News, Recipes, and More directly from the Varofoods Team!

  Great quality beef can go a long way and, when making our meatball recipe, it not only retains its own delicious flavour but imparts its goodness into the heat of the sauce too, making this the perfect comfort recipe. Ingredients 500g minced beef 100g white breadcrumbs, soaked with 250ml milk  1 large egg, beaten  1 teaspoon salt  ¼ teaspoon black pepper  2 garlic cloves, minced  2 teaspoons paprika  3 tbsp parsley, chopped  3 tbsp coriander, chopped  2 spring onions, finely chopped  3tbsp vegetable oil  1 onion, diced  400g passata  1 red pepper, diced  1 tablespoon ginger  3 garlic cloves,...

Let Varo Jollof Rice handle dinner with this delicious combo of Jollof Rice, spicy prawn and plantain salad. That's definitely Owambe!    Pack Varo Jollof Rice with Coconut 200g king prawns plantain diced ½ Lemon (Juiced) medium gem lettuce 100g cherry tomatoes ¼ cucumber thumb sized ginger 1/2 scotched bonnet 2tsp coriander 1tsp butter 1 cup sunflower oil medium red onion      Instructions Cook Rice according to cooking instructions on packet Blend the ginger, garlic, scotched bonnet and ¾ red onion together, add ¼ cup water to the mixture and blend Use half of the mixture to marinate the prawns,...

Peanut stew, cooked and served with juicy chicken thighs is a high-protein dish that delivers an amazing taste. The richness of the peanut butter complements the chicken and balances the rich spice with mouth-watering flavours.  Ingredients 4tbsp oil  6-8 chicken thighs  200g tomato passata  1 medium onion chopped  4 garlic cloves  ½ teaspoon ginger chopped  10g parsley  1 teaspoon paprika  150g peanut butter  500ml chicken stock  1 teaspoon chicken bouillon optional   1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper  Salt and pepper to taste  6-8 spring onions, finely sliced  50g peanuts, roasted and chopped  Instructions Season chicken with salt and pepper, then set aside. ...

Great dishes produce a balance of delicious flavours, which is why our stuffed peppers recipe remains a favourite. The smoky spice of our Varo Jollof Rice, when roasted inside sweet red bell peppers, tastes even better, making for a tasty vegan main or an indulgent side. 2 pouches Varo Jollof Vegetable Rice 1 medium onion sliced  4 garlic cloves, minced  1 carrot, grated  50g peas  50g sweetcorn  ½tsp chilli flakes  ½tsp dried thyme  1tsp ground black pepper  1tsp curry powder  2tbsp coriander, chopped  4tbsp vegetable oil  4 bell peppers  Instructions  Place the Jollof Rice into a bowl, followed by onions, garlic, carrots, peas,...

Baked Suya-Spiced Salmon   Suya, salmon, and sunshine - a match made in heaven! And we have the perfect recipe for your summer celebrations, mixing succulent cuts of fish with the signature texture and spice of our Varo Jollof Rice. 2tbsp vegetable oil 4 salmon fillet portions,180-200g 1tbsp ground peanut powder  1 tsp ground ginger  ½ tsp chilli powder  ½ tsp paprika powder  ½ tsp onion powder  ½ tsp garlic powder  1 tsp spoon sea salt  2 pouches Varo Jollof Vegetable Rice Instructions  Place the salmon portions on a baking sheet, and drizzle over the vegetable oil. Mix together all...

Whether you’re looking for a hearty vegan dish or something delicious to take the edge off those chilly summer nights, black bean stew is certain to satisfy your taste buds. Cooked with exciting spices and served with our Jollof Rice, this easy-to-make recipe is certain to become a favourite! 3tbsp palm oil or vegetable oil  1 onion, diced  400g tinned chopped tomatoes  1 red pepper, diced  1 tablespoon ginger  3 garlic cloves, minced   ½ scotch bonnet, finely chopped 1 tbsp smoked paprika 1 tablespoon bouillon powder (optional) / ground crayfish powder* 2 tins black beans, drained and rinsed 500ml vegetable stock  salt and pepper...

