How long do you cook Jollof Rice?

Answer 1

Black rice (aka forbidden rice) is rich in anthocyanins and so when cooked has a very strong purple colour. It DOES take a lot longer to cook than even brown rice. My first attempt to cook it was as risotto - disastrous. Edible, just, but it stained everything purple including chicken meat and peas. It also took 90 minutes to cook even asmall amount on ther stove.

Current effective technique - using a glass or ceramic dish, soak the rice for several hours (overnight is best). (Use glass or ceramic because the stuff stains plastic). Cover rice with water until the water is one index finger knuckle deep above the surface of the rice.


Before cooking - check the level of water, add a little more until it is one knuckle deep.


I cook it by absorption method in the microwave oven. Times vary according to the power of the microwave oven but the principle is - bring it to the boil, then let it simmer until all water is absorbed. For about a cup of rice (water to cover, one knuckle deep) it takes about 3-4 minutes on HIGH to bring it to the boil.
Then times are - white rice, 10 minutes on MED. Brown rice - 20 mins on MED. Red rice maybe slightly less on MED. Black rice - 25-30 mins on MED.


I tend to cook it for 20 mins on MED then I get it out to check its done-ness. It allows me to add a little more water if I feel it needs it.


When the cooking program is finished, I get the rice out and immediately fluff it up. I taste-test it for don-ness and if it's not quite done but all the liquid has been absorbed, I add a splash more and give it 3-4 minutes burst on HIGH. If you don't need to add more liquid but more cvooking is needed, give it 1 min to get it back to the boil, then 5-10 mins on MED.


Over time you learn your own microwave oven's quirks. I've gone to a fair bit of detail, but it is worth it to get the knack of doing this in the microwave. Absorbtion method means all nutrition (including soluble fibre) stays in the rice instead of being poured down the sink. Any uneaten cooked rice is stored in the fridge and we microwave a serve at a time as required. You can also use any of these rice types as a base for fried rice. If you're on a diet you can substitute brown rice where normally you would eat white rice. The added fibre means the rice in your diet is a lot more beneficial if it's brown, red or black.


For a special treat with black rice, cook as described above then when it's done fully and still hot, stir in some palm sugar (or dark brown sugar) and let it melt through evenly. Then pour in some coconut cream (I use a thick variety such as Kara). I store it in the fridge and use a small amount as a dessert base with freshly sliced mango.


If you don't soak the black rice first, it almost triples the cooking time.

Answer 2

Red rice will take approximately 45 minutes to cook.

Answer 3

ranging from around thirty minutes to an hour and thirty minutes, depending on which rice you use and how much rice you've got.