Skip to content

Meat, Africa and overseas

Nigerian coconut rice with fried chicken

Nigerian coconut rice with fried chicken is a complete dish for 4 people, ready in 1 hour and rated easy, for €3.10 per serving. The rice simmers in coconut milk with bell pepper, onion, and curry while the chicken drumsticks fry until golden on the side. The key is letting the rice cook covered without ever lifting the lid.

Tonight, Nigeria brings you coconut rice with peppers and spices, served with crispy fried chicken.

Nigerian coconut rice with fried chicken
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.10
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

The rice turns a warm orange color with a coconut and curry aroma that makes a nice change from everyday side dishes. Bell pepper and onion soften into the rice as it cooks, giving it a tender bite, while thyme and garlic season it without any heat. Alongside, the fried chicken drumsticks bring the crunch that a rice dish often lacks.

This is a dinner kids tend to love thanks to the fried chicken and the mild sweetness of coconut, while still being different from your usual weeknight meals. You can make it on a weeknight since the rice cooks on its own while you handle the chicken. It also works well for a slightly different Sunday meal, to share with family or with guests curious about new flavors.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken drumsticks 8

Pantry

  • Long grain riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Coconut milkoften in the pantry 40 cl
  • Curry powderoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Thymeoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Flouroften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 10 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Red bell pepper 1
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves

Allergens Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Season the drumsticks with crushed garlic, half the curry powder, salt and pepper, and let them marinate. 20 min

    Pierce the skin with a fork, the seasoning penetrates better.

  2. Sauté the diced onion and bell pepper in a tablespoon of oil, add the rinsed rice, thyme, and the rest of the curry powder. 5 min

    Toast the rice for a minute before adding liquid.

  3. Pour in the coconut milk and 20 cl of salted water, cover, and let it cook over very low heat. 18 min

    Don't lift the lid, the rice cooks in the steam.

  4. Coat the drumsticks in flour and fry them in hot oil, turning them occasionally. 20 min

    Cook over medium heat, they should be cooked through without browning too dark.

  5. Let the rice rest covered for a few minutes, fluff it with a fork, and serve with the chicken. 5 min

    Set the chicken on paper towels before serving.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a long grain rice that's nice and dry, it absorbs the coconut milk better without turning sticky.
  • Marinate the chicken the night before if you have time, the drumsticks will be even more flavorful.
  • Use the same pan for the onion and pepper, then for the rice, the browned bits add more flavor to the dish.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken drumsticks for boneless thighs, they'll cook a bit faster.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with vegetable fritters or fried chickpeas coated in the same flour and spices.
  • To speed things up for kids, bake the chicken at 200°C for 25 minutes instead of frying it.

What to serve it with

  • A fresh cucumber salad
  • Fried plantains
  • Homemade ginger juice

Storage

The rice and chicken keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, ideally stored separately. The coconut rice freezes well, but the fried chicken doesn't, it would lose its crunch. Reheat the rice in a pan with a splash of water and the chicken in the oven to crisp it back up.

Questions about this dish

Can you make this dish ahead of time?

You can marinate the chicken the night before to save time and boost flavor. The coconut rice can also be made a few hours ahead and gently reheated in a pan with a little water.

Can you substitute the coconut milk?

Coconut milk gives this dish its whole character, so it's best to keep it. If needed, light coconut milk works too, the rice will just be slightly less creamy.

How do you get the chicken really crispy?

Coat the drumsticks in flour right before frying, not too far ahead, so the flour doesn't absorb moisture. Cook them over medium heat so they turn golden outside and cook through without burning.

Is this dish good for kids?

Yes, crispy fried chicken and the mild sweetness of coconut generally go over well with kids. You can cut back slightly on the curry if you prefer a milder taste for little ones.

How long does it take to make a Nigerian coconut rice with fried chicken?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Nigerian coconut rice with fried chicken?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Nigerian coconut rice with fried chicken cost?

About €3.10 per serving, or €12.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

African and overseas cuisines

See all

Recipes with bell peppers

See all