World's Best Nigerian Jollof Spaghetti Recipe (2024)

Jollof spaghetti. Recipe for disaster? Nope!This dish is usually a heady mix of spice and heat.So, if you’re feeling adventurous (and hungry), give this jollof spaghetti recipe a try.

Do you love Italian food? Do you love Nigerian food? Well, then you’re in for a treat!

Today, l’m sharing a recipe for jollof spaghetti, a delicious Nigerian food that combines spicy tomato and pepper sauce with spaghetti.

This dish will surely please your taste buds and leave you wanting more. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get cooking!

What Is Jollof Spaghetti?

Jollof spaghetti is a dish made of spaghetti and tomato sauce. It is a Nigerian version of Italian pasta dishes and incredibly delicious.

If you’re looking for an easy way to prepare pasta, here’s one recipe you might want to try out.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Tasty – You’ll love the taste of jollof spaghetti. The combination of spaghetti and tomato sauce is simply irresistible.
• Quick and Easy – This dish is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
• Different – If you’re tired of the same old pasta dish, you’ll love jollof spaghetti. It’s a unique twist on a classic favorite.

Now that we’ve whet your appetite, let’s get to the jollof spaghetti recipe. This dish is sure to become a new family favorite.

What Does Jollof Spaghetti Taste Like?

Some people say jollof spaghetti tastes similar to jollof rice, a popular West African dish made of rice and stewed meat or vegetables.

Jollof spaghetti is definitely spicy, with a super tasty, deep, smoky flavor. If you’re looking for a new and unique pasta dish to try, jollof spaghetti is definitely the recipe for you.

Is Jollof Spaghetti Healthy?

Some people say jollof spaghetti is unhealthy because it is high in carbohydrates.

However, both tomatoes, rice, and the other spices used in preparing this meal are all great sources of healthy carbohydrates.

Jollof spaghetti is a delicious and nutritious dish that you can feel good about eating. Like everything in life, eat everything in moderation.

What Are The Benefits Of Jollof Spaghetti?

Here are some potential benefits of jollof spaghetti:

1. Source of energy

Foods like spaghetti containing carbohydrates are great sources of energy, which help maintain your alert­ness and focus.

2. Rich in fiber

Spaghetti is a rich source of fiber, protein, and minerals. It doesn’t contain any cholesterol or saturated fat. And whole grain spaghetti is richer in nutrients than regular pasta.

3. Antioxidants

Tomatoes are delicious and nutritious; they’re packed with vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, and calcium.

They’re also high in lycopene which helps protect against cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and sunburns.

4. Source of protein

Protein, particularly, is essential for building muscles and maintaining muscle mass. Chicken is an excellent source of healthy protein for people of any age.

It’s especially good during pregnancy and when we’re older.

Chicken is also a rich source of B vitamins like Niacin and Vitamins B6 and B12. These B vitamins play important roles in energy production, cell division, and brain function.

Jollof Spaghetti Ingredients

• Spaghetti – Pasta is the core of this recipe. You’re welcome to try this recipe with whole grain spaghetti or even pasta substitutes like spiralized vegetables and cabbage noodles, a keto-friendly option.
• Chicken broth – I prefer to make broth from scratch. It just tastes better on my palate. If you’re pressed for time, pre-made chicken broth will surfice.
• Tomatoes – Fresh tomatoes will uplevel the taste of your Nigerian spaghetti. I always select very red tomatoes to ensure my sauce looks red.
• Onion – I grew up using red onions whenever I cook. But yellow onion seems to work just as well with this recipe.
• Bell pepper – Red bell peppers add not only color but flavor to this food. Don’t forget your scotch bonnet peppers if you plan on adding some kick to this recipe.
• Oil – To create that distinctive flavor that the food is known for. The tomato, pepper, and onions will be fried with vegetable oil or cooking oil.
• Seasoning powder – Bouillon powder or stock cube is all you need for this recipe.
• Thyme – Although fresh thyme would be a nice way to spice up this recipe, I almost always have dried thyme on-hand.
• Curry powder – Is any Nigerian tomato sauce dish complete without curry?

Tools Needed To Prepare Jollof Spaghetti

• Cooking pot
• Pasta spoon
• Serving plates
• Blender or food processor

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Jollof Spaghetti

Spaghetti

Whole grain spaghetti can be used in place of plain spaghetti. Rice pasta and spiralized vegetables are other options that can be used.

Scotch Bonnet Pepper

There’s no denying that Nigerian food uses a lot of hot pepper. Although the classic way of preparing jollof spaghetti calls for scotch bonnet, you can prepare this dish without this spicy vegetable.

Vegetables

Tomato paste or canned diced tomatoes can be used in place of ground tomatoes. You can use uziza leaves as an alternative to basil.

Add one bay leaves can be added to your cooking pot to give the dish a lovely aromatic scent.

You’re welcome to add green bell pepper to this dish. Chop the green pepper to add color to the food’s overall appearance.

Others

If you’re feeling a little fancy, add some shrimps or jumbo prawns to your jollof spaghetti. White pepper is also a good option to add to jollof spaghetti meal.

