How to Make Fried Rice


Now that I know how to make fried rice, it has become one of my standby recipes. We eat it when I need supper on the table in a hurry.

fried rice





Fried rice is a quick and healthy meal. It's a great way to use up leftovers. Most importantly, it tastes great, and every member of my family likes it! We have it for supper about once a week.

If you have leftover cooked rice in the fridge, you can have this on the table in no time. If not, don't despair. Put the rice on to cook while you prepare everything else.

You can use your favorite rice in this recipe. I use brown rice, which is much more nutritious than refined white rice and which has a nicer texture.

I am deliberately not including many measurements here. The beauty of making fried rice is that you can just throw in as much as you have on hand.

How long to cook the vegetables is also up to you. I prefer my onions very soft, but my carrots a bit crunchy. Experiment to find what tastes just right to you.



Check that you have these staples at home

  • in the cupboard

    • long grain brown rice
    • vegetable oil
    • garlic
    • tamari

  • in the fridge
    • eggs

Buy these fresh ingredients

  • carrots
  • celery

Get out your equipment

  • Essential

    • a deep skillet or large saucepan
    • a cutting board and sharp knife
    • a spatula or wooden spoon

  • Nice to have but not necessary

    • a rice cooker (highly recommended!)
    • a garlic press (if not, mince the garlic with a sharp knife)




    The recipe

    rice

    1 Tbsp/15 mL vegetable oil

    diced onion

    garlic, pressed

    diced carrots

    diced celery

    eggs

    tamari

    Put the rice on to cook.

    In a large deep skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.

    Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften.

    Add the garlic, carrots and celery.
    Cook, stirring frequently, until the carrots begin to soften.

    Add the rice.
    If you are using cold leftover rice, cook and stir until the rice is warmed through.

    Make a well in the center of the mix.
    Break an egg or two into the well.
    With a spatula or wooden spoon, stir the egg to break the yolk.
    Keep stirring as the egg cooks.
    When it has begun to firm up, mix it into the rice mixture.

    Add a squirt or two of tamari.
    Continue cooking and stirring for a few more minutes, until the egg is completely cooked.

    That's how to make fried rice!



    Substitutions

    • Use your favorite rice in place of the long-grain brown rice.

    • Use soy sauce in place of the tamari.

    Ideas for making this recipe your own

    • Add some cooked beef, chicken or pork just before you add the rice.

    • Add some marinated, fried cubes of tofu.

    • Add your favorite vegetables, diced small. Or how about adding some frozen peas or corn?

    Tips

    • When I serve beef, chicken or pork, I always cook a bit more than I need. I dice the leftovers and freeze them to use in fried rice.

    • Put some tamari (or soy sauce) and a bottle of hot sauce on the table so that the diners can flavor the fried rice to their taste.




    Menu suggestion

    Serve this dish with