown Spinach Rice (Check Rice)- A healthy African way of cooking rice spiced up with cayenne pepper, garlic and paprika. It is often served in special occasion as accompaniment to other dishes. Get the RECIPE HERE.

African Rice Recipes (3)

  1. Jollof Rice (Oven Baked)- Easy, flavorful and perfectly cooked Jollof rice made completely in the in the oven- So no more blending and stirring! This delicious rice dish is a fairly easy to make anywhere in the world because the ingredients are easy to find. One-pot dish that’s great for entertaining. Get the RECIPE HERE.

African Rice Recipes (4)

  1. South African Yellow Rice- Quick and easy fragrant rice spiced with turmeric, ginger, and a taste bud sensation! It is usually served with curries or casseroles. It’s very simple to make and the results are fabulous. Get the RECIPE HERE.

African Rice Recipes (5)

  1. Savory Coconut Rice- Coconut is a very big part of African and Caribbean Cooking and most of the recipes are made with fresh hard coconuts. It’s a simple, flavorful dish that goes great with curries, stir-fries, chicken, or beef. In fact, pretty much any protein or vegetable can be paired with this coconut-flavored rice. Get the RECIPE HERE.

African Rice Recipes (6)

  1. Nigerian Fried Rice- This Nigerian Fried Rice puts a spicy, flavorful spin on the traditional fried rice and is appealing on its own or served with a variety of other African food. I would say, it is a complete meal on It’s own. Great for entertaining! Get the RECIPE HERE.

African Rice Recipes (7) Enjoy !!!! African Rice Recipes (8)

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Comments & Reviews
  1. Aguot Manut Athit says

    I would to get more information on Jollof rice plz.

    Reply

    • Imma says

      Hi Aguot, I have a complete recipe for Jollof rice. Here you can have all the info https://www.africanbites.com/jellof-riceoven-baked/. Share your experience once you try them 🙂

      Reply

  2. Ada says

    Really looks interesting
    Would like to try some of them out. Please send t please send recipe to my mail. Thanks

    Reply

    • Immaculate Bites says

      Hello Ada! You may want to sign up to my list so you won’t miss my recipes that I send every week 🙂
      Here is the signup – HERE.

      Reply

  3. Tamy says

    Umm, Not sure where you got that recipe for Jollof Rice but that not how you make it at least not in Liberia. I’m Liberian and we definitely don’t make it like that at all. You used parboiled rice or rice of your choice. You blend your onion, green peppers, habanero pepper (your choice). You put that in a pot with oil and let it fried, add your seasoning, black pepper, maggie cube, onion powder, garlic powder,(season salt, your choice), add mixed vegetable, you add tomato paste mix well, then you add your chicken, meat (cube), shrimp, (or whatever meat you want), mix well then you add the cooked rice. Once everything is mix you take a aluminum pan pour the rice into the pan and covered it and put it in the oven for about 30min at 350 degrees, or eat as is.

    For check rice there is two way of making it. You can use spinach and okra. Boiled in a pot until it completely done and soft, drain excess water, you can use a fork to blend together to use a food processor the pour over cooked rice and mixed well or you can use palava leaf which you can buy at a African or Asian store. You do the same processes. You eat that with Chicken Gravy, Fish gravy or you gravy of choice.

    If you going to say this is how to make African food or any food of another culture please say what country eat like this. Not all West African, East African, or African in general eat the same, yes it is similar not not the same.

    I’m

    Reply

    • Bekah says

      Hello please send me the recipe. I love the different African ways of rice and stews. Bekah Archer on Facebook thank you

      Reply

      • imma africanbites says

        Hi Bekah, please subscribe to my newsletter by typing in your email address in the subscribe box on the right portion of this page to get the recipes straight to your inbox once they’re published. Thank you.

  4. Zubaidah Kailani says

    Pls can i be getting ur post on my email? I will be if i can have it. laazubee@gmail.com

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      It’s done. Thanks for subscribing

      Reply

  5. Chinwe says

    Waoh! Love this, am definitely gonna try them out. Thanks

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks!

      Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      Awesome!!! Do let me know which ones you try out!

      Reply

  6. Urban @ Urbanskitchen says

    All very nice and quite a variety of recipes there. Grew up eating so much of it cooked up so many ways. A good rice can be made so many ways and if your creative you’ll almost never run out of ideas of how to jazz up your rice and make it all festive. Whether your using Spices, Tea’s, Fruits, Vegetables, Stocks or variety of meats all are fair game to use to kick up that rice several notches. Even something as simple as Rice & Green Seasoning is awesomely tasty!

    Reply

  7. Joseyphina says

    They all look so yummy! Love your site!

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      THanks!

      Reply

  8. Jocelyn Diggs says

    I’m so glad I found your blog! I’m not a stay-at-home mom but I am until I go back to work (just had my second baby). My husband is from Liberia and rice is what he does and eats lol. To have access to a site with a variety of dishes to cook for him now makes planning daily/weekly meals so much easier. Can’t wait to see how these dishes turn out for us. Will do my best to keep you posted!!

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      Hi Jocelyn! Congrats on your new baby!!! So glad to have you here – there’s a lot here to keep your family satisfied from rice recipes to African stews and soups.

