The world has many offerings of fried rice recipes from various countries across the world. African and Asian countries seem to be the ones with the more popular fried rice recipes. But, today, our focus is on the flavorful, mouth-watering, scrumptious deliciousness of a meal known as Nigerian Fried Rice.
The Nigerian fried rice, if prepared well, can only be described as a delicious gift to your tastebuds. While growing up in Nigeria, fried rice was popularly served during festive seasons, on special occasions, on those Sundays when families would receive important guests, etc. Unlike white rice and even the more popular Nigerian jollof rice, fried rice used to only feature as a special guest on most Nigerian tables.
Thankfully, cooking options and accessibility to ingredients have expanded since then. We can now cook whatever we like, whenever we like. Access to ingredients in raw forms and even in premade forms makes it easier for us all to be able to explore the culinary world. In addition, learning to cook has become easier as anyone can look up a recipe on YouTube or on a website like ours and get all the helpful tips they need while perfecting their culinary skills.
Utensils/Appliances Needed For Fried Rice:
Bowls
Cooking Pot
Deep Frying Pan
Sieve
Knife
Veggie Chopper
Spatula
Scoop
Serving Spoon
Ingredients For Fried Rice:
* 5 Cups of rice
* 1 Lb. Mixed Vegetables (Carrots, Sweet Peas, Sweet Corn, Green Beans & Lima Beans)
* Beef / Chicken stock (or water)
* 2 Chopped Onions
* 2 Chopped green bell peppers
* 1 Chopped red bell pepper
* 2 Scallions / Spring Onions
* Fried Beef Liver or Chuncks Of Fried Beef or Fried Chicken Gizzards (optional)
* Shrimp (optional)
* Curry powder
* Thyme
* Stock cube/powder
* Cooking Oil for frying
* Ginger paste (optional)
* Garlic (optional)
* White pepper (optional)
* Salt to taste
Instructions For Nigerian Fried Rice Recipe:
Gather all the ingredients and utensils listed above for your own convenience. Measure the rice into a large bowl and rinse it till the water gets clear. Place your cooking pot on the stove on medium heat. Put the washed rice in the pot. Add your choice of water or beef/chicken stock. Whichever you choose, make sure the liquid is just a little bit less in quantity than the quantity we typically cook the rice fully. Add salt and seasoning (to taste), and bay leaves. Cover the pot and allow the rice to cook on medium heat.
While the rice cooks, fry the chopped onions in cooking oil in a deep pan or pot till the onions appear slightly translucent. Add the spring onions to the frying pan. Add the scotch bonnet and bell peppers too. You can use either green or red bell peppers or a combination of both depending on which taste you prefer and how you want the fried rice to appear. The aroma in the kitchen right now should give you insight as to the deliciousness you’re about to experience.
Mix the contents of the pot or pan in and stir often to avoid burning and ensure uniform cooking. Add salt, seasoning, herbs & spices to taste. Stir. Add the carrots, sweet peas, sweet corn, green beans, and lima beans, or your choice of mixed vegetables. Mix in. Add your choice of fried beef liver, fried beef chunks, or fried chicken gizzards if you choose to use them. Fried beef liver adds a distinctively delicious taste to the Nigerian fried rice that the other options do not. Stir in. Add cooked shrimp (optional). Stir the shrimp in and cover the pot for about two minutes to allow it to absorb the flavors.
It’s time to introduce the veggie and protein mix to the cooked rice that has been set aside to cool off. Stir veggie and protein mix into the rice nicely. Stirring allows the flavors to blend and the rice to fry uniformly. Add the remaining spring onions. Stir. Cover the pot so the fried rice can cook completely on low heat. When the rice is perfectly tender, you have successfully made a delicious pot of fried rice.
You can pair Nigerian fried rice with your choice of fish or meat and beverage. Enjoy!
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