Nigerian chef Hilda Baci, a former Guinness World Record holder, has launched an effort to create the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, a widely recognized West African dish. Thousands gathered in Lagos to witness her latest attempt, following her 2023 achievement of the longest cooking marathon, which lasted 93 hours and 11 minutes.
The recipe for this extensive jollof rice dish called for 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, and 600 kg of onions, all cooked in a specially constructed pot with a capacity of almost 23,000 liters. Cooking the dish took several hours, and Baci plans to submit photo and video documentation of the accomplishment to the Guinness World Record for validation.
At 28 years old, Baci shared with BBC Pidgin that she dedicated one year to planning for this large-scale challenge. She expressed that representing Nigeria through an enormous pot of jollof rice aligns with the country’s identity, as jollof rice is a staple in Nigerian cuisine.
A culinary team of 300 individuals spent two months constructing the giant steel vessel required for the preparation. Assisted by a group using oversized wooden spatulas, Baci ensured the final dish was distributed for public enjoyment.
Jollof rice consists of rice cooked in a tomato-based sauce, typically served with meat or seafood. Hilda Baci gained recognition in 2021 after winning a competition for her jollof rice recipe, and she became a national figure in 2023 with her record-setting cooking marathon.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c306m1j542po?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss