Perfect Fried Rice: Easy and Delicious Recipe Guide
Fried rice is a versatile and delicious dish that’s quick to prepare and can be customized with various ingredients. Follow these steps to make a perfect batch of fried rice.
Ingredients
2 cups of cooked rice (preferably cold, leftover rice works best)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup mixed vegetables (e.g., peas, carrots, corn)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cooked protein (e.g., chicken, shrimp, tofu, or pork), diced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Prepare Ingredients
Rice: Ensure the rice is cold and separated. Freshly cooked rice can be too sticky and mushy, so ideally, use rice that has been refrigerated for a few hours or overnight.
Vegetables: Chop the vegetables into small, even pieces for quick cooking.
Protein: Dice the cooked protein into bite-sized pieces.
2. Heat the Pan
Oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
3. Saute Aromatics
Onion: Add the chopped onion to the pan and sauté for about 2 minutes until translucent.
Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Cook Vegetables
Add Vegetables: Toss in the mixed vegetables and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften.
5. Scramble Eggs
Create Space: Push the vegetables to one side of the pan to create space for the eggs.
Add Eggs: Pour the beaten eggs into the empty space and scramble them until fully cooked. Mix them with the vegetables once done.
6. Add Protein
Incorporate Protein: Add the diced cooked protein to the pan and stir to combine with the vegetables and eggs.
7. Add Rice
Break Up Rice: Add the cold rice to the pan. Break up any clumps with a spatula and stir-fry the mixture for 3-4 minutes until the rice is heated through.
8. Season
Soy Sauce: Pour in the soy sauce and mix well to evenly distribute the flavor.
Oyster Sauce: If using, add the oyster sauce for additional depth.
Sesame Oil: Drizzle the sesame oil over the rice and stir to combine.
9. Adjust Seasoning
Taste: Taste the fried rice and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
10. Garnish and Serve
Green Onions: Sprinkle chopped green onions over the fried rice for a fresh finish.
Serve: Transfer the fried rice to serving plates and enjoy hot.
Tips
Cold Rice: Using cold rice helps prevent the fried rice from becoming mushy.
High Heat: Stir-frying on high heat gives the rice a nice, slightly crispy texture.
Customization: Feel free to add or substitute ingredients based on what you have on hand or your preferences.
Enjoy your homemade fried rice!
