In brief
Hilda Baci, a renowned Nigerian chef and former Guinness World Record holder, has launched an ambitious attempt to break the record for the world's largest pot of jollof rice in Lagos. This culinary spectacle involves an impressive 4,000 kg of rice and a specially crafted pot holding nearly 23,000 liters. Baci's cooking adventure resonates with national pride as she aims to showcase the significance of jollof rice in Nigerian culture.
Nigerian chef and former Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has attempted to make the world's largest pot of jollof rice, a popular West African dish.
Thousands of people gathered in Lagos to watch the food influencer's latest world record bid, after once holding the 2023 title for the longest cooking marathon - an exhausting 93 hours and 11 minutes - nearly four days.
Her gigantic jollof rice recipe included 4,000kg (8,800 lb) of rice, 500 cartons of tomato paste, and 600kg of onions - all poured into a custom-made pot of almost 23,000 litres.
The dish took several hours to cook and now must be validated by the Guinness World Record with photo and video evidence of the achievement.
Baci, 28, told BBC Pidgin that it took her one year to plan how she would tackle the mammoth challenge.
We 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.
Manufacturing the giant steel vessel to hold her dish took a culinary team of 300 people two months to make.
Working with a group of assistants wielding massive wooden spatulas, Baci's crowning dish was later distributed for everyone to enjoy.
Jollof rice is a staple of Nigerian cuisine, featuring rice simmered in a tomato-based sauce, often paired with meat or seafood.
Hilda Baci won a competition for her version of jollof rice in 2021, and then became a national sensation in 2023 when she claimed the cooking marathon record.
