Gambian Tomato Benachin (Jollof Rice)
One-pot rice cooked with tomato, peppers, and spices. Serves 6; hands-on preparation is estimated at about 20 minutes.
Benachin is a Gambian rice dish cooked with a seasoned tomato base. This vegetable version combines long-grain rice, tomato, peppers, and spices in one pot; benachin preparations can vary in their vegetables and proteins.
Ingredient allergens
Allergen listThere are no verified associations for these ingredients yet.
Method
- 01
Sauté the aromatic base
Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over high heat. Add the onions, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, hot chiles if using, black pepper, ginger, and allspice. Sauté for 1 minute, stirring so the vegetables are coated without scorching.
Ready to continue when: The vegetables begin to soften and the spices smell fragrant, without darkening.
1 min - 02
Add the tomato and rice
Stir in the tomatoes and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Add the tomato paste, bay leaves, and thyme; cook for 1 minute more. Add the rice and stir until it is well mixed with the tomato base.
Ready to continue when: The rice is coated with tomato and evenly distributed among the vegetables and seasonings.
3 min - 03
Cook the rice
Pour in the hot water, cover the pot, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed almost all the water. If liquid remains when the time is up, continue cooking covered until the rice is ready and the liquid has been absorbed.
Ready to continue when: The rice is tender and has absorbed almost all the water; no visible layer of liquid remains at the bottom.
15 min - 04
Fluff and serve
Remove the pot from the heat and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Serve hot.
Ready to continue when: The grains are separate and the rice is served hot.
Ingredients
Sources and review
Content researched, cross-checked and automatically validated. Sources consulted:
- Thieboudienne - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thieboudienne
- Nutrición www.aesan.gob.es/nutricion
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- Oh, hey akastage-www.foodsafety.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-wedding-food-safety.pdf
- Gambian Beef Benachin thinkbeef.ca/gambian-beef-benachin/print/11470/
- Ebbeh (Cassava and Seafood Soup) Recipe cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/791224823-ebbeh-cassava-seafood-soup?searchResultPosition=9
- Supa kanja Recipe | Samsung Food App app.samsungfood.com/recipes/10761145d56e1ec48afb670f64674a5f6d5?action=made_it
- Domada Recipe: Gambian Peanut Stew over Rice honestcooking.com/gambian-peanut-stew-recipe/
- Ida with the finished dish and, below, buying spices in Tanji market resources.serenity.co.uk/PDF/gambia/press/2010/western-morning-news23jan10.pdf
- A savory taste of West African cuisine | Honolulu Star-Advertiser www.staradvertiser.com/2026/10/14/food/a-savory-taste-of-west-african-cuisine/?comment=
- 3 Best Stews in The Gambia - TasteAtlas www.tasteatlas.com/best-rated-stews-in-the-gambia
- Jollof de digitaria con frijoles caupíes, de Pierre Thiam www.ifad.org/es/w/recetas-para-el-cambio/jollof-de-digitaria-con-frijoles-caupies-de-pierre-…
- Gambia Embassy in Washington D.C. opens door for global cultural tour gambiaembassydc.gm/2026/05/15/gambia-embassy-in-washington-d-c-opens-door-for-global-cultura…
- Food & Drink — The Gambia Travel Guides | VisitGambia.com visitgambia.com/gambia/travel-guides/food-drink
- ARROZ JOLLOF www.cultura.gob.es/dam/jcr:d040e03f-b598-45a8-9f9a-233c28cdfe67/receta-de-arroz-jollof.pdf
- Arroz Jollof O Benachin Receta de La Mélangerie- Cookpad cookpad.com/es/recetas/24925159
- Benachin: origen, ingredientes y alérgenos www.menuella.com/es/food-wiki/benachin
- Jollof rice (Vegano) | CreatiVegan.net creativegan.net/archives/jollof-rice/
- Arroz Jollof • sallypepperspices • Tienda de especias • sallypepperspices.com/2017/05/26/arroz-jollof/
- - YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9GqSwQsFLg
State: Published after documentary validation; no “Tested” label is shown.