      Do let me know if you need help .

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me .

      Reply

  9. Laurel Stephens says

    I knew when I saw these and groaned that I’d have to feature them on Friday Finds this afternoon! Thanks for sharing the recipe, and enjoy your weekend.

    Reply

    • Africanbites says

      Thanks laurel

      Reply

  10. Mom's Dish says

    Such a nice treat for the fall season.

    Reply

    • Africanbites says

      Try it kristina, don’t be shy , they don’t bite. Thanks

      Reply

      • Ron. says

        I whole-heartedly agree! But I was disgusted at the ads by Dr. Marty showing dead dogs poisoned by toxic foods, right next to these delicious recipes. I’m sorry to mention this. I love your website.

      • Imma Adamu says

        I understand. I appreciate your candor. I am glad you love my site. Please do return.

  11. Rosemary Niba says

    Good idea, bring it up,this is definitely my treat for the weeked but i had prefer no chocolate and have the coco as aready suggest above XINT

    Reply

    • Africanbites says

      Rosemary, let me know how you like it. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

      • Sarngu says

        I can’t wait to cook the dishes and try them

      • ImmaculateBites says

        Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you.Thanks!

  12. kelsey says

    Looks yummy but did you forget to add cocoa as one of the ingredients?

    Reply

    • Africanbites says

      kelsey, just updated the recipe- thanks for being so observant . You are great!

      Reply

African Rice Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What type of rice do Africans use? ›

Oryza glaberrima, commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown in West Africa around 3,000 years ago.

What is jollof rice made of? ›

Jollof rice traditionally consists of rice, cooking oil, tomatoes, onion, chilies, and often some combination of other ingredients such as tomato paste, bell pepper, garlic, ginger, thyme, curry powder, grains of selim, and bouillon cubes or stock; recipes vary from country to country and cook to cook.

What is the secret ingredient in jollof rice? ›

Tomato paste is the secret to the signature reddy Jollof Rice colour. So, for every 3 cups of Jollof rice, you'll need 3 Red Bell Peppers, 2 Small Tomatoes and 70g of tomato paste.

What are the 2 types of jollof rice? ›

Two other kinds of Jollof are popular, Party and Native Jollof. Party Jollof, also called Party rice, is imbued with smoky flavors and commonly cooked outdoors, over firewood.

What rice do Nigerians eat? ›

Rice dishes are very common in most West-African cultures and the Nigerian jollof rice is one of many great variations. Jollof rice itself is popular in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal.

How is rice eaten in Africa? ›

White rice is a common dish eaten with different types of sauces, soups and stews. In most African countries, white rice is usually eaten with tomato stew. Other side dishes include; chicken sauce, vegetable sauce, and local dishes like ofada sauce, pepper soup, ofe nsala and ofe akwu, also known as palm nut soup.

What's the difference between fried rice and jollof rice? ›

Fried rice is far quicker, is usually based on one day old rice (or steamed rice). It is based on asian aromatics (ginger, garlic, scallions), usually some eggs (not a thing in Jollof), soya sauce, often oyster sauce… That's it.

What is so special about jollof rice? ›

The rich and complex flavor profile of jollof rice is a testament to the range of spices and ingredients used. It is this diverse mix of spices, combined with a mastery of heat control, that gives the dish its signature taste.

Why is my Jollof not tasty? ›

You are not using enough tomato/pepper blend

You blend 2 pieces of tomatoes, 1 chili pepper, 1 red bell pepper and half an onion and hope to make enough rice for a small wedding. Ko le werk. The key to an awesome Jollof rice experience is that each grain of rice is saturated in the delicious Jollof sauce.

Which is better Ghana or Nigerian jollof rice? ›

Each country has its own unique style of preparing and seasoning jollof rice, and the debate over which is best largely comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the spicier, tomato-based jollof rice from Nigeria, while others prefer the milder, smoky flavor of Ghanaian jollof rice.

Is jollof rice wet or dry? ›

There is this untold battle between Nigerians and Ghanaians on whose jollof rice is better. The Ghanians tend to have a softer and mushier rice; while the Nigerians enjoy their version steamed, a little dry and in single grains.

Is jollof rice Jamaican or Nigerian? ›

Jollof rice is a common staple dish loved by many different cultures in Western/Sub-Saharan Africa. It is most commonly considered a Nigerian or Ghanaian recipe but is also common in Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Liberia, and many other countries in the region.

What is the most common rice in Africa? ›

White rice is a staple in many African countries and is often used in dishes like jollof rice and fried rice. It is a versatile grain that can be used in a variety of dishes. White rice is a highly popular variety of rice in Africa.

What type of rice is planted in Nigeria? ›

The most commonly grown rice varieties in Nigeria are upland and lowland rice. Lowland rice is grown in flooded conditions, while upland rice is grown in non-flooded areas.

Does Africa use rice? ›

The native rice was grown first in the central Niger delta, and later in the Gambia, Casamance, and Sokoto basins. African rice is now utilized particularly in the central Niger floodplain, the coastal zone between Senegal and Sierra Leone, and the mountainous areas of Guinea and the Ghana/Togo border.

What is the African rice substitute? ›

West africans eat Fufu, which is almost similar. That's is the most common food in africa other than rice itself.

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