What You'll Need to Make Fried Rice
The classic Chinese comfort dish, it's believed that fried rice (Chao
Fan) originated in the city of Yangzhou in eastern Jiangsu province.
Made with barbecued pork, shrimp and spring onions, Yangzhou Fried Rice
is still the standard by which all other fried rice dishes are judged.
But you don't need to follow a special recipe to enjoy fried rice - it's
a great way to use up leftovers.
This basic fried rice recipe
makes a nice alternative to steamed rice as a side dish, or you can
turn it into a main meal by adding meat/seafood and vegetables. (If you
are adding other ingredients, increase the number of eggs to three).
Basic Fried Rice Ingredients
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
3 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed
4 cups previously cooked rice, at least 1 day old
1 – 2 tablespoons light soy sauce or oyster sauce as desired (see Add the Seasonings for more suggestions)
Prepare the Rice
The most important tip in making fried rice is to use rice that has been
previously cooked. Using previously cooked rice helps keep the dish
from turning out wet or mushy. While you can use rice that has been
cooked the night before, 2 or 3-day old rice is even better.
Gently rub the rice between your finger to break up any clumps (this will help the rice cook more evenly).
Beat the Eggs
In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs with a fork or chopsticks until they are frothy.
Scramble the Eggs
Heat a frying pan or wok on medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil,
swirling so that the bottom of the pan is coated. When the oil is hot,
reduce the heat to medium and add the eggs.Cook the eggs, stirring, until they are lightly scrambled but not too dry. Remove the eggs and clean out the pan.
Cook the Rice
Add 1 tablespoon oil, swirling so that the bottom of the pan is coated.
Add the rice. Stir-fry for 2 - 3 minutes, until the rice is heated
through.
Add the Seasonings
Stir in the soy sauce or oyster sauce as desired.
Note: Traditionally, the Chinese do not add soy sauce to rice. If you
like, you can serve the dish plain, without the soy or oyster sauce.
Another option is to add a small amount (1/2 - 1 teaspoon) of XO sauce or thick soy sauce, or to use 2 - 3 teaspoons of dark soy sauce - these will give the rice a darker color.
Putting it all Together
When the rice is heated through, add the scrambled egg back into the
pan. Add the green onion. Stir-fry to heat everything through.
Serve the Fried Rice
Basic Fried Rice makes a nice alternative to plain steamed rice as a side dish. Here it is paired with a Basic Beef Stir-fry.
