The Easiest Ghana Fried Rice

Hi there! I’m back with a classic, an evergreen, an African staple: Ghana Fried Rice!

Why You Should Make this Recipe

You can’t go to a (Sub-Saharan) African party and not see Fried Rice! Any type of celebration really: birthdays, religious festivities, wedding receptions, job promotions, you name it… it will be there!

As you may have noticed, this isn’t just any African fried rice, it is not Cameroonian, it is not Congolese or Nigerian: it is Ghanaian Fried Rice.

I grew up eating mainly Cameroonian Fried Rice and it is almost identical to Nigerian Fried Rice.  You will find chicken, shrimp or beef liver (mainly in the Nigerian one) for protein; curry and thyme for seasoning; and lots of veggies such as corn, peas, green beans, bell peppers and carrots.

On the other hand, Ghana Fried Rice has carrots, bell peppers and cabbage as vegetables; onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce , sesame oil and chicken seasoning, for aromatics and flavor; and of course, eggs!
Ghanaians are known for their unconditional love for eggs: they can eat eggs from sunrise to dawn, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, as a snack, fried, boiled, and so on… they will eat eggs, ok?!? lol 

What You Need to Make this Recipe

Appliances/Tools

• Mandolin Slicer or Regular Slicer = totally optional, but it sure does make life easier when it comes to slicing all the veggies in this recipe! Do not worry, if you do not own a mandolin (or a regular slicer), you can always use a sharp knife.
• (Wooden) Spatula = to stir the eggs, vegetables and rice.
• Wok or Large Frying Pan = a wok would be ideal, but I do not have one (and neither do most people lol), so a regular frying pan will do, preferably non-stick or steel.
• Grater = to avoid biting into big chunks of garlic and ginger. A game changer, really.
• Pepper Grinder = if you are using whole grain peppers and not the pre-packaged ground pepper.

Ingredients

• Rice = Long-Grain Jasmine Rice is the best rice for Ghana Fried Rice. It should be cooked the night before or, at the very least, 6 hours prior. This ensures that the rice isn’t all mushy.
• Oil = well the recipe is called Fried Rice after all.
• Garlic, Ginger, Onion, Green Onion (Scallion) = the heart of the recipe: the aromatics. You cannot omit any of these.
• Cabbage and Carrot = not everyone add the cabbage but the more the merrier when it comes to vegetables, right?
• Soy Sauce and Sesame Oil = these two add both the salt factor and a “je ne sais quoi” to this very simple recipe.
• Chicken Seasoning = all the seasoning you need for this recipe. Any brand will do; I use the Maggi one.
• White Pepper = often overlooked in favor of Black Pepper, white pepper actually adds flavor (no shade to Mr Black Pepper). 

How to Cook Ghana Fried Rice

Preparing the Rice

Step 1 = Cook the rice the night before. It tends to stick together, so you will have to separate it before using it for the stir-fry.

Preparing the Vegetables

Step 2 = Scramble the eggs and set aside. Do not overcook.

Step 3 = Stir fry the garlic, ginger, onion, green onion, cabbage and carrot.

Step 4 = Add the soy sauce, pepper and chicken seasoning. Set aside.

Combine the Fried Rice

Step 5 = Stir fry the garlic and ginger. Add in the rice. Stir.

Step 6 = Add in the soy sauce and sesame oil. Stir.

Step 7 = Add the veggies. Stir.

Step 8 = Turn the stove off, add in the eggs and green onions. Stir.

Serving Suggestions

It can be paired with chicken, beef, fried or bake fish; but also, fried plantain, fried yam or a fresh salad. For an authentic Ghanaian meal, it should also be served with Shito, a Ghanaian hot sauce which also doubles as a condiment.

How do I store Ghana Fried Rice?

Freezer = Once cooled down, transfer the Fried Rice to freezer bags or air-tight containers and keep them in the freezer.

Refrigerator = Once cooled down, transfer the Fried Rice to airtight containers and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How do I reheat Ghana Fried Rice?

Reheat in a hot frying pan with some oil or in the microwave.

Further reading on topic

If you enjoy Rice recipes, check the links below:

• Southern-ish Rice and Red Beans
• Honey Lime Shrimp and Coconut Rice
• Coconut Shrimp Curry and Coconut Rice

If you enjoy African recipes, check the links below:

• Red Red (Ghanaian Bean Stew)
• Beignets Haricots (Cameroonian Puff Puff)
• Chicken Gizzard Stew with Plantain and Peppers
• Pilé Pomme de Terre (Cameroonian Mashed Potatoes and Beans)

Conclusion

Well, without further ado, scroll down for the detailed recipe and video instructions.