Jollof

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A one-pot West African dish of rice cooked in a rich tomato and pepper sauce with spices, often served at celebrations
2. A spiced rice preparation from West African cooking, made by simmering rice with tomatoes, peppers and seasonings until it absorbs the flavour
3. A festive rice dish of West African origin, cooked in a tomato-based sauce with aromatic spices and typically served at gatherings

Etymology: Jollof is the shortened form of "jollof rice," a one-pot dish of rice cooked in a tomato, pepper and onion base with spices. The name points to the Wolof people of Senegal and The Gambia, whose word "ceebu jën" (fish rice) names a closely related dish, and the Wolof-speaking empire of Jolof (Jolof Empire) gave its name to the rice as it spread through West Africa and across the diaspora. The spelling "jollof" is the form used in English. Because the dish has many regional versions, the name has become a point of friendly rivalry between countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, each claiming its own recipe as the best. The shortened form "jollof" is now the common way to refer to the dish in English.