Nigerian Fried Rice

Nigerian fried rice in all its glory! I don’t mean to brag, but I make the best fried rice and I can tell you, this would be your last search for a Nigerian fried rice recipe. This recipe is simple and quick to make, it is delicious and packed full of flavour and fresh vegetables.

Nigerian Fried Rice Recipe

One of the most popularly eaten food in Nigeria is rice and Nigerian fried rice is one of the ways we cook rice. This easy fried rice recipe is the fraternal twin of Jollof rice, it is simple, delicious and easy to make.

There are 2 ways of cooking this popular Nigerian dish, one is adding cooked rice to stir-fried vegetables and the other method is cooking the rice with chicken stock before adding it to the stir-fried vegetable. I make fried rice both ways but my preferred method is boiling the rice in chicken stock, so the rice is already flavoured before mixing with the stir-fried vegetable.

Nigerian parties are not complete without Nigerian fried rice or Nigerian Jollof rice, but the truth is not many can cook it right. Let me show you how to make the best Nigerian fried rice and I can guarantee you that this would also be your last search too.

Basically, Nigerian fried rice is cooked with stir-fried veggies and fried liver and I believe you can make yours however you want it. It is simple and can be made healthy with some few swaps and portion control. Many shy away from making this recipe because it involves cutting up vegetables but thanks to frozen veg, you can make it in under 40 minutes. Let me show you how to make the best Nigerian homemade and party fried rice you and your family would enjoy.

Nigerian fried rice Variation

This recipe can be made with either fresh or frozen vegetables

Add fresh prawns, shrimps or seafood stick

Add cooked cubed chicken breast or thighs. If you want, you can go all out and everything including fried liver to make it special Nigerian fried rice. No matter how you decide to make it, don’t forget to pair it with some chicken. Yum yum!

Make Coconut fried rice

Ingredients

Raw rice: long grain or golden Sella basmati rice would work for this recipe

Curry powder

Dried thyme

Salt to taste

Ground ginger powder (optional)

Ground garlic powder (optional)

Chicken bouillon powder or stock cubes

Chicken stock/broth

Runner beans (Green beans)

Carrots

Sweet corn

Spring onions also called green onions

Frozen peas substitute with canned green peas

Onion

Fresh Prawn

Liver (Use cow or goat liver)

Green bell pepper

Vegetable oil

Butter

Don’t be discouraged by the exhaustive list of ingredients, as I mentioned earlier you can make this to your choice, skip the ingredients you are unable to source. Curry powder, seasoning, stock and thyme are very important in cooking Nigerian fried rice. I have had fried rice that was cooked with carrot, green peas and sweet corn before that tasted nice. Alternatively, use 4 cups of frozen mixed vegetable and follow the instructions in this recipe

Prep your ingredients

Let the following tips guide you in cooking the best Nigerian fried rice

If you are using chicken/turkey stock, use less oil in cooking rice as the stock usually contain oil. See ingredients picture.

Check for the salt level in the chicken stock you would be using and let that guide you to how much salt or bouillon powder your rice would need.

If you would be using already cooked plain white rice then move on to the step where you stir fry the veggies then stir in the rice once the veggies are tender to your liking.

Nigerian fried rice calls for actual chicken stock but if you don’t have this then use a combination of chicken stock cube and water to make stock.

How to make Nigerian Fried rice

Place a pan big enough to cook rice on medium heat, add oil, heat until hot, add chopped onions, curry powder, thyme and powder and fry for about one minute to release the fragrance then add washed rice and stir continuously for about 2-3 minutes. (Don’t let the rice stick to the bottom of the pot)

Add chicken stock (if the stock is not enough to cover the rice, add water to it) ginger, garlic and seasoning. Reduce heat and simmer until tender.

Check-in between cooking time, add water to the rice if needed and don’t forget to check for salt and seasoning and adjust to suit your taste

Whilst you are waiting on your rice to cook, you can stir fry the vegetables or just wait till rice is cooked.

