Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci has broken the world record for cooking the largest ever pot of jollof rice in Lagos last week.
Guinness World Records (GWR) confirmed the achievement on social media, saying Ms Baci’s concoction of the popular West African dish weighed in at a staggering 8,780kg.
After nine hours of cooking, the effort was almost thrown into jeopardy after the giant pot used to make the dish broke as it was being hoisted onto a crane to be weighed – thankfully, none of the rice was spilled.
Ms Baci celebrated the triumph by thanking her team and supporters: “This moment isn’t just mine… it belongs to all of us.”
The historic event, staged in Lagos, drew massive crowds of food lovers, fans, and well-wishers eager to witness the milestone.
The dish was created using 4,000kg of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, 600kg of onions and 168kg of goat meat – all poured into a custom-made pot that can hold 23,000 litres.
Manufacturing the giant steel vessel to hold her dish took a team of 300 people two months to make but one of its legs gave way at the crucial time.
The chef previously told BBC Pidgin that it took her a year to plan how she would tackle the mammoth challenge.
“We [Nigerians] are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for,” she said.
“It would make sense if we had the biggest pot of jollof rice, it would be nice for the country.”
The project was supported by professional chefs, volunteers, and technical teams who ensured precision, safety, and proper documentation throughout. Beyond its immense scale, the achievement has been hailed as a cultural milestone that strengthens Nigeria’s culinary identity and inspires pride across the nation.
Hilda Baci first gained international recognition in 2023 after setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon, a feat that catapulted her into the global spotlight. Reflecting on her latest record, she expressed pride in not just reclaiming a title but in using the opportunity to showcase Nigerian cuisine on the world stage.
Source: myghanadaily
