Benin jollof in the Firewood / open fire
The way it was meant to be cooked. Smoke, char, and a whole afternoon outside.
Benin jollof rice can be made in the firewood / open fire. The way it was meant to be cooked. Smoke, char, and a whole afternoon outside. Total time is approximately 90 minutes. The method uses long-grain parboiled rice with vegetable oil and palm oil combined as the cooking fat.
At a glance
Why cook Benin jollof in the firewood / open fire?
Every appliance extracts something different from Benin jollof rice. The firewood / open fire the way it was meant to be cooked. Smoke, char, and a whole afternoon outside. For Benin jollof specifically, the open flame interacts with the vegetable oil and palm oil combined base and pili-pili (African bird's eye chilli) and dawadawa seasoning in ways that change the final colour, crust formation, and aroma intensity. Benin jollof is traditionally made over firewood — adapting it to the firewood / open fire means deciding which part of that smoke character you are preserving and which you are letting go. The key variables — oil ratio, stock volume, and lid timing — all need adjusting from the stovetop baseline.
Benin jollof uses long-grain parboiled rice, which responds to the heat distribution of this method in a way that requires slight adjustments to the standard recipe ratios.
- + Authentic smoke flavour
- + Best crust possible
- + It is genuinely better
- − You need a backyard or a beach
- − Watch it constantly
- − Weather-dependent
Method
- 01
Build a hardwood fire and let it burn down to embers
- 02
Use a heavy cast-iron pot directly on the embers
- 03
Reduce base over higher heat than indoor cooking — fire is dryer
- 04
Move the pot off-centre on the embers for the rice stage so one side smokes harder
- 05
Cover with the lid weighted by a stone to seal in steam
Frequently asked
Can you make Benin jollof in the firewood / open fire?
The way it was meant to be cooked. Smoke, char, and a whole afternoon outside.
How long does it take?
Approximately 90 minutes including prep and rest.
Does the firewood / open fire give you a smoky crust?
See pros / cons section above for the full answer.