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    Home » In the Kitchen

    Jollof Rice with Beans: A Taste of West African Cuisine

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    child stirring beans for West African Cusine: Jollof Rice with beans

    "Every culture has its own version of a one-pot rice dish - jambalaya, paella, and so on - and West Africa's take on the dish belongs with the best of them. From Senegal to Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ghana, jollof is a beloved favorite."

    - Chef JJ Johnson

    Contents hide
    1 What is Jollof Rice?
    2 Is Jollof Rice with Beans Easy to Make?
    3 Is Jollof a Vegetarian Dish?
    4 West African Cuisine: Jollof Rice with Beans
    4.1 Ingredients & Tools
    4.2 1. Prep the Ingredients for Making the Beans and Bring to Stove
    4.3 2. Combine Ingredients in Medium Saucepan over High Heat
    4.4 3. Add Garlic
    4.5 4. Add Chile
    4.6 5. Give it a Stir
    4.7 6. Bring to a Boil, Reduce Heat to Low, and Simmer
    4.8 7. Cook until Tender
    4.9 8. Chop Items for the Tomato Sauce
    4.10 9. Peel and Chop Ginger
    4.11 10. Heat Oil in Pan on Medium Heat and Add Onion
    4.12 11. Add Garlic, Ginger, and Chile
    4.13 12. Add Tomato Paste for Making Jollof Rice
    4.14 13. Transfer to a Blender
    4.15 14. Measure the Rice for Jollof Rice
    4.16 15. Add Rice, Oil, Tomato Sauce, and Beans
    4.17 16. Add Water, Salt, and Black Pepper to Jollof Rice with Beans
    4.18 17. When Jollof Rice is Finished, Sit Covered for 10 minutes
    5 Conclusion for West African Cuisine: Jollof Rice with Beans
    6 More Africa Educational Resources
    7 More Practical Life in the Kitchen
    8 West African Cuisine: Jollof Rice with Beans
    8.1 Equipment
    8.2 Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x
    8.3 Instructions
    8.4 Notes
    8.5 Nutrition
    9 PIN FOR LATER

    Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Amazon links are not affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure.

    If you caught our Ethiopian Sambusas, you know we've been enjoying African cuisine lately. Well, we recently bought Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora and it's pretty brilliant.

    All the recipes in Black Food sound delicious, the artwork is incredible, and the stories are heartfelt. There's history and wisdom pouring out of every page. If that wasn't enough, it even contains a playlist for each chapter. Every cookbook should be this cool.

    In this post, we'll be sharing how we made a delicious West African dish - Jollof Rice with Beans by Chef JJ Johnson - from the Migrations chapter of Black Food. If you're looking to elevate your game in the kitchen, this is the meal for you.

    What is Jollof Rice?

    Jollof is exactly what's mentioned above, a one-pot rice dish and traditional West African food. It's known for its bright red color and offers plenty of opportunities for the creative chef in your home. Jollof rice is very flavorful and we think it's the perfect winter comfort food. It will warm you up and delight your senses at the same time.

    Is Jollof Rice with Beans Easy to Make?

    Our kids were able to make everything with some planning assistance. Therefore, we think it's a great dish for preschool and up.

    There are 3 different components to this West African cuisine: the beans, the tomato sauce, and the rice. Each component is simple enough on its own. However, younger children or those new to cooking are going to need more assistance with planning and organization.

    Depending on the chef, there are practical life skills involved in making this dish that should keep all ages learning. Not to mention, the amazing aromas that immediately fill your kitchen will entice everyone to participate.

    Is Jollof a Vegetarian Dish?

    It can be. Or you can get creative with it. We've had it with beans as we'll show you, and we've also added ground lamb as a protein. Chef JJ Johnson also recommends adding plantains as an alternative creation.

    jollof rice with beans in a dutch oven with a wooden spoon

    West African Cuisine: Jollof Rice with Beans

    This is such an enjoyable dish to make and having an awesome cookbook to look at during any downtime is an added benefit. We also really enjoy the musical selections from the accompanying playlist.

