Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 2 pounds cooked meat, cut into 1-inch cubes (use chicken, bacon, shrimp, or smoked pork)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil — or cooking oil of your choice
• 1/2 cup onion — finely chopped
• 1/2 cup green peppers — finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 can low-sodium whole tomatoes — 14.5 ounce
• 2 cans no-salt added tomato paste — 6 ounces each
• 8 cups water — 2 quarts
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 cups white rice
• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 1/2 cups water

Method

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Sauté cooked meat in oil until slightly brown.
3. In a large kettle, sauté yellow onion, green pepper, and ginger in vegetable oil until onions are soft.
4. Add whole tomatoes and simmer for five minutes.
5. Add tomato paste, 2 quarts water, salt, black pepper, thyme, and red pepper.
6. Add cooked meat, simmer 20 minutes longer.
7. In a 2-quart saucepan, cook rice in chicken stock and water until tender.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Pour the rice in a deep bowl and arrange the meat in the center.