Nigerian Jollof for Kids and Teens (Ages 8–16)

📍 Location: Forest Hill, SE23 1AG

🍴 Cuisine: Nigerian

⏱️ Duration: 3 hours, including cooking and dining

👤 Age: 8 - 16 (participants 12 and under, must attend with an adult over 21 who's also taking part)

👥 How you'll work: in pairs

🥘 Dietaries: Adaptable for vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian. Please note, while we take care to adapt recipes for dietary requirements, all ingredients are prepared in a shared kitchen where common allergens may be present.

Nigerian Jollof — The Full Plate

If there is one dish that Nigerians will go to war over, it is jollof rice. Deeply seasoned, vibrant red and finished with that coveted smoky crust at the bottom of the pot, it is the centrepiece of every celebration, every gathering and every argument about whose version is best. In this class you will learn to make it properly, alongside peppered chicken cooked low and slow, creamy coleslaw with a sharp salad cream tang, and sweet, caramelised fried plantain. Four dishes, one plate, the kind of meal that does not need an occasion to justify it.

What you'll learn

• Build a smokey tomato base - learn how to attain the signature smokey flavour to transform the taste of the finished rice.
• Master your grains – understand the different grains that can be used, learn the perfect rice-to-liquid ratio, and the steaming method that gives you perfectly cooked grains every single time.
• Explore regional variations – understand what makes Nigerian jollof different from Ghanaian jollof, Sierra Leonean jollof and Senegalese jollof, and learn tips from across West Africa.
• Picking the perfect plantain - learn how to read ripeness, control the heat and get that deep amber caramelisation without burning.

What you'll make

• Nigerian Jollof Rice - fragrant, perfectly seasoned rice with that signature red colour and crispy bottom layer
• 5 Spice Chicken - marinated overnight and finished in a thick, pepper sauce.
• Fried Plantain - sweet and caramelised at the edges, deep amber on the outside and soft all the way through.

What you'll eat & drink

• Nigerian Jollof Rice with your choice of protein based on your dietary requirements.
• Peppered Chicken (or a vegan alternative).
• Coleslaw and fried plantain.
• A choice of complimentary drink:
  • Zobo — hibiscus, ginger, pineapple
  • Chapman — cucumber, orange, lemon, blackcurrant
• Water and tea provided throughout the class.

How the class will run:

• All ingredients, equipment and aprons will be provided.
• I'll lead you through easy to follow demos before you have a go at your cooking station.
• You'll work in pairs to recreate all four dishes together.
• Once everything is cooked, we'll sit down and eat the full plate together, or pack up a box to take home if you prefer.
• You'll receive a digital recipe pack after class with everything you need to recreate these dishes at home.

Things to know before you book:

• You're welcome to book on your own. I'll pair you with another solo attendee on the day.
• The class includes demos, hands-on cooking, and time to sit down and enjoy the food you've made together.
• This is a hands-on cooking class, so I'm afraid I can't accommodate spectators or provide a waiting area for friends and family. Everyone attending needs to have a ticket and be actively participating.