Nigerian Spaghetti Recipe: A Delicious Twist on a Classic Dish

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Spaghetti is a beloved dish enjoyed by millions of Nigerians, and this recipe offers a unique and flavorful twist on the classic pasta dish. This age-old recipe has been jazzed up a little to create a mouth-watering result that will have everyone asking for more. This is a quick, tasty and filling meal ready in short time with little to no mess!

The goal is to get the spaghetti to be creamy and the sauce thick. The more you mix and cook, the thicker and yummier it gets! This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, and it's also great for meal prepping since it stores perfectly in the fridge for up to 5 days. Fairly inexpensive as you can use some corned-beef or minced meat.

Why This Recipe Works

This Jollof Spaghetti recipe ensures a taste that resembles Jollof, not just spaghetti with sauce. The intense depth of flavor is achieved using a roasted stew base, which can be skipped if you don't have an oven. The spaghetti should not be soggy but super flavorful to absorb yummy goodness. This recipe infuses tender pasta with West African flavors from fragrant spices and aromatics.

It's a Nigerian fusion dish where spaghetti is cooked in the same ingredients we use to make jollof rice so you get sauce and pasta all in one with lots of flavor. One Pot Pasta makes for easy cleanup!

The EASIEST/TASTIEST Jollof Spaghetti Recipe - READY IN 20 MINUTES - ZEELICIOUS FOODS

Ingredients

Below is the required ingredient, this could be reduced or doubled depending on the number of people you are looking to serve:

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  • 1 sachet Spaghetti
  • 1 small tin tomatoes
  • 1 cups of sliced onions
  • 400 ml ground tomatoes
  • Ground pepper to taste
  • Ground Crayfish 3 spoons
  • 3 seasoning cubes
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup of sliced carrot
  • 1 cup sliced green beans
  • 1 kg Meat/fish
  • Green pepper optional
  • 300 ml vegetable oil about

For a Jollof Spaghetti variation, you will need:

  • 1 lb (usually 1 box) thin spaghetti
  • 2 3/4 cups chicken stock (homemade stock recommended)
  • 5 large (about 2 lbs) plum/roma tomatoes
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 2 scotch bonnet peppers
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp bouillon powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • A small handful of basil (optional)
  • Salt to taste

For Spaghetti and Meatballs, consider these ingredients:

  • Mincemeat
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Egg
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ginger Powder
  • Oregano
  • Basil/ Parsley leaves
  • Curry Powder
  • Thyme
  • White Pepper
  • Black Pepper
  • Knorr chicken Cube
  • Chicken Seasoning

Instructions

Basic Nigerian Spaghetti

  1. Chop the vegetables to desirable sizes (carrot, green beans, onions, green pepper etc.).
  2. Season the meat and fish using a teaspoon of salt, two seasoning cubes and half cup of sliced onions.
  3. Blend the crayfish and also grind the tomatoes/pepper together.
  4. Parboil the spaghetti and set aside (Break to smaller sizes, parboil for 3 minutes, wash and set aside)
  5. This practice will enable you to end up with very tasty meat and also provide the meat stock (meat water) that is used in making most Nigerian foods.
  6. Pick out the Meat/fish when it is soft for consumption. Separate the meat/fish from the stock and set them aside.
  7. The meat stock should not be more than 1 cup (250 ml).
  8. Set a cooking pot on heat, add 250ml of vegetable oil and fry the ground tomato/peppers. This should take about 7-10 minutes
  9. Add the meat stock, a cup of water, ground crayfish and salt to taste.
  10. Allow boiling then add the parboiled spaghetti and cook for 15-20 minutes.
  11. Add the remaining onions, carrot and green beans.
  12. Cover and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
  13. Serve.

Jollof Spaghetti

  1. Blend the tomatoes, onions, and peppers until smooth.
  2. Boil down the tomato sauce on in a pot on medium- high heat until the sauce is about half the amount, and has thickened significantly to look like a paste. This takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on how high the heat is. Be sure to stir the sauce occasionally to prevent it from burning.
  3. Once the sauce is reduced, pour in the stock, oil, thyme, curry powder and bouillon. At this stage, taste the sauce and adjust for salt.
  4. Add in the spaghetti, pushing it down or breaking it to fit into the pot.
  5. Cover and allow to cook for 5 minutes on low-medium heat.
  6. After 5 minutes, the pasta should be soft enough to stir. Stir, turn down the heat to low, and allow to cook for another 8-10 minutes.
  7. After 8 minutes, stir, and the pasta should be cooked. If it is not, add in a splash (about 1/4 cup) of water and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
  8. If you choose to add basil, add it in at this stage, and then serve.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

  1. Place a medium pot on medium heat, add enough water to cook the Spaghetti, when it comes to a rolling boil, add the spaghetti, a dash of oil (optional) and salt to taste. Boil for 9-10 minutes till al dente, then run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  2. Blend the Tomatoes, Red Bell Pepper, Scotch Bonnet, 1 Onion, Ginger, 2 Garlic cloves till smooth, you can blend roughly as well if you so choose.
  3. Season the mincemeat with 1 Knorr Chicken Cube, the Garlic Powder, Ginger Powder, Oregano half of the Basil/ Parsley leaves, half of the Curry and Thyme and Salt to taste.
  4. Combine thoroughly, then add the Breadcrumbs and the Egg.
  5. Pour the oil you used for frying the Meatballs into a bigger pot, then add the remaining Cooking oil. Place the pot on medium heat, when it’s hot, add remaining 2 minced Garlic, chop the remaining half Onion and add to it.
  6. Now add the blended Pepper mix, the White Pepper, Black Pepper, Knorr chicken Cube, Chicken Seasoning, the rest of the Curry Powder and Thyme and Salt to taste.

Tips for the Best Nigerian Spaghetti

  • Don't Overcook the Spaghetti: Ensure the spaghetti is cooked al dente to prevent it from becoming soggy.
  • Adjust Spices to Taste: Feel free to adjust the amount of spices to suit your personal preference.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh tomatoes, peppers, and onions will enhance the flavor of the dish.
  • Simmer the Sauce: Allow the sauce to simmer for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Variations

  • Jollof Spaghetti: A popular variation that incorporates the flavors of Jollof rice into the spaghetti.
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs: A Nigerian twist on the classic Italian-American dish.
  • Vegetarian Spaghetti: Omit the meat and fish for a delicious vegetarian option.

How to Store Jollof Spaghetti

To store, transfer the spaghetti and sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. You can freeze cooked spaghetti jollof for up to three months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or zip top freezer bag.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve jollof spaghetti with turkey, chicken, beef, and most any other kind of protein. This dish can be served as a main course, or as a side dish.

Enjoy this delicious and flavorful Nigerian Spaghetti recipe!

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