This super-delicious Authentic Nigerian Fried Rice recipe will fill your belly with warmth and flavor! It includes shrimp, mixed vegetables and fried liver. Enjoy this meal during special occasions, for dinner or lunch.
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Nigerian fried rice is a popular dish for weddings, birthdays and other special occasions. Traditional Nigerian fried rice includes shrimp/prawns, liver, peas, carrots and sweetcorn.
It is usually served buffet style alongside West African Jollof rice, Moin moin, Spicy Chicken Drumsticks, Spicy Grilled Tilapia fish, swallow and more. Most people go for jollof rice only, others have half a plate of fried rice and half a plate of jollof rice (the best of both worlds) and some go for fried rice only. I must admit that I usually go for jollof rice but this recipe has completely changed my mind!
Why This Recipe Works
- This Nigerian fried rice dish is bursting with flavor from the juicy shrimp, fried livers and vegetables.
- It is seasoned to perfection and adding chicken broth adds an extra savory flavor to the rice.
- Serve it buffet style with Nigerian Chicken Gizzard Stew, Easy Nigerian Puff Puff and Nigerian Suya Chicken Wings.
- You can adjust the amount of ingredients and seasoning to suit your taste.
Authentic Nigerian Fried Rice Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- White rice: Use long-grain white rice for the best texture.
- Large shrimp: which add a delicious fishy flavor. Defrost and clean the shrimp before preparing.
- Fried liver (diced): You can use precooked liver.
- Onions: Use white onions for this recipe.
- Mixed vegetables: I use a mixed pack of peas, carrots and sweetcorn to add some freshness to the dish.
- Chicken broth: Use homemade chicken broth or shop-bought to intensify the savory flavors in this dish.
- Seasoning: Curry powder, chicken stock cubes, thyme, salt and pepper are added to enhance the flavor of all of the ingredients.
- Vegetable or sunflower oil
Tips and Substitutions
- Leftovers: Nigerian fried rice is notorious for going off quickly because it includes so many vegetables, so make sure you refrigerate any leftovers.
- Water: Keep an eye on the rice while it is cooking and make sure there is always enough water so that it does not burn. However, you don’t want too much water because then the rice will be too soft.
- Shrimp: Make sure you clean and de-vein the shrimp!
How to Make Authentic Nigerian Fried Rice
- Add a small amount of vegetable oil to a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add your shrimp, lightly seasoned with pepper and salt.
- Brown them on both sides for 2–3 minutes until they become pink and curled. When done, please place them in a bowl and reserve for later.
- In the same pan, add a little more oil if necessary and chopped onions and a combination of peas, carrots, green beans or broccoli, and corn. Sauté 4–6 minutes until tender but still crispy and brightly colored. Remove from heat.
- Add more oil, then stir in the turmeric, curry powder, paprika, and dried herbs.
- Cook on medium heat and stir for approximately a minute. This allows the aroma to release and enhances the flavor of the spices.
- Next, add rinsed white rice. Fry and stir the spiced oil for 2–3 minutes to coat every grain.
- Add the chicken stock cubes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 10–15 minutes, adding water if necessary.
- Check the rice from time to time and add more water if necessary.
- Stir occasionally and keep the lid on for fluffy, soft grains.
- When the rice is almost done, gently fold in the cooked shrimp and sautéed vegetables.
- Stir gently until evenly mixed. Then, let the rice simmer for another 2-3 minutes.
13. Serve this vibrant, flavorful, authentic Nigerian fried rice in a serving dish and top with fresh parsley and sides like these delicious fried plantains, Nigerian Chicken Gizzard and Coconut Jollof Rice.
Recipe FAQs
Nigerian fried rice is traditionally served with protein e.g. Peppered chicken, beef or spicy grilled tilapia fish and sides such as baked moin moin, red cabbage coleslaw or fried plantain.
The main difference is that Nigerian fried rice uses thyme and curry and sometimes adds liver as the source of protein.
While you are free to make this dish in your own way, we encourage you to follow our recipe below so you can understand what makes Nigerian fried rice unique!
Store leftover Nigerian fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Reheat it in the microwave.
More Delicious Rice Recipes
Authentic Nigerian Fried Rice
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 3 cups of white rice
- 2 cups large shrimp
- ½ onion chopped
- 2.25 cups of mixed vegetables
- 2 cups of chicken broth
- 2 tablespoon of curry powder
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 2 chicken stock cubes
- 1 teaspoon of thyme
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Firstly, heat a splash of vegetable oil in a medium-sized saucepan. Once the oil is hot, add large shrimp. Season with salt to taste, pepper to taste and cook on each side for 3 minutes or until done. Remove the shrimp from the saucepan and set them aside for later.
- Add onions and mixed vegetables to the same saucepan, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Then cook for 4-6 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the saucepan and set them aside for later use.
- Add a splash of oil to the saucepan, if necessary, then add the curry powder and turmeric to the pan and stir over medium heat for 1 minute.
- Then, add the rice to the saucepan and stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Next, pour chicken broth into the same saucepan. Season the stock with chicken stock cubes (Knorr), thyme, salt to taste, pepper to taste and stir. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add 1-2 cups of water to the saucepan. Ensure that the mixture completely covers the rice. Cook for about 10-15 minutes and checking from time to time and adding more water if necessary.
- Once the rice is soft, add the cooked vegetables and shrimp. Stir gently and let the mixture simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the rice is tender and cooked through. Serve as desired!
Video
Notes
- Leftovers: Nigerian fried rice tends to go off quickly due to the high vegetable content, so be sure to refrigerate any leftovers.
- Water: Monitor the rice closely while cooking. Ensure enough water prevents burning, but not so much that the rice becomes overly soft.
- Shrimp: Be sure to thoroughly clean and de-vein the shrimp before cooking.
Deborah
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