    When making this dish with kids, it's helpful to introduce them to simpler tasks first; whatever they show interest in and can reasonably manage with some assistance. Over time, their skills will develop, and they can move on to a more advanced task. Once kids have a few food prep skills under their belt, they can begin chaining tasks together during meal preparation activities.

    In other words, start small and the child will build from there. You may find that you're learning right alongside them and those are the best moments.

    Our dish is fairly close to the recipe in the book, except for a couple of substitutions. We also later added ground lamb as a variation. As I mentioned earlier, feel free to get creative with your kids. This is how we made it.

    Ingredients & Tools

    • Spanish Onions
    • Olive Oil
    • Garlic
    • Ginger
    • Bird's Eye Chiles (or Serrano)
    • Tomato Paste
    • Plum Tomatoes (or on the vine)
    • Red Kidney Beans (or Adzuki Red Beans)
    • Water
    • Garlic Cloves
    • Jasmine Rice
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Apron
    • Prep Bowls
    • Cutting Board
    • Child-Friendly Knife
    • Box Grater (optional)
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cup
    • Medium Saucepan
    • Large Saucepan (we used a Dutch Oven)
    • Spoons
    • Blender
    • Learning Tower
    kids pointing to jollof rice recipe picture in black food cookbook

    1. Prep the Ingredients for Making the Beans and Bring to Stove

    Chop 4 garlic cloves, 1 chile & 1 onion using a knife and cutting board. Seed and chop the chile yourself or provide a brief reminder about handling chiles and touching sensitive areas such as eyes. Handwashing after chopping chiles has made for a painless experience in our home.

    Bring the items to the stove along with 1 cup beans, and 4 cups cool water. Assist the child as appropriate for their abilities. We use a Learning Tower at the stove to promote independence.

    Don't forget the cookbook for instructions. Our kids immediately noted the reddish color of the dish pictured in the book and asked if it was because of the tomatoes.

    If you decide to make this West African cuisine and you enjoy it, you may want to get the book in order to receive the full benefits of the experience. We enjoy having it as part of our Books for Africa Continent Studies.

    child pouring beans into a saucepan for jollof rice recipe

    2. Combine Ingredients in Medium Saucepan over High Heat

    We put our Learning Tower close enough for our kids to reach but with a little bit of space between them and the stove.

    child adding garlic to saucepan with beans and water

    3. Add Garlic

    You may notice we have a lot of the kids' artwork in the kitchen. My friend Julie over at Nature Inspired Learning makes printables for kids and the bird coloring pages hanging on the fridge are one of our favorites.

    montessori child adding chile to saucepan of ingredients for jollof rice

    4. Add Chile

    kids smiling while child stirs saucepan of ingredients with spoon

    5. Give it a Stir

    kids smiling and looking at beans and steam for making jollof rice recipe

    6. Bring to a Boil, Reduce Heat to Low, and Simmer

    Our kids loved this part. The bubbles and steam are exciting while the beans transform into a wrinkly version of themselves.

    child stirring ingredients in pan on the stove for making jollof rice with beans

    7. Cook until Tender

    Cook for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally, and add water as needed to keep the beans submerged. Taste frequently for texture and flavor after 1 hour. When soft, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat when soft and before they lose their shape. Leave them in the pan to cool and then remove the chile.

