How to Cook Nigerian Fried Rice (Party Style, Step by Step)

Nigerian fried rice is the bright, vegetable-packed partner to jollof at every party. The secret is rice cooked in tasty stock, and vegetables fried quickly so they stay crunchy. This recipe serves about 6.

🛒 Ingredients

• 4 cups long-grain parboiled rice
• About 1 kg chicken or beef (for stock and to serve)
• 1 large onion, 3 cloves garlic and a thumb of ginger
• 2 cups mixed vegetables: carrots, green beans, sweet corn, peas, green or red pepper
• 1 cup cooked prawns or diced liver (optional)
• 2 tbsp curry powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 2 seasoning cubes, salt to taste
• 1 tsp ground white pepper or black pepper
• Vegetable oil or butter
• A handful of spring onions

👩‍🍳 Method

1. Make the stockBoil the chicken or beef with onion, garlic, ginger, thyme, 1 tsp curry, seasoning and salt until tender. Keep the stock. Fry or grill the meat until golden.
2. Parboil and wash the riceParboil the rice for 5 minutes, then rinse it in cold water to remove extra starch — this stops it from being sticky.
3. Cook the rice in stockPut the rice in a pot with enough stock to just cover it, plus the rest of the curry (this gives the yellow colour). Cook on low heat until the rice is soft but separate and the liquid is gone.
4. Prepare the vegetablesDice everything into small, even pieces. Carrots and green beans can be blanched in hot water for 1 minute.
5. Fry in batchesHeat a little oil in a wide pan. Fry some onion, then a portion of rice and a portion of vegetables for 2–3 minutes. Season lightly. Repeat batch by batch so the rice fries instead of steaming.
6. Mix and finishCombine all the batches, add prawns or liver if using, white pepper and spring onions. Taste and adjust salt.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my fried rice soggy?

Too much stock, not rinsing the rice, or frying too much at once. Cook rice until dry and fry in small batches.

What gives fried rice its colour?

Curry powder. Some cooks also use a little turmeric.

Can I make it without meat stock?

Yes — use vegetable stock and extra seasoning for a vegetarian version.

How long does it keep?

Two to three days in the fridge. Reheat thoroughly.

Written by the askJBoss team from public information and our own research; last updated November 2026. Prices, dates and rules change — always confirm with the official source. Spotted something that has changed? Tell us in the comments.