Fried Rice Recipe

Repurpose your leftover rice into delicious, satisfying, and absolutely comforting Fried Rice (using leftover rice)!

What I love about fried rice is that it can be made with many ingredients that give it flavor and quality. All you have to do is stir-fry everything together, season with herbs and spices, and cook until it suits your taste.

Once you cook it, you can serve it with almost any dish, especially for breakfast. The secret to the best-tasting Fried Rice is stir-frying everything at the right time. Using leftover rice, you can make the perfect Fried Rice at home!

Whenever you want a hearty and filling meal, don’t forget to cook Fried Rice. It’s easy, quick, and simple – great for everyday meals and celebrations. From now on, your leftover rice will never go to waste!

How to Make Fried Rice

Fried Rice is one of the easiest dishes to cook because you just need the best ingredients for stir-frying and some leftover rice. Just add the ingredients at the right time to get a dish that’s perfectly cooked all the way through.

Come and cook Fried Rice with me!

Ingredients

What do you need to cook my version of Fried Rice?

Leftover rice 

Put your leftover rice to good use by cooking it into Fried Rice.

I suggest using leftover rice because it tends to have a dry and firm texture that gets better when you cook it again. It’s good for frying because the grains will not stick together and will become loose and fluffy.

Leftover rice for frying also saves you time because you don’t need to cook another batch of rice. Using leftover rice also absorbs more flavor to give you a well-flavored dish.

I use basmati rice, but you can use whatever cooked grains are available to you. Just keep it in the fridge or freezer to store overnight. You can also use leftover rice for Coconut Rice to give the dish a distinct nutty and fun flavor!

Eggs 

Fried Rice will always taste better with eggs.

The eggs have a creamy and fluffy texture that goes so well with the rice. They coat the grains for better flavor and texture when fried well. Moreover, eggs are a good source of nutrients for a balanced diet and filling meal.

Aside from cooking eggs into your rice, you can also cook eggs into a new meal to go with the rice. If you love eggs with rice, then I suggest cooking Fried Eggs for a savory, mild, and filling quality.

Chicken hotdog 

Add a meaty twist to the Fried Rice with some chicken hot dogs.

Give the fried rice a touch of smoky and savory flavors with chicken hot dogs. In fact, it makes the dish a whole meal on its own. You will certainly love its meaty goodness mixed into the rice.

Instead of adding it to the rice, you can also use hot dogs to make Crispy Hot Dogs, Breakfast Sandwich, and Noodles and Egg Stir Fry. There are also vegan or vegetarian alternatives better suited for your diet.

Spring onion 

Sometimes, a little bit of spring onion can go a long way in your recipe.

Spring onions give the dish a sharp and sweet flavor to add complexity to the dish. As they cook, you will also smell how fragrant their aroma is. Adding spring onions will surely make the dish so much more appetizing.

Do you have any leftover spring onions? Use them for Chicken Fried Bulgur or Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry next time!

Mixed bell peppers 

You won’t believe how much better the dish will be with bell peppers.

Mixed bell peppers are great for giving recipes aroma, color, and different flavors. I suggest using red, yellow, and green bell peppers for a rich taste. They’re not just for color, but for flavor as well.

Red and yellow bell peppers have a sweet and fruity flavor, while green bell peppers taste slightly grassy. Bell peppers also escalate the fragrance of the dish to make the Fried Rice more inviting.

Garlic 

When it comes to Asian fried rice recipes, sauteing garlic is a must.

You can actually make fried rice just with garlic and seasoning. It also gives the dish a pungent flavor and aroma. Using garlic alone can already make the rice tastier than it was before.

Not only does garlic add flavor to the rice, but it also adds a strong aroma to the dish. Its pungent, sweet, and warm flavor will truly make the rice a delicacy you must try.

Seasoning 

Don’t forget about seasoning the rice.

One of the secrets to the best fried rice is the seasoning blend. In this recipe, I suggest using mixed herbs, curry powder, all-purpose seasoning, chicken stock cubes, and sea salt.

If you want a kick of spice, then you can always add scotch bonnet or chili flakes. I’m sure you will love the blend of flavors in your Fried Rice.

Coconut oil 

Always use good-quality oil to fry your rice. It doesn’t just cook the rice, but it also adds flavor. Taste of Asian Food suggests using palm or peanut oil, too. You can also use this to cook Coconut Buns and Couscous!

After trying different fried rice recipes, these ingredients have given be the best results. Everyone in my family absolutely love it and I’m sure your family will love it too!

Directions

Here’s everything you need to do to cook Fried Rice:

1. Dice the chicken hotdogs, garlic, scotch bonnet, spring onion, and mixed bell peppers using a knife.
2. Loosen up the leftover rice with your hands or a spatula.
3. Heat coconut oil in a frying pan over a low fire for a minute.
4. Saute the garlic, scotch bonnet, and spring onion with a turner.
5. Then, add the diced chicken hot dogs.
6. Season them with mixed herbs, curry powder, salt, and all-purpose seasoning.
7. Stir fry for two minutes.
8. Add the bell peppers and season with the chicken stock cube.
9. Once well mixed, toss the leftover rice and spring onions and stir fry for three minutes. 
10. Put everything to the side and add coconut oil to the left space.
11. Fry the eggs, and move the egg around to scramble once half-cooked.
12. Then, slowly add the rice.
13. Once content with the seasoning and doneness, serve the leftover Fried Rice!

Have you ever seen and tasted such flavorful, delicious, and satisfying Fried Rice? It’s almost a meal on its own!