    At this point, you can move on to prepping the tomato sauce. Also, it's a great opportunity to dive into the cookbook for more African cuisine.

    two kids chopping tomatoes with knives and cutting boards

    8. Chop Items for the Tomato Sauce

    While the beans are cooking you can prep the tomato sauce. Chop ½ onion, tomatoes, and enough garlic for 1 tablespoon.

    child chopping ginger with knife and cutting board

    9. Peel and Chop Ginger

    Chop enough ginger for 1 teaspoon. Make sure to peel the ginger before chopping. You may need to assist with this task.

    child grating ginger with box grater for making African cuisine

    Alternatively, you can also grate the ginger. Our son is all about the box grater right now and he uses it any opportunity he has.

    child in learning tower stirring onions in a saucepan

    10. Heat Oil in Pan on Medium Heat and Add Onion

    Head back to the stove and cook the onion over medium heat. Add some salt and cook until the onion is translucent, 3-5 minutes.

    two kids in a learning tower while one adds garlic to a pan

    11. Add Garlic, Ginger, and Chile

    Cook for 2 minutes or until soft.

    child transferring ingredients to a pan

    12. Add Tomato Paste for Making Jollof Rice

    Stir and cook for 5-8 minutes.

    child using a blender

    13. Transfer to a Blender

    Pulse to combine. Add the tomatoes to the blender and puree. Add water if too thick and season with salt. Using a blender is a ton of fun and our oldest really enjoyed this part.

    blender cup next to a cookbook about african cuisine

    Here's the beautiful red sauce. Our kids were really happy to see that it matched the bright red in the picture.

    child measuring rice at the counter for making African cuisine

    14. Measure the Rice for Jollof Rice

    This West African dish still needs rice. Measure the rice using a measuring cup.

    child transferring sauce to a pan

    15. Add Rice, Oil, Tomato Sauce, and Beans

    After the beans and sauce are ready, the last part of creating this Jollof Rice dish is combining them with rice. Add the rice, the remaining oil, tomato sauce, and beans to a large saucepan or dutch oven.

    child stirring tomato sauce in a pan for making African cuisine

    16. Add Water, Salt, and Black Pepper to Jollof Rice with Beans

    Add water, salt, and black pepper and simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook for approximately 40 minutes, until the rice is tender.

    three children in a learning tower in the kitchen

    Our youngest daughter woke from her nap around this time and couldn't wait to see what was cooking.

    west african cuisine jollof rice with beans in a dutch oven

    17. When Jollof Rice is Finished, Sit Covered for 10 minutes

    Fluff with a fork and serve. Beautiful and delicious. We later added some ground lamb as well and it was awesome. Such a tasty dish and an incredible way to learn more about West African cuisine.

    Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora used for making African cuisine

    Conclusion for West African Cuisine: Jollof Rice with Beans

    We hope you've enjoyed seeing how we make Jollof Rice with Beans in our homeschool. I can't reiterate enough how much having the book really adds to the whole experience.

    If you're a homeschooler, this cookbook has so much to offer. It is as gorgeous on the inside as the cover art by George McCalman is on the outside. I know we'll be enjoying it for years to come as we study Art, Language, Poetry, History, Science, Fundamental Human Needs, and more.

    In my opinion, Black Food by Bryant Terry is a must-have book for every homeschooler's kitchen as it embodies the soul of cosmic education. If you don't have the book, we hope you find this useful and enjoy making this recipe with your family.

    More Africa Educational Resources

    • Social Justice Books
    • Afrocentric Montessori
    • Waseca Biomes

    Save $15 on your first Waseca Biomes purchase here.

    More Practical Life in the Kitchen

    • Chocolate Bison Chili: An Indigenous Food Experience and Free Printable
    • Xinxim de Galinha, Bahian Chicken Stew and Free Printable
    • Asian Dumplings
    • Ukrainian Welcome Bread
    • Family and Kids Cooking Resources: Different Food Cultures
    • Easy Baking for Kids Using a Visual Recipe
    Jollof Rice with Beans, West African Cuisine in a dutch oven on a stove

    West African Cuisine: Jollof Rice with Beans

    Kristin
    Join us as we make traditional West African Cuisine using a recipe from the must-have book Black Food: Stories, Art, & Recipes from Across the African Diaspora. Jollof Rice with Beans is a traditional West African food and we'll show you how to make it. An excellent practical life experience for history, geography, Montessori continent studies, and cosmic education.
    5 from 4 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
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    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 2 hrs 10 mins
    Total Time 2 hrs 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine West African
    Servings 6 Servings
    Calories 427 kcal