Looking to impress your family and friends? This might just be the recipe you need! Marinate fresh prawns to infuse them with a deep flavour, one that pairs perfectly with the rich taste of our Jollof Rice! 400g king prawns 1tbsp ground peanut powder  1 tsp ground ginger  ½ tsp chilli powder  ½ tsp paprika powder  ½ tsp onion powder  ½ tsp garlic powder  10g coriander, chopped  1 lime, juiced  4tbsp vegetable oil  1 tsp spoon sea salt  2 pouches Varo Jollof Vegetable Rice Instructions  Place the king prawns into a large mixing bowl. Mix together all the ingredients for...

To mark #Veganuary, we thought we'd try something special yet familiar - Vegan Gizdodo! Out went the gizzard and in came the jackfruit. Served with Jollof Rice and dinner was on and popping. Yum, yum!  Ingredients 6tbsp vegetable oil 1 can chopped tomatoes 2 red onions, chopped 1 red bell pepper 1-2 scotch bonnet peppers 3 large plantains diced 1 red pepper, diced 1 green pepper, diced 300g Jackfruit chunks 3 tbsp tomato puree 1 tbsp bouillon powder 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp thyme 1/2 tsp curry powder 1 tbsp salt Instructions Blend canned diced tomatoes, 1 red onion, red bell...

This winter-warmer recipe is perfect for overcoming that Christmas Day hangover. With simple but fresh ingredients, we'll have you refuelled and back in front of the telly in no time! Ingredients: 3 cloves of garlic 1 thumb sized ginger 1/2 scotched bonnet 4tbsp palm or canola oil 1 medium onion (chopped) ½ medium green bell pepper (chopped) ½ medium red bell pepper (chopped) 2 Tbsp organic tomato paste 2tbsp curry powder 400ml can of coconut milk 500ml chicken stock 400-500g cooked turkey, shredded or diced 100g baby spinach 2 sticks of spring onions Small handful of coriander Instructions: Blitz the garlic,...

Ingredients 1 pack Varo Jollof Rice Original 400g Frozen Soy Mince 250ml Vegetable stock 100g Dried lentils 400g Canned red kidney beans 3 Tomatoes (chopped) 1 tsp Chilli powder 1/2 tsp Cumin 2 Roughly Chopped Red Peppers 2 Peeled carrots (finely chopped)  2 Celery stalks 1 Large red onion (finely chopped)3 Cloves garlic (thinly sliced)   2 Tbsp Olive OilSalt & pepper to taste   Directions Heat a large saucepan to medium heat and then add olive oil Saute Onion, Garlic, Carrots, celery & peppers on medium heat until soft. Add cumin, chilli powder, salt & pepper then stir. Add chopped tomatoes, lentils, red kidney beans,...

So, I sent my good friend Chef Scott a couple of cases of Jollof Rice. Scott is a talented young chef, based in sunny Durban, South Africa. He got a few friends round and whipped up and impressive Jollof feast!

Try this quick and easy, pan fried recipe, ready in 12 minutes.. Enjoy!  Ingredients:  2 Sea bass fillets  1 Scotch bonnet pepper 50g Coconut milk 1/4 Red pepper  1/4 Yellow pepper 1/4 Green pepper 25g fresh Ginger  25g Sunflower oil  1/4 tsp Salt  1/4 tsp Curry powder 

What is Jollof Rice? Jollof Rice is (essentially) rice cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. It is probably the most popular West African dish. Some say Jollof Rice originated in Gambia, but many Nigerians will dispute that :) In Senegal, Jollof is cooked with meat (as opposed to served with meat) and In Ghana, chunks of tomatoes are visible, as opposed to being finely blended. Same dish, slightly different textures and flavours. Important fact - No Nigerian party is complete without Jollof Rice!   How did you get into producing jollof rice? Varo was founded by Omamo Binitie in 2011 to make African ready meals....