Buzz
Fried rice is a delicious and flavorful dish, traditionally made by frying cooked rice in a deep skillet, though a shallow pan can also be used. This dish is packed with a variety of tastes, often including vegetables, meat, and eggs. Not only is it easy to prepare, but it’s also incredibly tasty. If you want to learn how to make fried rice, simply follow the steps below.
Ingredients
Simple Fried Rice
- Cooked white rice: 4 cups
- Carrot: 1 piece
- Yellow onion: 1 medium-sized
- Garlic: 1 clove
- Fresh ginger: 1 teaspoon
- Bean sprouts: 1 cup
- Eggs: 3
- Black pepper: a pinch
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Soy sauce: 3 tablespoons
- Vegetable oil: 2 tablespoons
- Sesame oil: 2 tablespoons
- Green onions for garnish
- Cooked chicken: 225 grams
Roast Pork Fried Rice
- Peanut oil: 1 1/2 tablespoons
- Eggs: 2, lightly beaten
- Onion: 1/2 cup, sliced
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Ginger: 2 teaspoons, minced
- Cooked pork ribs: 2 pieces, diced
- Cooked brown rice: 1 cup
- Light soy sauce: 1/4 cup
- Sesame oil: 2 teaspoons
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Cilantro: 1/4 cup, chopped
Indonesian-Style Fried Rice
- Long-grain white rice: 1 1/2 cups
- Water: 3/4 cup
- Low-sodium chicken broth: 1 3/4 cups
- Cooking oil: Approximately 0.9 liters and 3 tablespoons
- Krupuk (Indonesian shrimp crackers): 8 pieces, optional
- Shallots: 2 cups, thinly sliced
- Garlic: 2 large cloves, minced
- Chicken breast: 450 grams, boneless, skinless, cut into pieces
- Medium-sized shrimp: 450 grams
- Red chili: 2, finely chopped
- Salt: 1 1/4 teaspoons
- Ketjapmanis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce): 2 tablespoons
- Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Green onions: 4 stalks, chopped
Steps
Simple Fried Rice
Cook 4 cups of white rice. Simply add rice to boiling water and cook for the time specified on the instructions. Some types of white rice may take as little as 10 minutes, while others may require 30 minutes or more. You can also use instant rice in the microwave, but the flavor won’t be as rich.
Prepare the vegetables. First, wash the carrots (2 cups), onion (1 medium-sized), garlic (1 clove), ginger (1 piece), and bean sprouts (1 cup). Next, dice the carrots and onion, and finely chop 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger. Set these ingredients aside.
Pour 2 tablespoons of cooking oil into a large pan. Choose a deep skillet for best results. Place the pan on the stove over medium heat. Ensure the pan is completely dry, as any water can cause the oil to splatter.
Sauté the vegetables in the pan for 3 minutes. Add the carrots, onion, garlic, bean sprouts, and ginger to the pan. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of black pepper. The vegetables may release some moisture, but be careful not to let them brown.
Add 200 grams of cooked chicken to the pan. You can use leftover chicken from the previous day, store-bought cooked chicken, or prepare chicken specifically for the fried rice. Simply slice the chicken into thin pieces and add it to the pan.
Pour about 2 tablespoons of sesame oil into the pan. You can add the oil gradually as needed rather than all at once.
Add 3 eggs to the pan. Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them lightly. Then, pour the eggs into the pan.
Add the rice to the pan. Fry the rice with the other ingredients for about 2-3 minutes, just enough to heat the rice and blend it with the mixture. Remember to stir the rice evenly while frying. Add 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and fry the mixture for another 30 seconds. Then, remove the pan from the heat.
Serve and enjoy. Plate the rice and garnish with a few chopped green onions. Serve as a main dish.
Roast Pork Fried Rice
Heat 1/2 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
Cook the eggs. Pour 2 beaten eggs into the pan. Tilt the pan slightly to spread the eggs evenly across the surface. Let the eggs cook until set, flipping them after about 2 minutes. Once cooked, remove the eggs, slice them into small pieces, and set aside.
Add onions, garlic, and ginger to the pan. Sauté 1 cup of chopped onions, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 2 teaspoons of sliced ginger in the remaining peanut oil for about 2 minutes.
Add 2 pieces of diced cooked pork ribs to the pan. Fry the ribs for about 3 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.
