Craving Nando's Spicy Rice but can’t make it to the restaurant? Try our homemade version of Nando’s spicy rice copycat recipe. It’s fast, easy, and all you need is 30 minutes and just one pan. Make this fakeaway recipe with our step-by-step instructions below.
The Homemade Nando’s spicy rice recipe ready in 30 minutes
When I’m in the mood for the Portuguese flavors from Nando’s but can’t make it to the restaurant, I make this Nando’s spicy rice and Macho peas at home. You’ll be surprised by how minimal the ingredients are, yet the flavor is spot on. This fakeaway favorite is as easy as making plain yellow rice or brown basmati rice, with just two extra steps.
This mildly spiced Portuguese rice is incredibly versatile. You can enjoy it on its own in a rice bowl or stuff it into wraps and burritos. If you like things spicier, drizzle some peri peri sauce on top before serving. I go for the mild peri peri, while my husband loves the hot version!
They’re so good that we always make extra to pack for lunch the next day!
Why make this Vegan Spicy Nando’s rice recipe?
- Fast, Easy, and Budget-Friendly. Get the taste of a restaurant, right at the comfort of your home.
- Dietary requirements – Vegan and Gluten-Free too
- It is a delicious one-pot recipe, that requires minimal ingredients to create a fantastic restaurant standard dish.
- Completely customizable – Add any vegetables of your choice like carrots and sweet corn too. You also add a vegan protein like tofu or vegan chicken!
- Perfect make-ahead recipe for parties and works great for school lunch boxes too.
Ingredients you will need
- Long grain rice – Any rice variety will work. I prefer extra long basmati rice, especially Tilda brand, which is also great for making dishes like Veg Biryani and yellow rice.
- Peppers – Red and/or green bell peppers work perfectly. Dice them a little larger than the onions to prevent them from getting mushy.
- Green peas – Frozen peas are convenient and work great.
- Spices – I use Ground cumin, turmeric, chili powder or cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika for a flavorful kick.
- Stock cube – A vegetable stock cube adds an aromatic flavor. If you're not vegetarian or vegan, feel free to use a chicken stock cube.
- Olive oil or any neutral oil.
- Water – I prefer to use Boiling water from the kettle, as this will reduce the cooking time.
How to make Nandos Spicy rice copycat at home?: Step by Step
Prep: Rinse and soak the long grain rice for about 15 minutes while you chop the onions, peppers, and garlic, and gather your spices. This step is key to fluffy, separated rice. For detailed information and method on how to cook rice perfectly, check out my recipe for white basmati rice.
Cook Aromatics: Heat oil in a pan with a tight fitting lid. and sauté the onions and garlic for a couple of minutes until soft and fragrant. Then, add the peppers, spices, and a pinch of salt.
Add Rice and Ingredients: Drain the soaked rice and sauté it for about a minute. Add in the green peas, boiling water, and vegetable stock cube, then bring it all to a boil for 6-7 minutes.
Simmer and Fluff: Once the water has mostly evaporated, cover the pan and simmer for another 6-7 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 5 more minutes before fluffing it with a fork. Serve hot!
For extra heat, drizzle on some hot peri peri sauce or sriracha!
Serving Suggestions
This Nando’s-style spicy rice is perfect alongside all your Nando’s favorites like Macho peas, peri peri chicken, corn on the cob, no mayo coleslaw or even a veggie burger. It’s also delicious tucked inside a wrap with homemade falafel and salad, or as part of a rice bowl.
Storing Leftover Rice
Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, either warm it on the stovetop or microwave it until heated through. If you find the rice a bit dry, add a splash of water before cooking. You can also cover the rice with foil and bake it at 180°C for about 15 minutes.
Recipe FAQ's
Mine is mildly spiced, but you can crank up the heat by adding ¼ teaspoon of Kashmiri chili powder. And serve with hot peri peri sauce for extra hot!
Yes! This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and perfect for plant-based eaters.
Absolutely! Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to a month. When you're ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge or in the microwave, then reheat as needed.
Love this vegan rice recipe, you will also love
Restaurant Style Portuguese Spicy fried rice recipe below
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati Rice
- 2 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1½ Cup Water
- 1 Veg Stock cube
- 1 Medium White onion diced
- 2 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1 Small Red Pepper diced
- ¾ Cup Frozen Green Peas
- ¾ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash the rice until clear and soak for 15 minutes in cold water. Drain and set aside. Heat oil in the Pan and add the onion, garlic. Saute, and cook for two minutes until fragrant.
- Now add diced red pepper, turmeric, chilli powder, smoked paprika, cumin and salt. Saute briefly for 1 minute.
- Add the rinsed rice and fry for 3-4 minutes until toasty.
- Add 1 ½ Cup Boiling Water, green peas and stock cube. Stir and allow the rice to boil in medium heat.
- When the water has evaporated to the level of rice, place a lid on the pan and reduce the heat to low.
- Cook for 6-7 minutes. Once the rice has cooked, turn the heat off. Leave the lid on for a few more minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve Homemade Nando's spicy rice with your takeaway favorite.
Luciano says
Nice recipe I have made, I have made it a few times now and it's so easy.x
Sandhya Hariharan says
Thank you so much. What sides do you serve with the spicy rice? Or just enjoy it on its own?
Ken says
Super but what about brown rice ?
Same quantities
Sandhya Hariharan says
Thank you, Ken. For Spicy Rice with Brown Basmati, I’d use a 1:2.5 ratio—1 cup of rice to 2.5 cups of water. If you like your rice slightly firmer, you can reduce the water to about 2.25 cups. Cooking time will still be a little longer than with white rice.