Nando’s Spicy Rice
If you love rice, then our slimming-friendly Nando’s Spicy Rice will be a big hit whether you’re counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers.
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories397
- Carbs82g
- Protein9.7g
- Fat2.4g
- Saturates0.5g
- Sugars4g
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For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff to know in the blurb!
This recipe tastes just like the rice you get from Nando’s. So much so, it’s uncanny! However, why limit this delicious, savoury rice to just alongside peri-peri chicken? It’s substantial enough to eat on its own, but also works as a delicious side to so many mains, and will very soon become a family favourite!
It’s SO easy to bring authentic Nando’s Spicy Rice flavours to your kitchen in only half an hour, with fragrant spices and crunchy peppers. In fact, you’ll wonder how you ever managed with plain boiled rice before!
What diets is this Nando’s Spicy Rice suitable for?
This recipe is suitable if you’re gluten free as long as you swap out the following ingredients for gluten free versions;
- Stock cubes
You could also enjoy this Nando’s Spicy Rice if you’re dairy free.
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make Nando’s Spicy Rice?
You really don’t need anything special to make this recipe – it’s a great way to use up some vegetables and makes a really quick dinner. Everything you need should already be in the cupboard!
Hints & Tips
Below we added some of our communities most common hints and tips. We hope you find them useful.
Whatever you serve this rice with, even if you eat it as is, a little peri-peri sauce works a treat
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‘This spicy rice definitely gives Nando's a run for its money!’
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If you don’t already have a large frying pan then it’s worth investing in one – you can get one from most supermarkets, or from Amazon.
For an authentic Nando’s experience, serve the Spicy Rice in individualramekins like these ones!
How many Calories are in this Nando’s Spicy Rice?
There are 397 calories in each portion of our Slimming friendly Nando’s Spicy Rice. This means it falls into our Everyday Light recipe category.
This Nando’s Spicy Rice is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet, and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Step 1
Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray.
Step 2
Add the chopped onion, peppers, cumin, chilli powder, turmeric and paprika. Cook until they start to brown slightly.
Step 3
While waiting for them to brown, dissolve the chicken stock cube in the boiling water.
Step 4
Add the rice to the onions and peppers and stir to mix well.
Step 5
Pour in the hot stock, then add the chicken stock pot and stir.
Step 6
Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and cook according to the packet instructions (usually 10 – 12 minutes).
Step 7
Stir during cooking to stop it sticking to the pan.
Step 8
Stir in the peas 4-5 minutes before the end of cooking and replace the lid.
Step 9
When all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked, stir and serve!
What should you should serve with Nando’s Spicy Rice?
Any of the following go really well with this rice. It’s one of those dishes that goes with pretty much anything, and is also a great BBQ accompaniment!
Whatever accompaniment you choose, don’t forget to account for the extra calories and/or other nutritional values.
Can you cook Nando’s Spicy Rice another way?
This recipe is quick and easy using the method below – it’s not suitable for other methods of cooking.
How do you know when Nando’s Spicy Rice is cooked?
This recipe is ready when the rice is tender, and the vegetables have softened.
This recipe should take about 25 minutes to make.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
How long can you keep Nando’s Spicy Rice in the fridge?
Freezing and reheating rice is often a concern for a lot of people, and it’s one of the things we get asked about quite frequently.
As we all know you can get food poisoning from eating reheated rice, but, it’s not actually the reheating that can cause issues, it is, in fact, the way that the rice has been stored beforehand where the problem begins.
Without getting too technical uncooked rice can contain spores that are resistant to heat and can survive the cooking process. If cooked rice is left standing at room temperature these spores can grow into bacteria. At this point, the bacteria will be destroyed by reheating the rice thoroughly.
If you intend keeping any leftover rice dishes then you should do the following:
Cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) then fridge or freeze it immediately. You can split larger portions up into smaller batches to cool quicker.
Freeze as soon as the rice is cold.
Reheat and use any leftover rice (stored in the fridge) within one day.
When you reheat any rice, always check it is steaming hot all the way through.
Don’t reheat cooked rice more than once.
For more information about reheating rice please take a look at the NHS website.
Can I freeze Nando’s Spicy Rice?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer! There is more information above with regards to freezing rice.
How do I reheat Nando’s Spicy Rice?
From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 3-5 minutes until piping hot.
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Nando’s Spicy Rice
If you love rice, then our slimming-friendly Nando’s Spicy Rice will be a big hit whether you’re counting calories or following a diet plan like Weight Watchers.
-
Prep Time
5 MINS
-
Cook Time
25 MINS
- KCals 397
- Carbs 82G
Instructions
- Spray a large frying pan with low calorie cooking spray
- Add the chopped onion, peppers, cumin, chilli powder, turmeric and paprika. Cook until they start to brown slightly
- While waiting for them to brown, dissolve the chicken stock cube in the boiling water
- Add the rice to the onions and peppers and stir to mix well
- Pour in the hot stock, then add the chicken stock pot and stir
- Bring to the boil, then cover with a lid and cook according to the packet instructions (usually 10 - 12 minutes)
- Stir during cooking to stop it sticking to the pan
- Stir in the peas 4-5 minutes before the end of cooking and replace the lid
- When all the water has been absorbed and the rice is cooked, stir and serve!
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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We agreed with Slimming World to remove their trademarked terms from our website
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64 comments
See what others have to say
AnnaWednesday 2nd May 2018
Hello
Do you mean 100g UNcooked rice or already cooked? (Per portion)
I can’t understand how this is so low in calories when 100g of rice is usually around 350 calories!
