Fried rice is a perfect dish for families that is easy to make and packed with flavor. This highly-rated recipe features sautéed vegetables and scrambled egg bits, making it a great option for those who want to enjoy their favorite takeout meal at home. The recipe takes only an hour to prepare, so you can have a tasty and healthy meal in a short time.
Fried rice is one of those timeless dishes that never fails to satisfy, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures in every bite. With this recipe, you can recreate the magic of your favorite takeout right in your own kitchen, and the best part is, you can customize it to your heart's content! Whether you're cooking for a family dinner or meal prepping for the week ahead, fried rice is a delicious and versatile option that's sure to please everyone.
More than a thousand home cooks have confirmed that this straightforward and flavorful recipe is a winner. However, what if you don’t own a wok? Discover the optimal ways to prepare fried rice at home, ranging from utilizing a griddle to Instant Pot cooking.
What Is Fried Rice?
Fried rice is a versatile and flavorful dish. It is made by stir-frying cooked rice with various ingredients such as vegetables, eggs, and sauces. Originally from China, fried rice has become a staple in many Asian cuisines and is enjoyed around the world.
The taste of fried rice may vary depending on the ingredients used, but it usually has a hearty, slightly salty taste with a hint of umami from ingredients such as soy and oyster sauces. The rice grains are often infused with flavorings such as garlic, ginger, and green onions, adding flavor layers to the dish.
Fried rice can be customized to suit different tastes and dietary needs. This makes it a popular and satisfying dish for any occasion.
Fried Rice Ingredients
- Round grain rice: Provides a fluffy and slightly chewy texture and is the main ingredient and base of the dish.
- Eggs: Add richness, protein, and a silky texture to eggs.
- Onion: Provides sweetness and a depth of flavor and enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
- Carrot: Adds color, sweetness, and a crunchy texture to the fried rice.
- Chili Pepper: Chili pepper adds a spicy kick to the dish.
- Green Peas: Add sweetness, color, and a burst of freshness to the fried rice.
- Green Onions: Add a mild onion flavor and a pop of color and freshness as a garnish to enhance the flavor profile.
How to Make Fried Rice
Preparing fried rice is made easy with the recipe provided below. Let’s take a look at step-by-step instructions.
- First, rinse rice under cold water for 2-3 minutes.
- Cook rice over low heat (5.3 ounces (150 g) rice to 10.6 ounces (300 g) water) for 20 minutes until half cooked.
- Then, dice the onion and carrot, and slice chili and garlic.
- Heat a frying pan, add the onion, and sauté until golden brown, then add the carrots and sauté for 2-3 minutes, then add the green peas, garlic and chili, a sprig of rosemary, and cook for a few more minutes.
- Add the eggs to the vegetables, fry until cooked, and then add the rice.
- Then, add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and fish sauce. Cook over high heat for 2-3 minutes, add butter, salt, and pepper.
- Next, chop the green onions.
- Serve the rice on a plate and sprinkle with the green onion. Enjoy!
Chef Recipe Tips
- It is important to cook the rice until it is half cooked, as it will be cooked during the frying process with the vegetables.
- I recommend using sesame oil from roasted sesame seeds (darker) because it has a richer flavor.
Do I Need a Wok?
Woks are great for stir-frying because the large surface area allows you to add many ingredients without overcrowding. Using a frying pan doesn’t work quite as well. However, we can compensate for the crowding problem by cooking the ingredients separately and combining them at the very end.
Easy Fried Rice Recipe – Why You’ll Love It
Making your own fried rice is a simple and valuable life skill.
- Fast. Mastering this simple technique not only yields delicious results but also adds a simple, flavorful meal to your recipe arsenal. It can be ready in less than an hour.
- Fully Loaded. This recipe doesn’t skimp on the good stuff: vegetables and eggs, unlike the disappointing, lackluster versions of fried rice you’ve experienced in the past.
