One-Pot Wonders

Nigerian Fried Rice

July 24, 2020
4.6
7 Ratings
Photo by Ty Mecham. Food Stylist: Anna Billingskog. Prop Stylist: Amanda Widis.
  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 45 minutes
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

Growing up, my mother always made such an effort with our Sunday dinners. Some nights we had Jollof rice, but most times it was Nigerian fried rice. We rarely had plain white rice, which was considered regular fare—and Sundays were far from regular.

My mother learned this recipe from Auntie E., her younger sister and a chef. It consisted of long-grain, parboiled or (Golden Sella) basmati, cooked in a fragrant yellow stock and dried thyme, with mixed chopped vegetables folded in. If you wanted to take it up a notch, tiny pink shrimp (or prawns) and cooked, diced liver were the way to go.

The similarities between Chinese and Nigerian fried rice, other than the name, are few. Woks are great but they didn’t feature in my mom’s cooking. Her pots did, and in them, she cooked the rice in stock. Note that Nigerian-style chicken or beef stock is built on fresh ingredients: onions, ginger, garlic, chili pepper and seasoned with curry powder, dried thyme, black or white pepper, turmeric powder, and is different from Western-style stocks with carrots and celery. The stock is what principally defines the flavor of Nigerian fried rice, but also does limit the rice's shelf-life, so leaving it to cool overnight, refrigerated—often recommended for Chinese fried rice—isn’t ideal.

Rice is beloved all across Nigeria. In general, Jollof—less flaky, and not as involved—is more commonly prepared, but there are days when my craving for fried rice with liver and shrimp will not settle until I have cooked a pot, and served it up with coleslaw, roast chicken, plantains and some Chapman.

Want to hear more about Nigerian food? On our new podcast Counterjam—a show that explores culture through food and music—host Peter J. Kim talks dodo, jollof, egusi, and more with comedian Ego Nwodim and Afrobeat pioneers Femi and Made Kuti—check out the episode here. Kitchen Butterfly

Test Kitchen Notes

Featured in: The Nigerian Fried Rice That Turned Me Into My Mother. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons coconut/groundnut/other vegetable oil
  • 2 cups raw & washed rice, long grain or basmati
  • 3-4 cups Nigerian-style stock (see headnote)*
  • 1 cup onions and carrots, diced (hard veggies)
  • 1 cup spring onions, bell peppers, sweetcorn, peas, chopped (soft mixed veggies)
  • 2 teaspoons Nigerian/West Indian/Caribbean curry powder (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or to taste)
  • 1/4 black or white pepper (or to taste)
  • 1/4 turmeric powder (or to taste)
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup liver, diced and cooked (optional)
  • 1/2 cup shrimp or prawn, seasoned and sautéed (optional)
  • 1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
Directions
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the rice and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until toasted.
  2. Add 2 cups of stock to the rice, stir and cook on low heat, with the lid on for 12-15 minutes, or till stock is absorbed and rice has softened a bit. Let cool for 5-10 minutes, then fluff and set aside.
  3. In another pot, heat up the remaining 2 tablespoons oil till hot, then add the hard vegetables. Season with a pinch of salt and stir fry for 2-3 minutes before you add the soft mixed vegetables. Let cook, another 2-3 minutes.
  4. Season to taste with curry powder, dried thyme, black/white pepper, turmeric powder.
  5. Add the rice and stir gently, but well, so rice and vegetables combine. Add 1 cup of stock and the coconut milk, cover the pot and cook on low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes or till the rice is al dente.
  6. Check for doneness and seasoning, and adjust accordingly. Add more stock if required.
  7. When rice is ready, stir in chopped liver, sautéed shrimp and diced green bell peppers. Cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • DNG
    DNG
  • Becky D
    Becky D
  • Kitchen Butterfly
    Kitchen Butterfly
  • Gatorgirl
    Gatorgirl
I love food and I'm interested in making space for little-heard voices, as well as celebrating Nigerian cuisine in its entirety.

11 Reviews

Gatorgirl August 19, 2020
Where is the recipe for the Nigerian style stock?
 
Kitchen B. August 19, 2020
There's a link in the headnotes
 
Gatorgirl August 19, 2020
Where is the head note? I saw that, but can’t find it
 
Kitchen B. September 19, 2020
Its at the top of the page - underneath the photo
 
DNG August 17, 2020
Beautiful
 
Kitchen B. August 19, 2020
Thank you
 
Becky D. August 16, 2020
Could we have the recipe for the Jollof made in the video? It's just not the same as the above.
 
Kathleen August 17, 2020
Type in the search box Classic Nigerian Jollof Rice. It should come up.
 
Kitchen B. August 19, 2020
Thank you
 
jmedman December 4, 2022
Do you by any chance have a recipe for Nigerian meat pies?
 
Kitchen B. January 29, 2023
Yes I do - on Serious Eats https://www.seriouseats.com/nigerian-meat-pies-recipe-6385727