When it comes to easy Afro- asian fusion recipes, this special fried rice is your go-to. The smokiness of the fried rice, the sweetness from the stir fried carrots and peas paired with the savouriness of the shrimps an d chicken thighs will turn your regular everyday rice into a tongue teasing feast.
I don’t really know where to place this rice dish on the map. The first place I had it was ” The place” in Lekki, Lagos and I thought it was the best thing I had ever tasted. However this particular recipe comes from a version of fried rice I tasted at a Chinese restaurant( also in Lagos). What I love about Chinese restaurants in Lagos is how they try to adapt subtle things to suite our Nigerian taste.Some resturants have absolutely mastered that! It is very innovative and I have learned to appreciate Asian flavours more.
This recipe is my tongues interpretation of these two dishes but I added the Nigerian twist… because after all… this is Nigerian Foodie Hub
Special fried rice
If you are looking for something new, fresh and easy. THIS FRIED RICE recipe is for you! It is very similar in appearance to the mainstream Nigerian fried rice, but the taste is what shocks everyone. At the first bite, you are greeted with umami and explosive savoury flavours that keep you going for more.
A little disclaimer is that this fried rice isn’t spicy(hot) …but listen… not all Nigerian meals need to be. This one allows you concentrate on the flavours of the spices and vegetables and appreciate the subtle hints of razzle dazzle they add to the rice.
If you are looking to expand your pallet, I suggest starting with this one. This blog is all for you!
What you will need for the this Recipe
- Rice: the best rice for this recipe is long grain parboiled rice and the reason I recommend this rice is because it is easy to control its texture. Recently i tried jasmine rice and it was also sumptuous but TEXTURE TEXTURE TEXTURE!! you have to watch it like a hawk so that you wont end up with gummy looking rice
- Mixed veggies(peas and carrots)– frozen mixed veggies will do . however fresh carrot bring in more flavour than frozen ones
- Meats– Chicken thighs and Shrimp are main characters in this dish so have them cleaned and ready to go
- Eggs
- Spices- curry, chicken bullion, salt, black pepper, white pepper, shrimp powder
- Aromatics and garnish– onion, ginger and garlic paste for aroma and flavour and spring onions for garnish
- Olive oil- what’s fried rice without oil to fry?
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How to preserve your fried rice
You can preserve your rice by storing it in an airtight container in your fridge for 3 to 4 days. Since it has seafood I will STRONGLY advice finishing it the day off or within the first 3 days of cooking it.
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More recipes
Craving more bold spices and Nigerian favourites? Here are some tasty recipes for you to try out…
Special fried rice
Equipment
- wok
- regular sized pot
Ingredients
- 4 cups Parboiled rice washed
- 1 medium White onion
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tbsp Ginger-garlic paste
- 1 cup Frozen peas
- 3 tbsp Soy sauce
- Spring onions chopped
- 4 medium Carrots chopped
- Olive oil
- 2 Chicken thighs chopped and seasoned with salt, pepper, chilli powder, soy sauce and buillion
- 1 cup Shrimp seasoned with salt, pepper, chilli powder, soy sauce and bullion
- 4 cups Chicken stock can be homemade or store bought
Spices
- salt
- white pepper
- black pepper
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 2 tsp chicken bullion
- chilli powder
- msg Optional
Instructions
- In a regular sized pot, add olive oil and caramelize chopped onions . Season with salt, curry,chicken bullion and stir well
- Add washed rice to the pot and stir fry for 5 minutes or until some rice grains begin to brown. Then add soy sauce, chicken stock and ginger garlic paste. Cover pot and allow the rice steam on low heat for 22 minutes. Set aside to cool
- Preheat olive oil in a separate pan or wok and stir fry chicken for a 5 minutes; set aside, stir fry shrimp for 3 minutes ; set aside. Then, Stir fry carrots and peas for a 2 minutes , season with salt, pepper, bullion and chilli powder and set aside.
- Add a little more oil to the pan to fry eggs, once they are fried and scrambled add cooled rice. Then add stir fried chicken, shrimp and veggies to the fried pot. Mix well and fry rice for 7 minutes
- Adjust seasoning according to your taste and add chopped spring onions to garnish
- Take the pot off the heat and serve.