- Simple, flexible ingredients. The ingredients for fried rice couldn’t be simpler. This simple recipe uses whatever vegetables you have on hand (even frozen), an egg (plus any protein you like), rice (leftover rice is best), and a homemade sauce.
- Nutritious. Fried rice can be good for you! You can use what you need and skip what you don’t because you control the sugar and oil.
Storage Tips
To store. Allow your cooked homemade fried rice to cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To reheat. Gently reheat any leftover rice in a large skillet over medium to low heat until warm. You can also microwave leftovers on a microwave-safe plate or bowl for 1 minute or until heated through.
To freeze. Place in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible, when your homemade fried rice has cooled. You can freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat as directed.
Best Methods for Cooking Fried Rice
Wok
The wok, an ancient cooking vessel, is the most commonly used and convenient method for cooking fried rice. Its large, high-walled pan allows for rice and other components to be tossed and combined with seasonings at high heat. To get started, preheat your wok until a bead of water evaporates after contact. First, pour the oil into the pan and swirl it around to coat the entire surface evenly.
Standard Pan
If you don’t have a wok, don’t worry! You can still make delicious fried rice using a basic frying pan or skillet. Just remember to heat it up on high and use the largest pan you have to prevent your food from spilling out during the stir-frying process.
Griddle
Making fried rice using a griddle is an innovative method that allows you to cook various ingredients simultaneously. Begin by sautéing the vegetables and aromatics. Then, add cooked rice and eggs to another part of the griddle’s surface to prepare a quick and delicious meal.
Instant Pot
Transform day-old rice into a deeply savory dish by cooking it in a pressure cooker. Begin by using the Instant Pot’s saute mode to cook garlic until it turns golden brown. Then, add rice, vegetables, and eggs to the pot, and mix everything well. When the dish is fully prepared, make sure to serve it hot and fresh.
Variations of Fried Rice
This highly-rated dish is incredibly versatile and easy to personalize. You can add whatever ingredients you have on hand, such as chicken, shrimp, salmon, or kimchi, to create a delicious and unique fried rice dish. Whether you’re a vegetarian or a meat lover, you can experiment and come up with different flavor combinations to suit your taste.
A wonderful side dish recipe for healthy eating. This dish not only contains complex carbohydrates but also a decent amount of protein per serving, as well as fiber from vegetables. The only advice - do not use too much oil to fry the vegetables to avoid nullifying all the benefits of the dish with carcinogens and excessive amounts of saturated fats. Otherwise, the dish is perfect and suitable both for weight loss programs and for muscle mass gain. Complement the side dish with main dishes of meat or fish, and add a few more vegetables for a more balanced meal.
Rinse rice under cold water for 2-3 minutes.
Cook rice over low heat (5.3 ounces (150 g) rice to 10.6 ounces (300 g) water) for 20 minutes until half cooked.
Dice the onion and carrot, and slice chili and garlic.
Heat a frying pan, add the onion, and sauté until golden brown, then add the carrots and sauté for 2-3 minutes, then add the green peas, garlic and chili, a sprig of rosemary, and cook for a few more minutes.
Add the eggs to the vegetables, fry until cooked, and then add the rice.
Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and fish sauce. Cook over high heat for 2-3 minutes, add butter, salt, and pepper.
Chop the green onions.
Serve the rice on a plate and sprinkle with the green onion.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The key to achieving restaurant-quality fried rice at home lies in using cold, day-old rice. Freshly cooked rice tends to be too moist and sticky, making it difficult to achieve that characteristic fried rice texture. By using leftover rice that has been chilled in the refrigerator overnight, the grains have a chance to dry out slightly, resulting in perfectly separated, fluffy grains when stir-fried. Additionally, cold rice absorbs flavors more readily, ensuring that each bite of your fried rice is packed with deliciousness. So, next time you're planning to make fried rice, cook a little extra rice the night before and refrigerate it for the best results!
