I love fried rice! Great from your favorite Chinese restaurant but also easy to make at home – a great way to turn leftover steamed rice into a fresh d’lish meal!
But Fried Rice can get fancy too — I’ve had it in NY with lobster and 24K gold on it!!
David Burke & Donatella’s “Millionaire’s Fried Rice”
with caviar, lobster, Kobe beef, and gold!
But let’s get to the basics — important fried rice tips are:
1. Use cold steamed white rice – NEVER INSTANT!
2. Almost anything is fair game: leftover cooked pork, seafood, chicken, veggies, etc. Throw those all in.
Start with a large HOT pan or wok and a little oil then add in the cold rice. Spread it out to get it cooking. Then add in the goodies (meats, veggies) and some minced garlic and ginger too, if you like.
Then make a “well” in the middle. Add in some beaten egg then scramble it up in the middle. Last, fold it all in.
I even love it for breakfast, with some bacon or sausage added!
So instead of take out tonight – STAY IN and try your hand at homemade fried rice! -Kathy
Egg and Shrimp Jasmine Fried Rice
To achieve that great “fried rice” consistency, make the rice the day before. Cook and refrigerate and then let set at room temperature for 30 minutes before frying. This recipe has cooked egg that is sliced thin and added, but you can also whisk the egg and scramble it right into the rice as well.
Makes 8 cups, serves 6 to 10
Rice
Makes 6 cups cooked rice
2 cups jasmine rice
1 tsp salt
3 cups water
1 fresh or frozen kaffir lime leaf (optional)
Fried Rice Goodies
3 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp water
3 tsp vegetable oil
1 cup (about 8 ounces) uncooked medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut/split in half lengthwise or coarsely chopped
2 tsp minced ginger
1/4 cup small-diced (1/4-inch) carrots
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp minced fresh lemongrass (optional)
1/2 cup fresh shelled peas or thinly sliced pea pods
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
2 tsp soy sauce
Serve with:
additional soy sauce
sambal oelek or Asian chili condiment
lime wedges
cilantro sprigs
Cook the rice the day before, or at least 2 hours in advance, and chill.
To cook in a rice cooker:
Rinse the rice in a strainer until the water runs clear. DRAIN WELL, then place in the rice cooker with all the remaining rice ingredients. Stir well, cover and steam until tender, per manufacturer’s directions.
After rice is cooked, fluff with a fork, let cool, then refrigerate.
To cook without a rice cooker:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse the rice in a strainer until the water runs clear. Shake rice and DRAIN WELL.
Place rice in a large saucepan with remaining rice ingredients. Place pan over high heat and bring to a boil, stir. Quickly cover pan with a piece of foil AND a tight-fitting lid.
Place in preheated oven and cook for 15 – 20 minutes, or until tender. After rice is cooked, immediately remove the lid and foil. Fluff rice with a fork, let cool, then refrigerate.
When ready to finish the dish, have all remaining ingredients prepared and within reach of the range. Cook the eggs and let them cool while you fry the rice.
To cook the eggs:
In a small bowl, whisk eggs with the salt and water. Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a wok or heavy, large, non-stick skillet until hot. Add the eggs and, with a spatula, lift eggs as they cook, letting uncooked part run underneath until set. Transfer eggs to a cutting board. Let cool, then cut eggs into 1/4-inch strips.
To fry the rice:
Heat the remaining 2 tsp oil in the same wok over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and stir-fry until just turning pink, about 15 seconds. Add the ginger, carrot, garlic, lemongrass, and the cooked rice. Stir-fry 2 minutes. Add the peas, green onions, and the shredded eggs. Stir-fry for 1 minute, until heated through, then drizzle with soy sauce and toss well.
Serve, immediately and pass the soy, chili condiment, lime and cilantro separately for guests to “customize” and season their rice the way they like it.
Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios® – www.KathyCasey.com
