Instant Pot Jollof Rice (include Vegan Jollof rice)

Jollof rice recipe that is easy, quick and delicious! This post include instant pot jollof rice recipe and vegan jollof rice recipe. Don't have instant pot? check out stovetop Jollof rice recipe.

It's another rice recipe today just because we have so many rice recipes we can't wait to share with you! Have you tried my instant pot spanish rice recipe? how about Instant pot basmati rice? Do check them out if you haven't already. If you're new to instant pot, check out How to use instant pot- A simple guide .

So back to instant pot pressure cooker jollof rice, jollof rice is arguably our (my family) best rice dish ever. We love jollof rice, specifically Nigerian Jollof rice. This simple but amazing rice dish is a regular in our home and parties. It's not a party or special occassion if we haven't cooked and served jollof rice. It's such a biggie to us and that's why i'm sharing my instant pot jollof rice recipe with you. I hope you like it as much as we do.

What is Jollof rice

Jollof rice is a popular rice dish in West African countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Senegal. It's a one pot rice dish where rice is cooked with spices, broth, peppers, onions and simmered in delicious tomato sauce base. Recipes differ accross the different countries and there's rivalry among these countries (especially Ghana and Nigeria) on which country cooks the best jollof rice.

Characteristics of jollof include it's bright orange colour, seperate grains and in the case of Nigerian jollof rice, sometimes smoky party flavour. This recipe is for Instant pot Nigerian jollof rice which is the best jollof rice in my opinion.

Why we love Instant pot jollof rice

• Easy and quick - Cooking jollof rice in instant pot is quicker than stovetop and oven method of cooking it.

• Same authentic taste as the stovetop method.

• No burn therefore easy wash up after cooking
  
• No watching over the pot till Jollof rice is ready. We can go about doing something else till the IP beeps.

Jollof rice recipe

This instant pot jollof rice recipe is easy and makes use of ingredients you probably have in your pantry and fridge. Let me show you how it's done:

Vegan Jollof rice

Jollof rice is not traditionally vegan as Africans are meat lovers and eat lots of meat and use meat stock in most of their cooking. However it is very easy to make vegan jollof rice and it tastes just as delicious as the traditional one. There are just 2 ingredients that differ between the vegan and non vegan jollof rice - stock cube and meat broth. So for vegan jollof rice, substitute meat broth for vegetable broth and meat stock/bouillion cube for vegetable stock/bouillion cube. That's it! just those 2 ingredients substitutiton, you follow the recipe direction detailed in the recipe card at the end of this post and you have delicious vegan jollof rice (Video recipe also in the recipe card).

Ingredients for instant pot Jollof rice

For this Instant pot jollof rice recipe / pressure cooker jollof rice, you will need the below ingredients (full ingredients and recipe in recipe card at the end of this post)

Rice - long grain rice or golden sella basmati rice

Pepper mix - This is combination of bell peppers, scotch bonnet and onion.  Scotch bonnet is hot pepper so if you don't like spicy, it's ok to exclude this. Pepper mix ratio detailed in recipe card.

Fresh Tomatoes

Onion

Tomato puree - This forms part of what gives Jollof rice it's signature colour.

Bouillion/Stock cubes - This is typicall used in Jollof rice recipe however you can leave out but ensure you use rich broth.

Meat broth - Chicken, Turkey or beef broth.

Vegetable oil - Can be substituted for sunflower or olive oil.

Curry powder - Check out my homemade/DIY curry powder recipe if you wish to make yours.

Dried thyme

White pepper

Bayleaf

How to cook instant pot Jollof rice

1) Blend the pepper mix ingredients. You need 1 cup of the pepper mix for the recipe. Store the remaining for future use (details in recipe card).

2) Set the instant pot to sautee then add vegetable oil in the inner pot of the instant pot then add chopped onions and tomato puree.  Fry the onion and tomato puree for few minutes. (make sure you keep stirring to avoid burning).

3) Add in 1 cup of pepper mix, stock cube, curry powder, thyme and white pepper. Fry for another 5 minutes. Don't forget to keep stirring to avoid burn.

4) Put off sautee mode of the instant pot.

5) Wash rice with warm water till water runs clear.

6) Add broth, bayleaf, salt, washed rice and sliced tomatoes in the instant pot. Stir and cover instant pot with lid and set valve to sealing.

7) Set instant pot to manual pressure cook 8 minutes. After pressure cooking, do 10 minutes natural pressure release.

8) When instant pot is depressurised, open the lid. Sauce will be settled on the rice, stir  the sauce in the rice and jollof rice is ready to be enjoyed.

Looks, smell and taste good.

What goes with jollof rice

You can serve jollof rice with :

Instant pot chicken wings

Plantain

Coleslaw

Tips for making jollof rice in Instant Pot

Once rice goes in the sauce, give it a good stir before pressure cooking. This is to avoid the sauce settling at the bottom and causing burn error.

Omit or increase scotchbonnet in the pepper mix to suit your taste.

Use vegetable bouillion cubes and vegetable stock for vegan jollof rice.

Frequently asked questions about jollof rice

What gives jollof rice it's red colour?

The pepper mix and tomato puree.

What rice is best to use for jollof rice?

Easy cook rice. long grain rice or golden sella basmati rice.

Calories in jollof rice

The calories in this instant pot jollof rice recipe per serving is approximately 350kcal per serving.

How to store jollof rice

Leftover jollof rice can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
In the freezer for up to 3 months.

To store, keep jollof rice in airtight container or freezer bags, label with dates and freeze.
To reheat - If from fridge, put a cup of water inside the microwave to provide moisture so jollof rice doesn't dry out.

If from the frozen, microwave on high heat from frozen.

Other recipes on the blog you'll love:

If you like this instant pot jollof rice and vegan jollof rice recipe, you should check out some other instant pot recipes :

Instant Pot Chicken Curry

Instant Pot Chicken Wings

Recipe

Love this recipe? Don't forget to rate it below. If you make it, we'll love to see it, Tag @recipevibes on instagram.

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