Similar to Jollof rice, fried rice is a staple in the Nigerian food culture. It is one of the popular options served as a main dish at events and during festive seasons. Amongst the variety of rice dishes, Nigeria has to offer Fried rice and Jollof rice are the acclaimed top 2. However, some people would debate on which takes the crown. Nonetheless, I would say fried rice is a delicious dish that is an equal partner rather than a rival to Jollof. It’s like comparing apples with oranges, but honestly why choose when you can have both. The base of a Nigerian style fried rice is typically long grain rice cooked in stock, either a meat stock (most commonly used) or a vegetable stock (making it inclusive for vegetarians). Then a combination of vibrant vegetables are fried, then tossed together with the cooked rice.
How to cook Nigerian Style Fried rice:
- Chop the fresh vegetables into small pieces (carrots, leeks, green peas and bell pepper). Also finely chop the garlic. Set aside
- Place a pot over medium-high heat. Pour in the stock, add the rice, salt, turmeric and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes or until the liquid is dried out. Remove the pot from heat and set it aside.
- Place a frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour in the sunflower oil, add the chopped garlic and fry until lightly browned. Add the chopped vegetables, first the peppers, then carrots, green peas and leeks. Stir and fry for 3 minutes.
- Season with salt and spices (turmeric, ginger powder). Mix, then pour the vegetable mixture into the pot of cooked rice and add the sweet corn. Stir together, cover with a lid and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot hot with your choice of beef, chicken, turkey or fish.
As with the traditional methods in Nigerian cooking, freshly made stock is usually used, typically the stock from cooking the choice of meat that is served with the dish. However, the commercial stock cube is also adequate, although, it’s not my preference. Packed with a rich variety of vegetables and optional extras like prawns and livers. Nigerian style fried rice is a dish that everyone should try. This recipe calls for the basic ingredients for a typical Nigerian style fried rice, feel free to explore your tastebuds by adding some extras of your choice. Here are some great options to serve the Nigerian style fried rice with:
- Oven grilled peri-peri turkey drumsticks
- Nigerian Peanut Based Beef Suya Skewers
- Hibiscus Sangria (Zobo/Sorrel) – A fusion Cocktail
- A variety of plantain dishes.
Classic Nigerian style fried rice
Ingredients
For cooking the rice
- 1 cup parboiled long grain rice
- 2 cups fresh stock (meat or vegetable stock)
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 1 dried bay leaf
For frying the vegetables:
- 150 g green beans
- 2 carrots (220g)
- 180 leek
- 1 green or yellow bell pepper
- 285 g sweet corn
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp thyme
- ¼ sunflower oil
- ½ turmeric
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp ginger powder
Instructions
- Chop the fresh vegetables into small pieces (carrots, leeks, green peas and bell pepper). Also finely chop the garlic. Set aside
- Place a pot over medium-high heat. Pour in the stock, add the rice, salt, turmeric and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes or until the liquid is dried out. Remove the pot from heat and set it aside.
- Place a frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour in the sunflower oil, add the chopped garlic and fry until lightly browned. Add the chopped vegetables, first the peppers, then carrots, green peas and leeks. Stir and fry for 5 minutes.
- Season with salt and spices (turmeric, ginger powder). Mix, then pour the vegetable mixture into the pot of cooked rice and add the sweet corn. Stir together, cover with a lid and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Serve hot.
