Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 2 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped (about 5 ounces each)
• ½ medium Scotch bonnet pepper (or use a habanero pepper), stem removed
• ½ medium onion, roughly chopped
• 3 small red bell peppers, roughly chopped (about 5 ounces each)
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1½ teaspoons hot ground chile pepper, such as African dried chile or cayenne
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 Tablespoon plus 1 heaping teaspoon onion powder
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 Tablespoon dried thyme
• 2½ cups medium-grain rice