Jollof Rice (Nsamé or Zaame)

Jollof rice is one of the most common Western African dishes. It is prepared throughout the region including in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Cameroon as well as Mali. It is composed of fluffy, red-orange rice that is cooked with a combination of vegetables that may include peas, peppers, carrots, cabbage or eggplant, and often accompanied with meat such as lamb, goat, chicken, beef. Jollof rice is also served with salad or fried plantain called dodo in the Yoruba language. This traditional Jollof rice recipe is called benachin (“one pot” in Wolof), theibou dienne (or thieboudienne) in Senegal or Gambia, and riz au gras in certain French-speaking regions.