Vegetarian Jollof Rice

Jollof rice, one of the most popular and best-known dishes throughout West Africa, has many countries claiming it as their own. I can proudly, and correctly, say that the dish has Wolof origins, as Jollof is the name of an ancient Wolof kingdom in Senegal. From Senegal, the dish spread and evolved throughout West Africa, inspiring fierce regional preferences. At its simplest, jollof is a tomato-based rice dish, but depending on the region or even the household, the dish can incorporate different meats, seafood, vegetables, and spices. In Senegal, jollof serves as the base of the popular thiebou jenn. This is my vegetarian version, which works perfectly as a side dish or as a main rounded out with a few other dishes.