The effective response of a random nonlinear composite consisting of a nonlinear material with a displacement‐electric field relation of the formD=&egr;B0E+&khgr;B‖E‖&bgr;Erandomly embedded in a host with a linearD‐Erelation is studied. Using the Maxwell–Garnett approximation and taking into account the correction to the local field in the presence of nonlinear inclusions, expressions are derived for the effective response to the order of &khgr;Band &khgr;B2, which are valid in the dilute limit of the nonlinear component in the composite.