In collaboration with the Organic Trade Board.
Soft fluffy rice that’s spiced with harissa, an aromatic paste that originates from Morocco served with a mixture of sautéed vegetables and an optional poached egg on top. This dish can use fresh vegetables that have been cooked from scratch or it’s a great way to use up any leftover vegetables from your Christmas meal and can be easily adapted with the addition of meat too. A perfect Boxing Day meal with little effort required.
One of my favourite meals is my mother-in-laws jollof rice, which is native to Ghana and Nigeria. Both countries have different cooking methods and being married to a man of Ghanaian heritage, I’ve obviously been taught the Ghanaian way of cooking it. The rice is cooked in a rich tomato sauce that has been reduced down and lovingly tended to, making sure that it reaches the right consistency. It’s taken me a while to find my groove with cooking jollof rice because I struggled to get that deep red colour that is synonymous with the dish, but Alfie has told me that my version is always a job well done. I say my version because obviously, I would never dream to even think that I could ever match up to my mother-in-law’s recipe.
This meal is hearty and brings people together around the dining table to laugh, joke and tell tales. There’s nothing particularly elegant about it, it’s humble, rustic and charmingly unassuming. However, it’s packed full of flavour and is great served with meat, vegetables, and fish.
Soft fluffy rice that's spiced with harissa, an aromatic paste that originates from Morocco served with a mixture of sauteed vegetables and an optional poached egg on top.
- 1 organic courgette diced
- 1 organic red or orange bell pepper diced
- 1 organic carrot diced
- 1 organic white onion quatered
- 2 organic cloves of garlic
- 300g organic basmati rice
- 2 tins organic tinned chopped tomatoes
- 5 tbsp organic harissa paste
- 2 tbsp organic tomato paste
- 1 organic vegetable stock cube
- chopped coriander and flat leaf parsley
- 2 tbsp oil for cooking
- salt and pepper
- organic free range eggs for poaching (optional)
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In a blender, blitz up the harissa paste, tinned tomatoes, onion, garlic cloves, stock cube, and tomato paste until smooth.
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In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat a little oil and fry off the onion for a few minutes before adding the rest of the chopped vegetables. Cook for a further 3-5 minutes.
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Pour in the blended tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Allow the sauce to reduce down on a low heat for 15-20 minutes.
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Add the rice to the saucepan and top with a lid. Turn up the heat slightly and cook for 20 minutes.
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Check on the rice, by taking the lid off and fluffing with a fork. You may need to add 100ml to help the rice finish cooking. Cook for a further 10 minutes so that the rice is fully cooked and the vegetables are tender.
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Add salt and pepper and scatter with the chopped coriander and flat leaf parsley. Stir through with a fork before serving.
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Top with a poached egg if preferred.
I’ve teamed up with the Organic Trade Board again on their #FeedYourHappy campaign to share my favourite festive meal that makes me happy, using organic ingredients. Other than the big family get together on Christmas day, my next favourite meal is thinking up inventive ways to use up the leftovers. It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut and before you know it, you’re eating Christmas dinner all over again. Reinventing jollof rice with a simple Morrocan twist with the harissa paste is a simple and healthy way to use up any leftovers, including vegetables and meat.
Using organic ingredients means that your food is free of any pesticides or additives. Also, buying organic means the food isn’t just free range, but there is no routine use of antibiotics or any genetically modified ingredients. The Soil Association have made it even easier to shop organic this Christmas with their Organic Christmas Market, where you can search for organic suppliers and producers local to your area. This rice dish is made with solely organic ingredients and can be adapted to suit both vegetarians and meat eaters – a poached egg on top is a must too!
Looking for other ways to use up those Christmas leftovers?
How about this easy Christmas Pasta recipe?
*This post was commissioned by The Organic Trade Board, but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow me to do what I love, bringing you wellness content and recipes to help you find your version of balance.
yum! I love to use Harissa for cooking, but don’t know too many thing to use it with – this looks really tasty and perfect for veggies
It’s such a brilliant and versatile ingredient!
This looks like a lovely addition to a meal! I need to get more adventurous with my rice combinations.
Thank you! It would make a lovely side dish too.
You are always serving up some fab recipes! This looks delicious, I may have to try this one out and soon! Thanks for sharing hun x
Now this sounds like an interesting meal, I am really loving the sound of the different flavours that go in! Delicious.
This looks gorgeous, harissa is one of my favourite spice blends, and I love roasted peppers to make my own. Great fun to do your own version of a Jollof with different spicing! i can see why you love it
I am a fan of Harissa soup which I once had in a Moroccan restaurant in Liverpool and it was delicious. So I love the sound of this harissa vegetable rice!
Love this meal and I’m sure my veggie daughter would love me to make this, always looking for more veggie inspiration-)
This looks yummy and would be great for post-swim lunches through the week.
C x
This sounds like a dish that’s right up my street, I love harissa so much x
It’s a beautiful spice blend isn’t it.
I bet there’s so much flavour in this rice, it sounds like such a yummy dish x
It’s packed full of flavour and texture. Thank you!
Yum, this looks so good and I adore harissa. My kids are so into rice this would be a great addition to our meals.
Oh definitely! A great way to mix in some veggies too.
I love the look of the rice. I think I might have to go shopping at try it out. The Other Half would really enjoy it too I think.
Thank you! Do let me know if you try it out.
Harissa has livened up so many dishes I’ve made, it’s such a tasty blend of spices! Your rice looks as heathy as it does yummy 🙂
So true, it’s my favourite spice mix and practically add it to anything. Thank you aemiky!
What a delicious rice dish. I prefer flavoured rice when it has lots of different ingredients added to it. Love the combination of flavours!
Me too, much more exciting than plain boiled rice.
Ooh I am going to make this, I have some harrisa that needs using up and my partner loves anything with a poached egg on top x
Oh fab! I really hope that you like it. ?
I love Harrisa it’s such a lovely warming flavour. I’ve used it on chicken but this would be great to have as a meat free meal.
I’ve had the rice dish before and it was very delicious! I remember getting seconds and thirds! I need to try to make it now!
this looks so yummy! i will have to try this one!
omg this meal looks so yummy! I adore harissa 🙂
This recipe looks really good. I certainly want to have one right now. Pinned!