Benachin (One-Pot Rice)

Name: Benachin (One-Pot Rice)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Gambia
Ingredients: 4 cups rice, washed; 2 lbs fish or beef, cut into pieces; 4 tomatoes, blended; 2 red bell peppers, blended; 1 onion, chopped; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 3 tbsp tomato paste; 1 cabbage wedge, 2 carrots, and 1 eggplant, chopped; 4 cups water or stock

8 servings20 min prep55 min cookMedium Gambia

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Benachin (One-Pot Rice)

Story updated September 17, 2026

Benachin, meaning 'one pot' in the Wolof language, is widely considered the Gambian ancestor of jollof rice, cooked with meat, vegetables, and tomato in a single pot so the rice absorbs every layer of flavor. Its Wolof roots support the idea that jollof-style rice cooking began in the Senegambia region before spreading across West Africa.

Ingredients

Scale:· 8 servings

4 cups rice, washed
2 lbs fish or beef, cut into pieces
4 tomatoes, blended
2 red bell peppers, blended
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 cabbage wedge, 2 carrots, and 1 eggplant, chopped
4 cups water or stock

Instructions

1Brown the fish or beef with onion in oil, then set aside.
2Stir tomato paste into the same oil, then add the blended tomato-pepper mixture and simmer 15-20 minutes.
3Add water and all the vegetables, simmering until tender, and return the meat or fish to the pot.
4Remove the meat, fish, and vegetables, and stir the rice into the remaining sauce.
5Cover and cook on low heat 25-30 minutes until the rice is tender.
6Serve the rice topped with the meat or fish and vegetables.

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