    Equipment

    • Apron
    • Prep Bowls
    • Cutting Board
    • Child-Friendly Knife
    • Box Grater optional
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cup
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Medium Saucepan
    • Dutch Oven or large saucepan
    • Blender
    • Learning Tower as needed
    • Black Food: Stories, Art, and Recipes from Across the African Diaspora

    Ingredients 
     

    • 1 ½ Spanish Onions
    • 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
    • 1 tablespoon Garlic we used minced
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger chopped/grated
    • 3 Bird's Eye or Serrano Chiles seeded and chopped
    • ¼ cup Tomato Paste
    • 3 Plum Tomatoes ripe
    • 1 cup dried Red Kidney Beans or Adzuki Red Beans
    • 7 cups Water cool
    • 4 cloves Garlic
    • 2 cups Jasmine Rice
    • ½ teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt plus more to taste
    • Black Pepper to taste

    Instructions 

    • Chop 4 garlic cloves, 1 chile & 1 onion using a knife and cutting board. Seed and chop the chile yourself or provide a brief reminder about handling chiles and touching sensitive areas such as eyes. Handwashing after chopping chiles has made for a painless experience in our home. Bring the items to the stove along with 1 cup beans, and 4 cups cool water. Assist the child as appropriate for their abilities.
    • Combine Ingredients in Medium Saucepan over High Heat.
    • Add the Garlic.
    • Add the Chile.
    • Give it a Stir.
    • Bring to a Boil, Reduce Heat to Low, and Simmer.
    • Cook until tender. Cook for about 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally, and add water as needed to keep the beans submerged. Taste frequently for texture and flavor after 1 hour. When soft, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat when soft and before they lose their shape. Leave them in the pan to cool and then remove the chile. At this point you can move on to prepping the tomato sauce. Also, it's a great opportunity to dive into the cookbook for more African cuisine.
    • While the beans are cooking you can prep the tomato sauce. Chop ½ onion, tomatoes, and enough garlic for 1 tablespoon.
    • Peel and Chop Ginger. Chop enough ginger for 1 teaspoon. Make sure to peel the ginger before chopping. You may need to assist with this task. Use box grater as alternative to chopping.
    • Head back to the stove and cook the onion in oil over medium heat. Add some salt and cook until the onion is translucent, 3-5 minutes.
    • Add Garlic, Ginger, and Chile. Cook for 2 minutes or until soft.
    • Add Tomato Paste. Stir and cook for 5-8 minutes.
    • Transfer to a Blender. Pulse to combine. Add the tomatoes to the blender and puree. Add water if too thick and season with salt.
    • Measure the rice using a measuring cup.
    • After the beans and sauce are ready, the last part of creating this West African cuisine is combining them with rice. Add the rice, the remaining oil, tomato sauce, and beans to a large saucepan or dutch oven.
    • Add water, salt, and black pepper and simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook for approximately 40 minutes, until the rice is tender.
    • When finished, sit covered for ten minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

    Notes

    Full Lesson Info and Pictures at:  https://happyhomeschooladventures.com/african-cuisine

    Nutrition

    Calories: 427kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 13gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 306mgPotassium: 804mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 697IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 74mgIron: 3mg

    Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

    Keyword african cuisine, black food, how to cook nigerian jollof rice, jollof, jollof rice, traditional african food, west african food
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    PIN FOR LATER

    Join us as we make traditional West African Cuisine using a recipe from the must-have book Black Food: Stories, Art, & Recipes from Across the African Diaspora.  Jollof Rice with Beans is a traditional West African food and we will show you how we made it.  A practical life experience for history, geography, Montessori continent studies, and cosmic education.

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    About Kristin

    Hello! I'm a Montessori homeschooler of 4 living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We're nature lovers and environmental minimalists sharing our experience in guiding our little ones from the back of the boat.

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