Nandos Paella Recipe

Want to make Nando’s Spicy Rice at home? Then this Homemade Nando’s Spicy Rice recipe is for you! And the best news? It only takes 20 minutes… and one pan!

If you are a regular around here, you will know I am a BIG FAN of Nando’s food. I am just a teensy weensy bit (ok, VERY!) obsessed with that gorgeous Peri Peri spiced chicken. But I am also a big fan of Nando’s sides… and especially Nando’s Spicy Rice!

Whilst I do enjoy actually GOING to Nando’s, I also enjoy trying to figure out how to recreate my Nando’s favourites at home. I’ve already shared my Nando’s Copycat Peri Peri Chicken Thighs and Nando’s Copycat Peri Peri Chicken Burgers, so next on my list was a homemade version on Nando’s Spicy Rice (and don’t forget to come back next week I’ll be sharing my Nando’s Copycat Peri Peri Chicken Breast recipe!)

Nando's Style Portuguese Paella

And this recipe is so quick and simple! Just 20 minutes and one pan is all that stands between you and some fabulous homemade Nando’s Spicy Rice!

First fry diced onion and red pepper, then add in a few simple spices. Next add in the rice and some chicken stock (from a stock cube is fine!), then leave the rice to do its thing. 3 minutes before the end, add in some frozen peas (no need to defrost them first!) and you are done!

This Nando’s Spicy Rice recipe goes brilliantly with all your Nando’s favourites – Peri Peri Chicken, Sweet Potato Wedges, Coleslaw, Corn on the Cob…

Peri Peri Chicken And Chargrilled Red Pepper Paella

But my favourite way to serve this rice is with my new Easy Peri Peri Chicken Breasts recipeand a big mixed salad – not only is this delicious and easy… it’s also pretty healthy too! Exactly how a fakeaway should be 😀

My favourite wine to serve with a Nando’s fakeaway is a zingy citrussy Sauvignon Blanc from somewhere like New Zealand or South Africa. Alternatively, a soft and fruity red, such as Grenache or Merlot also goes very well, as does a Grenache based rosé. If you prefer beer, go for a pale ale!

If you find you have leftovers of my Nando’s style spicy rice, put them in a plastic box in the fridge (makes sure that you do this within 1 hour of cooking it). It will be good for up to 24 hours.

Nandos Spicy Rice Recipe By Naushaba Ahmed

You can either eat it cold like a rice salad (perfect for taking to work for lunch and making your colleagues jealous!) or reheat. Make sure when you are reheating rice that you reheat until piping hot all the way through (very important if you want to avoid getting food poisoning) and never reheat cooked rice more than once!

My favourite way of reheating rice is to pan fry it (a bit like making egg fried rice). Alternatively, you can put it in an oven proof bowl covered with a lid or tin foil and bake at 180C for 15 mins or reheat in the microwave.

This comes as a bit of a surprise for many, but yes you can freeze rice. Simply put it in a lidded plastic box and straight into the freezer (again, make sure you do this within 1 hour of cooking it to avoid getting a dodgy tummy!). Defrost in the fridge and then reheat as above. It will keep in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Nando's Portuguese Spicy Rice

Want to make Nando's Spicy Rice at home? Then this Homemade Nando's Spicy Rice recipe is for you! And the best news? It only takes 20 minutes and one pan! (Serves 4-6, depending on appetite)

Have you got your hands on a copy of my meal plan yet? If not CLICK HERE to download a copy of my FREE 4 Week Easy Dinners Meal Plan today!If you have been staying home but craving a cheeky Nandos at home, never fear! This easy homemade Nandos-style spicy rice is for you. Ready in about half an hour in just one pan, you can make this as hot or as mild as you like. Delicious served with homemade peri peri chicken.

What do you do when you crave the hit of your favourite takeaway but you don’t want to go out (or you are watching your spending, or the restaurant is closed)? You make your own, of course!

