Nigerian Jollof Rice with Chicken and Fried Plantains

Jollof, a traditional Nigerian main dish, brings out the best flavors of rice and chicken and pairs especially well with fried plantains.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 4 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 29 mins
• Calories: 703 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
• 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
• 1 tablespoon curry powder, or more to taste
• 2 cubes chicken bouillon, crushed
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, peas)
• 4 ripe plantains, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch slices
• 0.5 large onion, diced
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 0.5 cup canola oil for frying
• 3 cups parboiled rice (such as Uncle Ben's®)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Place chicken drumsticks in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1/2 onion, ginger, crushed bouillon cubes, garlic, curry powder, 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well. Cook until chicken starts sticking to the bottom, about 5 minutes. Pour in water, mix, cover the pot, and bring to a gentle simmer; cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 3

Transfer chicken to a baking dish using a slotted spoon. Strain cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve. Reserve 1 1/2 cups liquid. Discard solids.

Step 4

Bake chicken in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the middle and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 5

Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-low heat and cook 1/2 onion until soft and translucent but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce; cook and stir until slightly thickened and infused into the oil, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 6

Stir reserved chicken broth, coconut milk, 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper into the pot. Bring to a simmer; add rice. Cook, stirring often, until rice is almost tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add frozen vegetables and continue cooking until rice is tender and creamy, about 5 minutes.

Step 7

Heat 1/2 cup of canola oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add plantains and fry on both sides until golden and crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Garnish jollof rice with friend plantains and serve with chicken.