How to make fried rice
Are you one of us who loves Chinese food takeout? You’re not alone as who won’t like the aromatic smell of bursting flavors when you open that food box. Chinese fried rice is a fave of many. Theirs always have this unique savory flavor loaded with eggs and veggies.
If you’re like one of us who can finish an entire bowl, you have to start learning how to make fried rice. With the right ingredients, you can whisk away a delicious, perfect fried rice at home. What’s great about this simple recipe is that you can add and mix in whatever you like. You can go from an all-total meat fest to a laid-down vegetarian fried rice.
How do you make fried rice from scratch?
Cooking the best-fried rice won’t require you 5-star-restaurant-level ingredients. The key is if you know a great recipe. With just the basics needed, you might find what you need when you open your fridge, that is, if you know how to make fried rice. We’re here to help. As listed below are some simple ways to make fried rice from scratch.
Veggie Fried Rice
Ingredients
- Cooked white rice – Opt for cold and day-old rice if you like it al dente
- Vegetables – Peas and Carrots
- Small white onion
- Sesame oil
- Eggs – Beaten
- Soy Sauce
- Green Onions – For garnish, chop in little bits
How To Cook:
1. Preheat the skillet
We suggest using a large skillet for easy mixing and tossing. Turn the fire to medium-high heat and pour the sesame oil. Add the onion, peas, and carrots. Continue frying until tender.
2. Shove the veggies at the side
Pour the beaten eggs on the other side. Scramble the eggs using a spatula. Mix with the veggies.
3. Put the rice.
Mix it with the veggie and egg mixture. Pour soy sauce on top and keep stirring until it spreads and heats throughout. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish it with green onions.
Tip: If you don’t have sesame oil in stock, try replacing it with butter. Or, if you have both, you can use the butter first for sauteing, then pour some sesame oil once the egg is scrambled and the vegetables are ready to mix.
Ham Fried Rice
Ingredients
- Ham – chopped
- Cooked white rice
- Sesame oil
- White onion
- Sesame oil
- Vegetables – frozen peas and carrots but thawed
- Soy Sauce
- Eggs – Beaten
- Green onions – chopped in bits
How to Cook:
1. Heat a large skillet or Wok
On medium heat, for the sesame oil. Add white onion, ham, peas, and carrots. Stir fry until tender and crisp.
2. Slide veggies on the side
Set the onion, peas, and carrots to the side of the skillet. Pour the beaten eggs on the other side. With your spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
3. Add the rice
Mix the rice with the veggie, ham, and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce on top.
Stir fry the rice mixture until heated throughout. Season with salt and pepper. Top with chopped green onions for garnish.
Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
- Shredded or diced chicken – Boiled or leftover Rotisserie chicken
- Cooked white rice
- Sesame oil
- White onion
- Vegetables
- Soy Sauce
- Eggs – Beaten
- Green onions – chopped in bits
How To Cook:
1. Preheat the skillet
With medium heat, add in onion, vegetable mixture – carrots and peas, and chicken. Stir fry until tender and cook through.
2. Scooch veggies on the side
Set aside the onion, peas, and carrots to the side of the pan. Pour the beaten eggs on the other side. With your spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
3. Add the rice
Mix the rice with the veggie, chicken, and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce on top.
Stir fry the rice mixture until heated throughout. Season with salt and pepper. Top with chopped green onions for garnish.
Shrimp Fried Rice
Ingredients
- Sauteed shrimp – Cook separate, then set aside
- Cooked white rice
- Sesame oil
- White onion
- Vegetables
- Soy Sauce
- Eggs – Beaten
- Green onions – chopped in bits
How To Cook:
1. Preheat the skillet
With medium heat, add in onion, vegetable mixture – carrots and peas, and cooked shrimp. Stir fry until tender and cook through.
2. Scooch veggies on the side
Set aside the onion, peas, and carrots to the side of the pan. Pour the beaten eggs on the other side. With your spatula, scramble the eggs. Once cooked, mix the eggs with the vegetable mix.
3. Add the rice
Mix the rice with the veggie, shrimp, and egg mixture. Pour the soy sauce on top.
Stir fry the rice mixture until heated and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Top with chopped green onions for garnish.
What spices go well with fried rice?
To master how to make fried rice, we’ll let you in on a little secret. It’s all in the spices used. Ever wonder why every Chinese restaurant smells so good? It’s because of the spices they use.
Chinese have long been known to use spices in preparing their food. If you want to achieve restaurant-quality fried rice, we’ve gathered a list of spices that’s perfect for your fried rice.
Soy Sauce: This is essential to give flavor and color to your fried rice. You can use a regular soy sauce, but you can opt to use a low sodium soy sauce if you’re on a low sodium diet. You can even dilute a regular soy sauce on the water to cut down the saltiness.
Oyster Sauce: This sauce will give your fried rice a major boost with its savory flavor. With its slightly salty and sweet sauce, it will add that additional flavor to the veggies. Also, it doesn’t taste a bit like a real oyster. You can find this at the International section of grocery stores or in Asian stores.
Butter: If you’re a health buff and opt to use brown rice instead, the butter will add flavor to the rice. Combining it with the other sauces will make your fried rice bursting with flavor. But you can always use any other available oil in your pantry.
Chinese Five Spice Powder: A spice mixture that will give your rice that extra zest with the combination of five or more spices. This spice is mostly used in Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine. It’s a must-try on your fried rice recipe, composed of Szechuan peppercorns, star anise, ground cloves, cinnamon, and ground fennel seeds.
Do you cook rice before frying it?
To achieve that al dente fried rice you’re craving, you need to know the basics of achieving the perfect fried rice. It doesn’t all boil down to just having complete mix-ins and sauces, but to the star of this recipe, your rice. To answer that big lingering question above, yes, you have to cook the rice before frying it. Here are why, and some other tips in preparing the best-fried rice.
Related Articles
Day-old rice is your best pick
Wanna know a secret? Use cold rice. It doesn’t have to be fresh from the fridge cold, but it has to be leftover rice. Using freshly cooked and hot rice is a big NO.
It will just stick in your pan and get all mushy and soggy. Whenever you’re in a hurry but can’t help satisfy your fried rice craving, cook up fresh rice.
Once cooked, spread it out on a large flat pan or baking sheet, place a layer of -plastic wrap on top and then place it on the fridge for 30 or 20 minutes. For a shorter cooling time, pop it in the freezer for 10-15mins.
Opt to use Jasmine rice
If you ever wonder what type of rice most Chinese restaurants use, it’s Jasmine rice. It’s a type of long-grain rice that will give you restaurant-level fried rice.
Sesame oil is the oil to go.
If you want to achieve that authentic Asian flavor on your fried rice, this oil is a MUST! The nutty flavor of this oil will give your recipe a burst of aroma and mouth-watering smell.
Use soy sauce
The amount of soy sauce to use is all up to your taste buds. A little to a bit is fine as long as you’re not on a low sodium diet. Never skip this, as this gives your fried rice extra flavoring and color.
Key Takeaway
There are tons of restaurant options whenever you’re craving rice. But still, nothing beats homemade fried rice all the more if you put your effort into cooking it. Fried rice is a simple dish that won’t require too much of your time if you’re a busy lad. The only key is to know how to make fried rice in the best and simplest way possible.