Place a wok or skillet on medium heat, add oil and butter and heat until hot. Add the vegetables, prawns, salt and stir fry for another 3 minutes, add a pinch of curry and thyme and stir continuously for another 3 minutes or until veggies are tender but not overcooked. If you are using processed green peas, don’t add to your stir fry as it would go mushy. Add it 2 minutes to the end of the cooking time.

Now moving on to the next bit,

If you used a large skillet to stir fry the veggies, add the cooked rice to it, mix until fully combined. Check for salt and seasoning and adjust to suit. Alternatively, add the stir-fried veggies into the rice. Mix to combine and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

Take it off the heat and serve.

Watch How To Make it.

Other Rice Recipes From The Blog You Will Love

Nigerian Jollof rice, the ultimate Nigerian party groover

Easy coconut rice

Curried rice

Coconut Jollof rice

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5 from 10 votes

Nigerian Fried Rice Recipe

Nigerian fried rice recipe in all its glory! This would be your last search for learning how to make Nigerian fried rice. This recipe is simple and quick to make, it is delicious and packed full of flavour and fresh vegetables.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: African, Nigerian

Keyword: Fried rice recipe, how to make Nigerian fried rice, Nigerian fried rice

Servings: 8

Author: Ajoke

Equipment

• Large pan

Ingredients

• 2 tsp Curry powder
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger optional
• ½ tablespoon garlic powder optional
• 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder or use according to preference
• Chicken stock
• ½ cup Runner beans sliced
• ½ cup Carrots chopped
• 200 g Sweet corn
• ½ cup spring onions
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 medium size white onion sliced
• 20 medium Prawn deveined and cleaned optional
• 1 cup fried liver
• 1 green bell pepper chopped
• 3 cups raw rice washed I used golden Sella basmati rice
• ½ cup vegetable oil divide into 2
• 3 tablespoons butter

Instructions

• Place a pan big enough to cook rice on medium heat, add 1 part of the oil and heat until hot, add chopped onions, curry powder, thyme and powder and fry for about one minute to release the fragrance then add washed rice and stir continuously for about 2-3 minutes. (Don’t let the rice stick to the bottom of the pot)
• Add chicken stock (if the stock is not enough to cover the rice, add water to it) ginger, garlic and seasoning. Reduce heat and simmer until tender.

  Check-in between cooking time, add water to the rice if needed and don’t forget to check for salt and seasoning and adjust to suit your taste
• Whilst you are waiting on your rice to cook, you can stir fry the vegetables or just wait till the rice is cooked.
• Place a wok or skillet on medium heat, add the remaining oil and butter and heat until hot. Add the vegetables, prawns, salt and stir fry for another 3 minutes, add a pinch of curry and thyme and stir continuously for another 3 minutes or until veggies are tender but not overcooked. If you are using processed green peas, don’t add to your stir fry as it would go mushy. Add it 2 minutes to the end of the cooking time.
• Now moving on to the next bit,
• If you used a large skillet to stir fry the veggies, add the cooked rice to it, mix until fully combined. Check for salt and seasoning and adjust to suit. Alternatively, add the stir-fried veggies into the rice. Mix to combine and continue to cook for another 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and serve.

Notes

Tips
If you are using chicken/turkey stock, use less oil in cooking rice as the stock usually contain oil.

Check for the salt level in the chicken stock you would be using and let that guide you to how much salt or bouillon powder your fried rice would need.

If you would be using already cooked plain white rice then move on to the step where you stir fry the veggies then stir in the fluffy rice once the veggies are tender to your liking.

Nigerian fried rice called for actual chicken stock but if you don’t have this then use a combination of chicken stock cube and water to make stock.

Recipe updated with new pictures and complete write up. Below are some of the pictures uploaded in March 2015.

If you made this recipe, don’t forget to leave me feedback. Tag me @myactivekitchen on Instagram and save away to your Pinterest.

ATB

Ajoke x