Thread by @CarlyPildis

If your just joining me, I stopped by an African Market after shul. A sweet old Ghanaian lady asked what I was cooking, and I said Jollof Rice for my Ghanaian husband. She asked if she could help. I said I would love that. She promptly emptied half my cart and refilled

She then walked through her own recipe piece by piece. It took her nearly half an hour. I am attempting to cook it now. After frying several scotch bonnet peppers in screaming hot vegetable oil( she was very particular about this) every window in my house is open

OH MY GOD this tastes so good and it’s not even half way done. Now I am simmering the stew for jollof and smiling.

Update! My husband has tasted the stew! He says it is alchemy and we must find our fairy godmother Mabel again. Totally worth the opening all the windows phase

Mabel said it must be very thick! Like American tomato sauce or chili. The. She asked me if I had eaten those before. Don’t worry Mabel! I am listening and checking thickness

I think it is thick enough? A few more minutes to be sure!

This is where Mabel’s recipe is wildly different than any I have seen. She is insistent I should cook the rice separately. She said cook al dente like American pasta. And add thyme, dill, parsley basically any herbs I had in hand that weren’t woodsy. I am scared but I am doing it

Oh my god the beef is perfect. I am trying to mimic Jollof with goat because Kosher goat is expensive and very hard to find. Mabel said to season very hard and very hard before braising in stew It’s totally working.

I can’t believe I didn’t ask for this woman’s phone number! Do you have a sweet Ghanaian grandma named Mabel who coaches Jewish ladies on recipes in African Markets in NE DC? Did she mention lady in need of assistance to perfect her Jollof? I’ll pay her to keep teaching me!

My house smells amazing! The rice is filled with thyme and butter.

Mabel’s “pasta al dente” rice seasoned with butter and tons of thyme! Into the stew you go!

Oh shit! Mabel didn’t tell me what temperature to bake at! I am going with 350!

About to put this Jollof in the oven! Godspeed rice! There will be at a 20 to 40 minute bake time.

Could Mabel be Eliyahu in disguise?

I stole a bite from the oven. Rice isn’t done yet but the flavor is heaven.

It’s done! Mabel’s Jollof rice from heaven is done! Pictures forthcoming when I finish fluffing the rice

We are at the delicious finish line! This is easily the best Jollof rice I have ever made. It’s spicy, gingery, tomato rice goodness. I am so happy I met you Mabel! You will be a legend in this house for years to come!

Thanks for joining my Jollof Rice adventure

Updated with Recipe!
docs.google.com/document/d/12z…

My husband was very pleased with this Jollof! He said it’s the best I’ve ever made and one of the best he has ever had! Thanks Mabel!

We were too hungry to take time and take a pretty picture yesterday, but here is one properly plated