Pressure Cooker Jollof Rice is a West African one pot, stewed tomato, peppers and onions rice side dish, typically served for parties and special occasions.

Pressure Cooker Jollof Rice

Rice is one of those foods, which can turn a plain side dish into a flavorful and special side dish.

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What is Jollof Rice?

The word “jollof” simply means one pot. It is a very simple rice dish made with pantry staples and is always a crowd pleaser.
Jollof Rice is a very popular rice dish served at parties in West Africa. The West African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Gambia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cameroun, and Liberia will have their own variation to this dish, but you can be sure, there is no right or wrong way to make Jollof Rice.

Jollof Rice is a very inexpensive dish yet it is totally delicious. The Jollof love has been spreading and you will also find this delicious tomato based rice dish in East Africa as well

While Jollof Rice is considered a party food, you can be sure that it is perfect side dish any time, not just parties.

Cast of Ingredients for Pressure Cooker Jollof Rice

Plain Instant Pot White Rice is wonderful but can become boring and with the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker you can easily make Instant Pot Jollof Rice in under 15 minutes.

There are a few ingredients which are common to basic Jollof Rice. All of them are normal, every day ingredients.

Basic Jollof Rice Ingredients

Long Grain Rice like Basmati Rice
Tomatoes
Paprika
Fresh Garlic and Onion
Oil
Salt and Pepper
Scotch Bonnet Pepper, which is super hot or I recommend Sambal Oelek Chili Paste, which is not as hot and can be adjusted for preference.

For the liquid in Instant Pot Jollof Rice you can use plain water if you like. To add more flavor try using Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base or if you want some flavor and want to keep your Jollof Rice vegetarian, I recommend using a bit of Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian Base.

Chicken, pork or beef can be added to the rice as well and paired with a lower protein recipe such as Pressure Cooker Hot and Sour Soup or Low Carb Brussels Sprouts Alfredo Sauce. We love it along side Air Fryer Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings!

Use a Colander to Rinse the Rice Well

Jollof Rice can be made with any type of rice, even brown rice! We love to use long grain brown Basmati rice for this recipe, as well as long grain Basamti Rice. Jasmine rice works well too. Use whatever type of rice you like is what is best to use.

No one likes mushy rice as a side dish, unless of course you are making Pressure Cooker Vietnamese Chicken Congee (Cháo Gà) and there is a simple trick. Of course, sticky rice is wonderful (especially for sushi), but when you want rice where each grain is separate, there is a very easy trick.

How To Make Fluffy Rice

Rinsing. Simple as that. Rinsing the rice until the water runs clear will remove the excess starch.

You don’t need a special rice washing bowl if you don’t want as you can always use your Salbree Steamer Basket for rinsing rice. However, if you do want a separate bowl, I recommend the Inomata Japanese Rice Washing Bowl because for recipes where rice needs to sit in water for a bit, this bowl can go into a larger bowl and then just pull it out and the water nicely drains.

Use a Good Oil in a Hot Pot

Before ever adding oil to a stainless steel pot, make sure that you allow your pot to fully heat. On the multicookers, hit the saute button. On stand alone pressure cookers use the meat button, or whichever gives the highest heat.

You do not need a saute button in order to saute!

What Kind of Oil is Best for this Recipe?

This varies per each person. Some people like to use vegetable oil. Others prefer the taste of using coconut oil. Avocado oil and grapeseed oil do a great job as well. They are all oils, which can handle higher heat temperatures.

Try serving your Joffof Rice at your next meal as a side dish to my Low Carb Chicken Schnitzel {Chicken Cutlets} for a terrific meal.

My Japanese Vegetable Beef Curry Fried Rice recipe and my Pressure Cooker Seasoned Vegetable Ghee Rice recipe can be used as side dishes or main courses. Either way, rice recipes rock and I am thrilled to bring you a fantastic rice side dish, which I know you will love for years to come.

Onions Sauté in Oil

Onions, ginger and peppers are fried in the oil, which adds a great layer of flavor. You can tell when the veggies are just right, as you will smell a beautiful fragrance. It is always important to cook with your nose as it will let you know when things are just right.

Trust me, it is worth first frying the seasonings in the oil before adding the rest of the ingredients. Sure, you can dump everything in and will have a wonderful Jollof, but layering is everything here.

Rice Mixes with Onions and Toasting in Instant Pot

Toast Rice with Onions for Jollof Rice

Toasting the rice with the garlic adds another layer of flavor. Another rice dish where the rice is first toasted is Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto. It is a fantastic recipe and if you like mushrooms, you’ve got to make the risotto!

Everyone loves a good comfort type meal and this West African tomato rice recipe fits the bill. Another rice comfort food recipe is my Instant Pot Chicken and Rice packed with flavors everyone loves. It is a perfect family meal.

Use GOOD Crushed Tomatoes

If you were cooking the Pressure Cooker Jollof Rice on the stove top, you definitely want to use crushed tomatoes. As we are using the pressure cooker program on the Instant Pot, rest assured that using crushed or diced tomatoes will break up the tomatoes and make a wonderful sauce.

This recipe is just a basic recipe for Jollof Rice. There are other spices which can be used too and so many variations according to country. You could also add in some vegetables right before closing the lid.

Some Good Vegetable Add Ins

Sliced or chopped carrots
Green Beans
Corn – this will add a bit of sweetness and some chew and is really yummy
Fresh Green Peas

Pro Tip: If using frozen peas, add them in after pressure has been released, so that they will retain a nice and bright green color.

Add Seasonings and Curry Powder if Desired

Seasonings and Optional Curry Powder

Let’s talk tomatoes. Tomatoes are one of the ingredients, where brand and type do make a difference! When using canned tomatoes, make sure to use a good brand. Fresh vine ripened tomatoes like Jersey Fresh Crushed Tomatoes or San Marzano Crushed Tomatoes are both good choices.

For more texture, try adding in a couple of fresh diced Roma tomatoes before serving.

Some people like to add a bit of curry powder to the tomatoes. My preference for curry powder is Rani Mild Curry Powder. It is a 10 spice blend and this jar will last a long time.

As you can see, with just a few ingredients and minimum effort, you will have a very flavorful Jollof Rice. Make it any day of the week as it is too good to wait until you throw a party.

Pro Tip: Add a little Eat Well Dried Tomato Powder for a stronger tomato flavor.

Pressure Cooker Jollof Rice

Parsley or cilantro make a nice and colorful garnish. If you add green peas, they also add a nice burst of color.

More Easy Instant Pot One Pot Recipes to Make:

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

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Pressure Cooker Jollof Rice (West African Tomato Rice) [Instant Pot]