One of my all-time favorite comfort foods is fried rice. Whenever I make white rice, I make extra, just so I can have the leftovers for fried rice. Plain cooked rice is tasty enough, but when it's fried the grains get all crispy and seared.
Mix in some soy sauce, bacon, and some veggies, and oh man it somehow becomes this whole other thing. It's a meal all by itself, that is satisfying on some bone-deep level.
For this recipe, I wanted to re-create that Chinese takeout fried rice experience for when you're cooking at home. It's a simple recipe, but it has a few tricks that are worth keeping in mind.
What is the secret to good fried rice?
To start with, you want day-old rice at least.This may seem counter-intuitive. When was the last time a recipe recommended you don't use the freshest ingredients? But there's a reason.
What are the main ingredients in fried rice?
Though you're only limited by your imagination (and the size of your pan) this recipe focuses on the fried rice basics. There is one exception: we added bacon.
Plenty of fried rice is vegetarian, and delicious that way. Many restaurants and recipes add beef or chicken, or even make shrimp fried rice. But I absolutely love it with bacon.
The bacon flavors the dish, adds salt and crunch, and turns the whole thing into a breakfast-for-dinner situation. (Fried rice also makes a great breakfast!)
Don't like bacon? You should feel free to add and subtract ingredients as you see fit! This recipe definitely works best when you adapt it to your own taste preferences.
What do you serve with fried rice?
Fried rice is perfectly delicious all on its own. I've definitely made a big batch of of this bacon fried rice and eaten it for dinner with nothing else. But fried rice also works as a substitute for white rice in a number of dishes.
It's great paired with Stir Fried Beef and Broccoli, for instance. It's also delicious as a side to Homemade Orange Chicken. But I think I like it best under a Chicken and Veggies Stir Fry.
What kind of rice should I use to make fried rice?
While long grained rices such as jasmine or basmati rice are delicious in many kinds of cooking, they're not actually great for cooking fried rice. This is because the long grained varieties tend to cook fluffier and dryer, and to be less starchy.
Stir fried rice is best with short grain, sticky varieties. If you're worried that fried rice isn't sticky, don't be. The stir-frying process will separate the rice, so it will look exactly as you expect it to.
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- Prep Time:
- 20 mins
- Total Time:
- 20 mins
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp.
canola oil
- 2
large eggs, beaten
- 3
slices bacon, diced
- 1/2
red bell pepper, diced
- 3
scallions or green onions, chopped, whites and green separated
- 2
medium or 3 small carrots, diced
- 3
garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp.
minced fresh ginger
- 1/2 c.
frozen peas, defrosted
- 4 c.
cold rice
- 3 tbsp.
low sodiumsoy sauce
- 1 tbsp.
sesame oil, plus more to taste
Directions
- Step1Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add eggs and cook, stirring, until curds are light and fluffy, 2 to3 minutes, transfer to a plate. Add bacon to skillet and cook until crisp, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Step2Add pepper, scallion whites, and carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to6 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, 1 to2 minutes.
- Step3Reduce heat to medium-low and add peas and rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warmed through, 4 to5 minutes. Fold in eggs and season with soy sauce and sesame oil. Serve immediately topped with scallion greens and more sesame oil alongside.
