Hilda Baci embarks on Guinness World Record attempt for largest pot of jollof rice
Story by Jessica Mbamah
Two years after her historic Guinness World Record for marathon cooking, Chef Hilda Baci is chasing yet another feat.
This time, the celebrity chef is set to cook what she calls the ”world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice.”
The free event, tagged Gino World Jollof Festival with Hilda Baci, kicked off on Friday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Baci announced earlier that over 20,000 participants had registered, with fans and celebrities already thronging the venue.
Long queues formed outside as attendees verified their registrations, while security tried to control the surging crowd.
READ ALSO: Guinness World Records gives celebrity chef, Hilda Baci new title
The giant custom-made pot measures six metres wide and six metres tall, with a capacity of 22,619 litres.
Baci revealed that she would use approximately 5,278 kilogrammes of rice, roughly 264 bags, but later increased her target to 250 bags.
She described the attempt as “history in the making,” adding that no guest would pay to enjoy the massive serving.
Ahead of the event, videos showed Hilda and her mother praying at the venue beside the towering pot.
In another clip, the chef climbed inside the giant cauldron to wash it herself, joking about her unusual cleaning position.
“Yes, I can officially confirm this pot is squeaky clean,” she wrote on Instagram. “I rolled up my sleeves and washed it myself.”
READ ALSO: Hilda Baci joins elite ranks as landlady at Yomade Heritage Estate following Guinness World Record
She reassured fans that the food would be “the most amazing, hygienic meal you’ve ever eaten.”
Baci also said she had dreamed of this challenge nearly two years ago, after her marathon cook ignited national pride.
“Now, with you, that dream is coming alive,” she wrote. “Because what is jollof without you to share it with?”
In May 2023, Baci became a household name when she completed a 100-hour cooking marathon in Lagos.
The record-breaking attempt sparked a wave of Guinness challenges across Nigeria, projecting her status as a food influencer.
Now, she hopes to etch her name once again in culinary history with the biggest pot of jollof rice ever made.
Behind The Giant Pot: What It Takes
Chef Hilda Baci revealed that the massive pot was custom-fabricated in the Southwest, a process that lasted nearly three months.
READ ALSO: From Almost Giving Up To Making History: Hilda Baci smashes Guinness World Record
She explained that sourcing the materials alone took about two months, while assembling and testing the giant pods took another month.
Cooking On A Grand Scale
Initially, Baci planned to use 5,000 kilogrammes of raw basmati rice—about 250 bags.
However, due to weighing challenges, she siad she reduced it to 4,000 kilogrammes, or 200 bags.
She estimated the rice would expand to 14,000–16,000 kilogrammes once cooked, feeding tens of thousands.
Despite the scale, Baci insisted the recipe would retain its Nigerian flavour.
READ ALSO: ‘Best news ever’, Hilda Baci in tears after Guinness World Records confirmation
She said she applied “mathematics and eyeballing” to balance quantities, adjusting seasoning as the cooking progressed.
The jollof, she added, would feature turkey stock, turkey bits, and horse meat for richness.
Ingredients On Record Levels.
The cooking will use 1,000 kilogrammes of tomato paste (about 500 cartons, with 200 cartons each of different Gino variants), 600 kilogrammes of onions, 750 kilogrammes of vegetable oil.
She will also use Fresh cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, basil, garlic, ginger, and other spices.
According to her, the result would be “a very robust and very expensive pot of Gino Assam Jollof rice.”
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