Tips

Chicken Hotdogs 

• According to The Spruce Eats, keep hot dogs in the fridge for up to several days.
• Once opened, transfer the hotdogs to resealable bags and use them within three days. 
• Store them in the freezer for up to several weeks. 

Spring onion 

Buying spring onion

• In an article in Epicurious, buy spring onions with a small bulb attached.
• They should also feel stiff and must be without signs of wilting. 

Storing spring onion

• Spring onions can only be left at room temperature for up to two days for a longer shelf life.
• Otherwise, place them in resealable bags and refrigerate them to use within a week. 

Bell peppers

Buying bell peppers

• Go for bell peppers with shiny, smooth, and clear skin.
• They should also feel heavy for their weight. 

Buying bell peppers

• Store the bell peppers in mesh bags and refrigerate them to use within two weeks.

How to Cook and Store Rice 

One of the most important steps in cooking rice is to rinse the rice to remove excess starch.

1. Rinse the rice thrice or until the water is clear.
2. Then, put the rice in a pot and season it if preferred.
3. Pour in water proportionate to the rice.
4. Bring it to a boil over medium-low heat.
5. Let it cook for at least 15 minutes or until the rice is fluffy. 

According to Delicious Magazine, you can store the rice by spreading it over a baking sheet to let it cool. Once cooled at room temperature, place it in a container to refrigerate or freeze.

Refrigerated rice can last up to four days, while frozen cooked rice can be used within several weeks or even months. Now, you will have leftover rice whenever you want to eat Fried Rice!

Fried Rice Variations

There are so many Fried Rice versions you can cook!

Aside from the ingredients mentioned in this recipe, you can also use alternatives for each ingredient. For instance, you can replace chicken hot dogs with smoked turkey, chunks of chicken, meat, beef, pork, fish, mackerel, tuna, and more.

On the other hand, for vegetables, you may try using carrots, green beans, sweet corn, green chili, onion, garden peas, asparagus, and more. Meanwhile, for the seasoning, you can use soy sauce, black pepper, oyster sauce, sesame oil, butter, white pepper, and other spices.

Here are other kinds of fried rice that you can try out:

• Vegetable Fried Rice: Instead of adding meat or fish, you can just toss in vegetables like carrots, peas, and broccoli.
• Egg Fried Rice: It’s one of the easiest fried rice recipes because you just need to toss in some eggs to cook.
• Kimchi Fried Rice: For foodies who want a spicy flavor in their rice, adding kimchi can be the perfect option for you.

The possibilities are truly endless with Fried Rice!

More Rice Recipes

• Nigerian Fried Rice – get a taste of the African version of Fried Rice in your own home.
• Ofada Rice – cook Ofada Rice to taste how unique it is.
• Basmati Rice – go for basmati rice to see how light and fluffy the grains can be.
• Coconut Fried Rice – infusing rice with a coconut flavor is truly life-changing.
• Jollof Rice – feel and taste how festive rice can be with Jollof Rice.

Recommended Tools

• Frying pan: Cook the fried rice in a frying pan. 
• Knife: Slightly ingredients with the help of a knife. 
• Cutting board: Prepare the fresh vegetables on a cutting board. 
• Wooden spatula: Break the fried eggs apart using a spatula.
• Turner: Stir fry everything with a turner.

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How to Serve Fried Rice 

I love serving Fried Rice while it’s hot because the grains are still loose and fluffy. When it has meat, fish, or protein options, it can already be a meal on its own but you can also top it off with other foods that you like.

It’s good for potlucks, gatherings, buffets, and even meal prep ideas. You can garnish it with any toppings that you want. When you serve it as a side dish, I suggest serving it with the following:

• Fried Eggs – it’s a simple dish that feels and tastes good with the fried rice.
• Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry – enjoy a healthy meal with broccoli and chicken.
• KFC Hot Chicken Wings – experience the crunchy chicken with the fluffy grains.

If you want to eat this for lunch or dinner, then I suggest serving it with any of the following:

• Grilled Salmon – the delicate flavor of the fried rice will surely pair well with the smoky salmon.
• Fish Fillet – taste how delicious fish and fried rice can taste together.
• Roast Chicken – whether freshly cooked or leftover, both will taste incredible as a meal.

Storage Tips

At room temperature: Fried rice is best eaten within two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the secret to good fried rice? 

According to The Christian Science Monitor, good fried rice is cooked using leftover rice from medium to long-grain varieties.

It is best for frying in a heated wok with adequate oil to prevent the grains from becoming soggy. Moreover, it is important to season it with the right herbs and spices.

What gives Chinese fried rice its flavor?

Some of the ingredients that give Chinese Fried Rice its flavor are soy sauce, garlic, ginger, green onions, eggs, and sesame oil. These give the rice the best balance of savory, sweet, and smoky flavors for the perfect side dish.

Is fried rice a healthy meal?

Fried Rice is a healthy meal if you add in vegetables and protein sources that will give you a balanced meal. Most of the time, it depends on the ingredients you use to stir-fry the rice.

How to make fried rice in 5 steps?

To make fried rice, you will need leftover rice, herbs, spices, vegetables, and meat or protein. Cook your rice in the evening to achieve a loose texture in the morning.

1. Prepare the ingredients for frying.
2. Use oil with a high-smoke point for high-heat cooking.
3. Then, fry the ingredients according to which ones cook longest.
4. Add the rice last and season as needed.
5. Once you’re happy with the taste, it is ready to serve!