Add rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil to the frying pan. Include 1 cup of cooked brown rice, 1/4 cup of low-sodium soy sauce, and 2 teaspoons of sesame oil into the pan, cooking for an additional 2 minutes. Season the fried rice with salt and black pepper. Then, remove the pan from the heat.
Add 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro to the pan and stir. Mix the cilantro thoroughly with the other ingredients.
Serve the dish. Scoop the fried rice onto a plate and top with the sliced eggs.
Indonesian-Style Fried Rice
Soak and drain 1 ½ cups of long-grain white rice.
Combine rice, ¾ cup of water, and 1 ½ cups of chicken broth in a 3.8-liter pot and bring to a boil.
Cover the pot and reduce the heat. Cook the rice in the chicken broth until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, which takes about 15 minutes. Then, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes to allow the rice to absorb the flavors.
Transfer the rice mixture to a shallow bowl. Let the rice cool to room temperature, which takes about 30 minutes. Then, refrigerate the rice for 8 to 12 hours.
Heat 0.9 liters of oil in a 3.8-liter pot over high heat. Heat until a thermometer reads 190°C.
Fry the krupuk (optional). Gently drop 2 pieces of krupuk into the hot oil. Fry until they float to the surface, puff up, and expand, which takes about 20 seconds. Flip the krupuk and fry until lightly golden, about 10 more seconds. Use a slotted spoon to remove the krupuk and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Fry the remaining krupuk in 3 batches using the same method. Once all the krupuk are cooked, let them cool and crush them into small pieces.
Use your hands to break the rice into individual grains. This helps the rice absorb the other ingredients more effectively.
Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a deep skillet over high heat. Increase the heat until the pan is hot but not smoking. Next, add 2 cups of thinly sliced shallots and stir-fry for 1 minute. Then, add 2 large cloves of sliced garlic and fry for an additional 30 seconds.
Add the chicken to the shallot and garlic mixture. Cook 450 grams of boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into pieces, until the chicken is no longer pink, which takes about 2 minutes.
Add shrimp, chili, and salt to the mixture. Include 450 grams of peeled and deveined medium-sized shrimp, 2 finely chopped red chilies, and 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp are evenly cooked.
Add the remaining chicken broth and ketjapmanis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) to the rice. Pour in 1/4 cup of chicken broth and ketjapmanis, then fry until the rice is heated through, which takes about 2 minutes.
Remove the mixture from the heat. Season with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce and sprinkle 4 chopped green onions, mixing until everything is well combined.
Serve the dish. Plate the Indonesian fried rice on a flat dish, garnishing with krupuk, sliced cucumbers, and hard-boiled eggs.
Other Types of Fried Rice
Make vegetarian fried rice. This version is perfect for those who enjoy fried rice but prefer a meat-free option.
Prepare Japanese-style fried rice. Fry the rice with a generous amount of scrambled eggs and healthy green peas for a Japanese twist.
Make Chinese-style fried rice. This delicious fried rice is cooked with a few slices of bacon and thinly sliced omelet.
Prepare shrimp fried rice. Try this version if you enjoy adding succulent shrimp to your meal.
Cook Thai-style fried rice. Create this flavorful dish using a variety of ingredients, including peanut oil, fish sauce, and fresh chili.
Tips
- Use leftover rice from the previous day for frying, as it is firmer than freshly cooked rice. This prevents the rice from clumping together during frying.
- Fried rice is a great way to utilize leftover food or ingredients in your fridge. Save time by using pre-chopped frozen mixed vegetables like peas, carrots, and peppers, which add color, nutrition, and flavor in an instant.
- If you enjoy fried rice but want a healthier option, consider using low-fat cooking oil or vegetable oil for a healthier alternative.
- Squeeze a bit of lemon juice to add a zesty flavor to the rice.
- You can substitute cooking oil with butter.
- There are countless ingredients you can add to fried rice. Your imagination is the only limit. Here are some ideas:
- Tofu
- Chicken
- Pork
- Ham
- Beef
- Vegetables like peas, broccoli, and bamboo shoots.
- Lupcheong, also known as lop chong or Chinese sausage, is a traditional addition to fried rice. First, cook the sausage (steam or fry it), then dice or slice it thinly before frying with the rice.
- Oyster sauce, available in Asian grocery stores, adds a fantastic flavor to fried rice without tasting like oysters. Add a small amount after cooking. Lee Kum Kee is a popular brand, but some oyster sauces may contain MSG, so check the label if you want to avoid it.