Thyme, cayenne pepper, chili flakes, ginger powder, and or garlic cloves are a few herbs and spices that can be added to this dish.

How to Cook Jollof Spaghetti

Ingredients

• 300 g spaghetti (~ 1 lbs)
• 1 ½ cups of chicken broth
• 4-5 large tomatoes
• 1 large onion
• 1 red bell pepper
• 3 tbsp of vegetable oil or cooking oil
• 2 tsp of bouillon powder (or stock cube)
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 5-10 basil leaves (optional)
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
• salt (to taste)

Instructions

STEP 1: Peel the onions, peppers, and tomatoes; cut them into small pieces.

STEP 2: Blend this mixture until you have a smooth tomato and pepper base.

STEP 3: Reduce the tomato sauce in a saucepan on low to medium heat until it reduces by half and becomes thickened into a paste.

This should take around 20 mins, depending on how hot your stove is. Stir regularly to avoid burning.

STEP 4: Once the sauce has been reduced, add the stock, oil, thyme leaves, bouillon powder, and curry powder. Add salt to taste.

STEP 5: Add spaghetti, pressing or breaking them down to fit into the pot; cover with a lid and let stand for 5 minutes over low heat.

After 5 minutes, the pasta should be soft enough to stir. Stir the pasta, reduce heat to a minimum and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, depending on the type of pasta you use. Don’t strain.

The pasta will soak up almost all the sauce during the cooking process. Add the chopped basil just before serving, if desired.

What To Serve With Jollof Spaghetti

You can eat jollof spaghetti as is or you can serve it with any of these sides:

• Fried plantains
• Stewed chicken
• Coleslaw
• Boiled eggs
• African salad
• Goat meat stew
• Peppered smoked turkey
• Peppered gizzard
• Cucumber tomato salad

Tips About Making Jollof Spaghetti

• Adding shrimps or prawns to this dish? Add the fresh prawns during the last 10 minutes of cooking this meal. This way, the seafood will be cooked but not overcooked, retaining its flavor.
• If you want a less spicy version of this food, use half a scotch bonnet pepper and remove the seeds.
• When stir-frying the pasta, you might notice that the bottom of your pan gets burnt slightly. Don’t worry, this doesn’t affect the flavor at all. It just adds a unique taste to your dish.
• Have leftover buka stew (aka mama put stew)? Turn that into a new dish with spaghetti.

How To Store Jollof Spaghetti

You can store leftover jollof spaghetti in the refrigerator for up to three days. It can also stay frozen for up to three months. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag, label with the date, and freeze.

FAQ About Jollof Spaghetti

Jollof Spaghetti Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Jollof spaghetti. Recipe for disaster? Nope!This dish is usually a heady mix of spice and heat.So, if you’re feeling adventurous (and hungry), give this jollof spaghetti recipe a try.

Ingredients

For The Jollof

• 300 g spaghetti (~ 1 lbs)
• 1 ½ cups of chicken broth
• 4-5 large tomatoes
• 1 large onion
• 1 red bell pepper
• 3 tbsp of vegetable oil or cooking oil
• 2 tsp of bouillon powder (or stock cube)
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 5-10 basil leaves (optional)
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
• salt (to taste)

Tools

• Cooking pot
• Pasta spoon
• Serving plates
• Blender or food processor

Instructions

1. Peel the onions, peppers, and tomatoes; cut them into small pieces.
2. Blend this mixture until you have a smooth tomato and pepper base.
3. Reduce the tomato sauce in a saucepan on low to medium heat until it reduces by half and becomes thickened into a paste. This should take around 20 mins, depending on how hot your stove is. Stir regularly to avoid burning.
4. Once the sauce has been reduced, add the stock, oil, thyme leaves, bouillon powder, and curry powder. Add salt to taste.
5. Add spaghetti, pressing or breaking them down to fit into the pot; cover with a lid and let stand for 5 minutes over low heat. After 5 minutes, the pasta should be soft enough to stir. Stir the pasta, reduce heat to a minimum and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, depending on the type of pasta you use. Don’t strain. The pasta will soak up almost all the sauce during the cooking process. Add the chopped basil just before serving, if desired.

Notes

• Adding shrimps or prawns to this dish? Add the fresh prawns during the last 10 minutes of cooking this meal. This way, the seafood will be cooked but not overcooked, retaining its flavor.
• If you want a less spicy version of this food, use half a scotch bonnet pepper and remove the seeds.
• When stir-frying the pasta, you might notice that the bottom of your pan gets burnt slightly. Don’t worry, this doesn’t affect the flavor at all. It just adds a unique taste to your dish.
• Have leftover buka stew (aka mama put stew)? Turn that into a new dish with spaghetti.

• Recipe adapted fromYummy Medley.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 241Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 513mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 6g

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.

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Conclusion

Jollof spaghetti is a delicious, hearty dish that is the perfect weeknight dinner. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking.

Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight meal or want to impress your guests, jollof spaghetti is the perfect dish for you.

Do you have any tips or tricks for making jollof spaghetti? Share them in the comments below!