This Cauliflower Jollof Rice is a healthy, keto-friendly version of the West African Jollof Rice. It is packed full of delicious spices and flavors and contains just 3 net carbs!
What is Jollof Rice?
Rice is a staple in most West African countries and in my native country, Nigeria, no party is complete without our national food, Jollof Rice.
Jollof rice is a dish native to the western region of Africa. It is made by cooking rice in a rich tomato and pepper broth, and traditional spices. You can add protein or vegetables to bulk it up but most of the time, these are omitted.
While it is true nothing can replicate the taste and texture of Jollof Rice, this cauliflower rice recipe is close enough to fool your taste buds and trick your brain into believing you're having the real thing.
Ingredients used
- Cauliflower rice: If using raw cauliflower, follow these instructions to learn how to make your cauliflower rice from scratch.
- Vegetables: Roma tomatoes, red bell pepper, onions, and habanero pepper. In Nigeria, we use scotch bonnet peppers but habanero pepper is the next best thing. These three vegetables give this keto jollof rice a rich flavor.
- Palm oil (or olive oil): I like to use palm oil because of the rich, traditional taste but olive oil will also work as well.
- Spices: Bouillon powder (or maggi cubes), black pepper, ground crayfish, and salt. Ground crayfish is a traditional African spice that gives a lovely umami flavor to this dish but you can omit it or use your favorite spice instead.
How to make Nigerian Jollof Rice (keto version)
- If using a whole head of cauliflower, see notes for how to make your cauliflower rice from scratch.
- Cut the tomatoes, peppers, and onions into large chunks.
- Place in a blender and add half a cup of water.
- Blend the veggies, pour into a pot, and put on the stove on high heat for about 10 minutes. This will cause most of the liquid to evaporate and form a thicker sauce.
- In a separate skillet, pour in palm oil.
- When heated, add the blended tomato and peppers.
- Add spices and stir. Leave on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower rice and stir.
- If using fresh cauliflower rice, add half a cup of water or stock to soften up the rice. Omit if using frozen cauliflower rice.
- Cover the pot for a few minutes. The cauliflower rice will shrink in size and become more tender.
- Stir and taste for salt. Adjust accordingly.
- Serve & enjoy!
Recipe Video
Click on the image below to watch me make this recipe from start to finish on YouTube!
Tips when making this recipe
- If you need to make your cauliflower rice from scratch, this post will tell you all you need to know.
- If you want a softer texture, let the keto rice cook a bit longer. Leave for only a few minutes if you want a tougher, more chewy, texture.
- You can easily substitute cauliflower rice with miracle rice (konjac rice) in this recipe.
What to serve with this recipe
Keto jollof rice goes great with many meat dishes. You can also top it up with some beef stew, chicken stew, or goat stew.
I like to eat my keto rice with:
- Fried Chicken Drumsticks
- Peppered Goat Meat (Asun)
- Instant Pot Chicken Leg Quarters
- Peri Peri Chicken Wings
- Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Need more cauliflower rice recipes? Try these!
Sausage Pepper Cauliflower Rice Skillet
Mushroom Cauliflower Rice with Peppers
Tuna Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice
📖 Recipe
Cauliflower Jollof Rice (Nigerian Jollof Rice - Keto Version)
Ingredients
- 1 lb cauliflower rice or one head of cauliflower
- 1 tomato
- ½ habanero pepper or ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- ½ onion
- ¼ cup palm oil or olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon bouillon powder
- 1 tablespoon ground crayfish optional
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup water or stock
Instructions
- If using a whole head of cauliflower, see notes for how to make your cauliflower rice from scratch.
- Cut the tomatoes, peppers and onions into large chunks.
- Place in a blender and add half a cup of water.
- Blend the veggies, pour in a pot and put on the stove on high heat for about 10 minutes.
- In a separate skillet, pour in palm oil (or olive oil).
- When heated, add the blended tomato and peppers.
- Add spices and stir. Leave on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the cauliflower rice and stir.
- If using fresh cauliflower rice, add half a cup of water or stock. Omit if using frozen cauliflower rice.
- Cover the pot for a few minutes.
- Stir and taste for salt. Adjust accordingly.
- Serve & enjoy!
Notes
- If you need to make your cauliflower rice from scratch, this post will tell you all you need to know.
- If you want a softer texture, let the keto rice cook a bit longer. Leave for only a few minutes if you want a tougher, more chewy, texture.
- You can easily substitute cauliflower rice with miracle rice (konjac rice) in this recipe.
- If you don't like spicy food, add just a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili pepper.
Ran across Joloff because Google highlighted it on the search page... I'd never heard of it before, but it sounds heavenly - even moreso if it's also keto-friendly!
Question about the water/stock, though. In the ingredients, 1/2 cup water is listed. Directions say to add 1/2 cup water/stock if using fresh cauliflower, and omit if using frozen. Is this in reference to the 1/2 cup listed, or a separate amount?
Thank you!
Hi Suzanne, it refers to the 1/2 cup of water/stock. You can use either, but you only need it for fresh cauliflower since frozen cauliflower will expel water as it thaws.
I’m African American and years ago my Ghanaian friend taught me how to cook jollof rice among other things. Last night I had a sudden craving for jollof rice and was wondering how it would taste substituted with riced cauliflower instead. I’m surprised a google search about it brought me here! Because let’s be honest, doing a low carb diet while being a rice lover is challenging!!! I can’t wait to try this soon. Along with some other African dishes I love to cook. Thanks for your recipes and blog!
You're so welcome, Tina! And you're right; the keto diet for a rice lover is quite challenging. I ate rice almost every day of my life before I went on the keto diet. I know cauliflower rice is not the same, but it scratches the itch for me. I hope you enjoy my recipes!
Hello really Appreciate your blogs
Very Informative!
Please I have two questions
First one is how can we Find pysillium husk in Nigeria, does it have a local Nigerian name?
Second is do you have any recipes for Soy bean flour fufu.
will really appreciates your response
Hi Michael, sorry I don't know where you can find psyllium husk in Nigeria but I was told there are some keto stores in Lagos and Abuja that sell those. I don't have a fufu recipe for soybean fufu because soybean is quite high in carbs.
AM I the only person who noticed it says crayfish in the ingredients and cat fish in the instructions? Which is it? I assume catfish, since crayfish don't have bones.
Thanks for pointing that out. Both crayfish and smoked catfish are included in the recipe, though the smoked catfish is optional.
Does it really need 1/2 cup of palm oil? I'm all about high fat, but that sounds like a whole lot of oil and red palm oil is not cheap where I Iive.
Yes, you can definitely use less than that. You can also substitute with olive oil.
This looks super tasty!! I can’t wait to give it a try! It’s all delicious ingredients 🙂
Thanks Roslia. I hope you enjoy it!
I love this recipe, i’m going to make it. I really love your blog as well. I’ve been looking for low carb spins on naija recipes, so this blog is a gem to me 🙂
I'm glad you're enjoying my blog, Chinny. Please share with your friends and networks. More exciting recipes coming up!