Peri Peri Style Chicken And Rice

This Portuguese style spicy rice is delicious and easy to make at home in half an hour (with about five minutes hands-on time!). So if you are craving that cheeky peri peri hit, try this Nandos spicy rice.

This one-pot rice dish is very simple to make, with everyday store cupboard ingredients. You just need rice, a few spices (chilli, turmeric & paprika), some onion, red pepper and frozen peas. This recipe makes a triple batch, so we freeze some for another day, or eat it the next day for lunch.

I have cooked rice every possible way in the past – baked, boiled on the stove, steamed, microwaved, and in the Instant Pot.I come back again and again to the simple, foolproof absorption method. Once you master cooking rice at home you will never order rice with your takeaway again.

Calories In Nandos Paella Calcount

Cooking Rice by the Absorption Method Once you have mastered the absorption method, I promise you will never want to cook rice any other way again. (OK, there’s risotto and paella and rice pudding, but you know what I mean!) You need a heavy pot with a lid that fits. I use a shallow cast-iron casserole dish that is perfect for rice to serve four to six. Gently fry the rice in a little oil. Then add a sprinkle of salt. Add twice the volume of liquid (water or stock) to the rice. Then bring it to a gentle simmer, put the lid on, turn the heat down low and leave the rice alone for 18 minutes. DON’T be tempted to lift the lid while it is cooking. If you do, the steam that escapes will change the rice to liquid ratio. When the rice is done, turn the heat off. Fluff up the rice with a fork and leave it for up to a quarter of an hour before serving. The pot will keep it warm. How to Make Nandos Spicy Rice

This is such a simple recipe– just fry the onion & pepper with the spices, add the rice and water (twice the volume of liquid to rice), cover, cook, then add the peas!

Step One – Find your ingredients and check you have everything you need before you start! It sounds obvious but it is maddening to find that something is missing halfway through.

Homemade Nandos Spicy Rice

Step Three – Put the oil in a pan (I like to use a shallow casserole dish). Add the onion, garlic and pepper and saute them over a low heat. You want them to soften with the onion just starting to turn golden.

Step Five – Add the rice. Stir and cook for a minute so that the rice becomes coated with the oil and spice.

Step Six – Pour the stock over the rice and stir through. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Then put the lid on the pan securely. Cook on the lowest heat for 18 minutes.

Nando's Paella Nutritional Information

Step Eight – After 18 minutes, take the pan off the stove top. The rice will have absorbed all the liquid. Drain the peas and add to the pan. Put the lid back on immediately and leave for another 5 minutes.

Then fluff the rice with a fork and it is ready to serve. Serve your homemade Nandos spicy rice as a simple supper or with delicious homemade peri peri chicken and barbecue dishes.

Any white long grain rice works with this recipe. Just don’t use a quick-cook, easy-cook or minute rice, as you’ll end up with a mushy, sticky mess.

Easy Peri Peri Rice

You’ll get a better result if you use basmati rice, which is more flavoursome and fragrant than ordinary long grain rice. Brown rice will take longer to cook, and will also need more liquid.

There’s no real need to make such an easy recipe ahead of time, but you can. You can also keep any leftovers to reheat in the microwave. We have found that the quantities given here are perfect for two easy after-work suppers for two.

If you do make your rice ahead of time, make sure that it cools quickly. Put it in an airtight pot in the fridge as soon as possible. Keep it for no more than 48 hours and make sure that you reheat it thoroughly before serving.

Gluten Free Peri Peri Chicken Recipe With Spicy Rice

I’m a great believer in cook once and eat twice, especially when you are cooking for two (or one). I usually bake a double batch of rice, but because of all the lovely veggies this recipe makes enough for 6, and will perfectly fill 3 standard takeaway trays.

Pack leftovers into a takeout tray or other lidded freezer proof box. Allow to cool and then freeze as soon as possible. Then grab a tub from the freezer and defrost in the fridge, or microwave from frozen.

We love rice as a side

Nando's Spicy Rice