Chinese fried rice is a typical main dish of Cantonese cuisine which is very popular worldwide. The rice is cooked by absorption, stir-fried in the wok with scrambled eggs, ham, chives and blanched peas. The result is a tasty, restaurant-style weeknight main dish that's plenty of delicious Chinese food flavor.
It is best to use a long-grain white rice such as ribe or basmati rice. Rinse it thoroughly under fresh running water, so that it loses most of its starch. In this way the grain will not fall apart during cooking, resulting in being compact, al dente and well-grained.
To mix the ingredients on the fire, it is best to use a wok or a non-stick pan if you don't have it. To make this fried rice recipe super tasty, we added a few tablespoons of soy sauce too – even if some people prefer it unseasoned.
Super quick and easy to make, you can customize this recipe as you want. So let’s find out how to make Chinese fried rice by following our step-by-step recipe.
Use simple ingredients for this Chinese-inspired fried rice.
Rice – long-grain rice is perfect both white or brown such as ribe, Jasmine or basmati rice. Make sure to rinse it under running water before cooking it. Don't use short-grain or Japanese rice.
Eggs – they add texture and flavor.
Butter – it is perfect to stir-fry the rice.
Vegetables – use a mix of carrots, onions, chives, peas and garlic for this recipe. You can use frozen peas to make this recipe in no time.
Soy sauce – use low-sodium soy sauce to add a flavor kick to the recipe even if lots of recipes don't use condiments.
Ham – it adds proteins.
Oil – it is important to use a good type of oil for stir-frying. Peanut seed oil, vegetable oil and palm oil are the best options as they have a neutral taste and a high smoking point suitable for this cooking method. Don't use olive oil as it is too strong in flavor.
You can customize this delicious recipe as you want. You can leave out ham or replace it with chicken, sausage, pork, beef, prawns, salmon, or kimchi.
For vegetarian fried rice, replace ham with tofu.
If you want to make it a little bit sweeter, try the pineapple fried rice.
For a richer dish, you can also add broccoli or corn.
Instead of white rice, you can use brown rice.
Oyster sauce is also commonly used in fried rice recipe as it gives the rice a slightly fishy flavor. If you want to use it, add one teaspoon.
To make this Chinese fried rice, you can also cook the rice ahead of time as you need to chill it. The more the rice will be cold and dried out, the better you will stir-fry it.
You can also make fried rice in the Instant Pot. Set the sauté mode, brown the garlic and stir in the rice, vegetables, eggs and ham.
You can serve fried rice as a side dish together with egg drop soup, almond chicken, kung pao chicken, or sautéed vegetables.
Cantonese rice can be stored in the refrigerator, in a special airtight container, for a maximum of 1 day. At the time of consumption, heat it in a pan with a drizzle of peanut seed oil.
Rinse the rice until the water is completely clear.
Rinse the rice until the water is completely clear.
Distribute the rinsed rice in a large pot, pour in the water and season with fine salt.
Distribute the rinsed rice in a large pot, pour in the water and season with fine salt.
The water should completely cover the rice up to two fingers above the surface.
The water should completely cover the rice up to two fingers above the surface.
Cover the pot with a lid and cook the rice over medium-low heat for about 18 minutes, or until the water has completely dried.
Cover the pot with a lid and cook the rice over medium-low heat for about 18 minutes, or until the water has completely dried.
Once the rice is cooked, remove the pot from the heat and set aside.
Once the rice is cooked, remove the pot from the heat and set aside.
Cut the cooked ham into cubes, if using.
Cut the cooked ham into cubes, if using.
Pour the green peas into a saucepan filled with boiling water.
Pour the green peas into a saucepan filled with boiling water.
Blanch the green peas for about 3 minutes.
Blanch the green peas for about 3 minutes.
Drain the green peas and rinse them in cold water to maintain their bright color.
Drain the green peas and rinse them in cold water to maintain their bright color.
Pour the peanut seed oil into a pan, put on the stove and cook.
Pour the peanut seed oil into a pan, put on the stove and cook.
Add the beaten eggs.
Add the beaten eggs.
Let the eggs harden briefly.
Let the eggs harden briefly.
Scramble them with the help of a spatula, stirring occasionally.
Scramble them with the help of a spatula, stirring occasionally.
Keep the pan on the stove and add the rice.
Keep the pan on the stove and add the rice.
Add the peas.
Add the peas.
Add the cooked ham. Add the carrots, onions and garlic. Pour the soy sauce.
Add the cooked ham. Add the carrots, onions and garlic. Pour the soy sauce.
Sauté everything for about 5 minutes over a high flame.
Sauté everything for about 5 minutes over a high flame.
Remove the pan from the heat, add chopped chives and season with extra soy sauce if needed.
Remove the pan from the heat, add chopped chives and season with extra soy sauce if needed.
Arrange the Chinese fried rice in individual bowls and serve.
Arrange the Chinese fried rice in individual bowls and serve.