Thanks
MeganWednesday 25th April 2018
My 4.5 yr old daughter is doing about healthy eating at school, she saw this recipe on my computer and asked to make it “because it’s got lots of vegetables in”. Well tonight she did (with a bit of help for the chopping and stock making) and it was delicious. We probably should have halved the quantities for 1 adult and 2 children but will freeze the leftovers.
Laura AllenTuesday 24th April 2018
Hi!
I am making this for a BBQ, do you think it will be OK to make the night before and eaten cold? As like a side obviously 🙂
Thank you in advance,
Laura
MoiraSaturday 21st April 2018
Just made this this with yellow smoked haddock it is yummy, thank you
Amy BarnesTuesday 17th April 2018
can you use brown rice instead if long grain rice?
Dan DrogieMonday 2nd April 2018
I have noticed that the 1litre of water required does not change regardless of the portion size set.
Julie leggeFriday 23rd February 2018
The easiest dish I’ve make and it’s lovely.. great for dinner suppers and even a picnics..
JaniceThursday 8th February 2018
Thanks for the tip about changing the number of servings, Brilliant that it changes the amount of ingredients automatically
ChloeThursday 4th January 2018
Just made this today and it was beautiful!
I added some mushrooms and celery to it aswell though to pack it out.
DavidWednesday 3rd January 2018
Hi on which days can I have this original or green. Thank you in advance.
NickiTuesday 21st November 2017
Hi, can this be eaten cold? Was thinking of taking it to work for lunch with some chicken? Looks amazing!
IanMonday 13th November 2017
Hello
I made this last night but seemed to be more than 4 portions.
It worked out to 8 portions.
Do I halve the calories for that portion?
RhiannonMonday 6th November 2017
How much water if you’re only doing 200g rice? Thanks
RhiannonMonday 6th November 2017
It just says 0.5 on each. So is that 0.5 litres per stock?
Thanks
LesleyMonday 2nd October 2017
Love this recipe going to try in my new Instant Pot but would you put the peas in whilst the Rice is cooking or after ? Tia
LesleySaturday 26th August 2017
How much water to 400 g dry rice do you use.
Emma TMonday 11th September 2017
Hi Lesley,
The recipe uses 1 litre of stock ????
Ricky KakaSunday 6th August 2017
Can i leave out the chicken stock pot? or, alternatively, what could be used as a substitute?
Emma TMonday 11th September 2017
Hi Ricky,
You could substitute it for a different stock pot, or a stock cube instead – it just adds extra flavour!
MichelleSunday 30th July 2017
Could this be made in the Instant Pot please? x
Claire StewardTuesday 25th July 2017
Have just made this for lunch and wow, it’s lovely. Added cooked chicken for the last few minutes of cooking. Tempted to try adding fresh pineapple next time.
SamanthaTuesday 11th July 2017
How do I stop my rice going mushy ????. Taste lovely tho.
SamanthaWednesday 12th July 2017
Thank u! I’ll try again!
DianeMonday 10th July 2017
Delicious ????
Donn DownMonday 10th July 2017
Is it 400gof dry rice as that seems a lot of 400g of cooked rice? ie: 160g dry weight added to make it 400g cooked weight?
KerryThursday 6th July 2017
I am making 16 portions of this for a BBQ – please can you tell me how much Curry powder as the measurement just says 1 but I need to know 1 of what – thank you so much in advance Kerry x
KateFriday 7th July 2017
Hi Kerry
It should read 1/4 teaspoon Chilli Powder. It has been amended
StacyWednesday 28th June 2017
I love everything Iv tried from your blog but will we tell me does it show on the recipe if I can freeze my left overs are it’s only me eating it and most make big size portions.!
KateFriday 30th June 2017
Hi Stacy
We are working through our recipes to ensure that they indicate if they are suitable for freezing. Also, if you want to reduce the number of portions you can click on the number of servings box and adjust it to whatever you want. The ingredients will then be adjusted accordingly
iris phelanTuesday 27th June 2017
Pleas is that 1 pint of water for the fried rice. Thankyou
KateFriday 30th June 2017
Hi Iris
It’s 1l which is 1 litre
AimeeMonday 19th June 2017
Looks lush! Can you freeze portions if you make a load?
I’ve always reheated rice but since doing SW have been told that I shouldn’t do it? X
KateFriday 30th June 2017
Hi Aimee
Yes you can freeze it as long as you cool it and store it correctly. Here’s a few tips….
Cool the rice as quickly as possible (ideally within one hour) then fridge or freeze it immediately. You can split larger portions up into smaller batches to cool quicker.
Freeze as soon as the rice is cold.
When you reheat any rice, always check it is steaming hot all the way through.
Don’t reheat cooked rice more than once.
PamelaSaturday 17th June 2017
Making this tonight for dinner with chicken fajitas. Looking forward to it and so is the whole family.
TracyThursday 15th June 2017
Hi, did you rinse the rice before adding to the pan? Just wondered as it looks dry? Thanks ????
KateSunday 18th June 2017
Hi Tracy
No we didn’t rinse the rice, but it really depends on the brand you use as some may be a bit more starchy than others
SuzannecantrillSunday 11th June 2017
Do you rinse the rice first?
KateSunday 18th June 2017
Hi Suzanne
No we didn’t rinse the rice, but some brands can be a little more starchy than others so they may need rinsing
KateTuesday 6th June 2017
Made this for a BBQ, absolutely lovely. Everyone had some! I’ve got it for lunch in work too. Will definitely be making it again. Thanks ????
KateSunday 11th June 2017
Hi Kate
Glad you like it!
Sue MTuesday 6th June 2017
Love this dish and its dead easy. Just made a batch this morning before work so its ready for later. Thank you for another great recipe 😀
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