Want to know what is the biggest no-no when making fried rice? Fried rice is a dish where rice gets fried or stir-fried with other vegetables, spices, meat, and/or seafood. Many Asian countries serve fried rice as their breakfast meal.
It’s simple to make but tastes great! Fried rice can also be part of your protein meals or other meal plans that you want to follow. If you want to know what the biggest no-no when making fried rice is, let us help you get that restaurant standard kind of fried rice.
In Asia, like in some Chinese restaurants, fried rice is usually served at breakfast time along with eggs, meats, fish, noodles, and vegetables. Ingredients are simply just leftover rice or cold rice (white rice or brown rice) sesame oil, green onions, cloves garlic, spring onions, white pepper, a pinch of salt or fish sauce, and oyster sauce.
There are several no-nos when cooking fried rice. Some people say not using enough oil, while others say don’t use too much oil, especially on the top layer. This can cause the food to be greasy and even burn. Next up we will show you some tips on how to cook fried rice without any problems.
- Don’t overcook your rice (it takes about 30 minutes).
- Mixing the sauce and everything together at the same time will be messy. Let them cool first off before mixing.
- Do not add too much soy sauce. Add just enough so that it covers all the rice.
- Use low heat on the pan if you’re using frozen veggies. Otherwise, cook it over medium heat.
- Try not to add too many green onions because they get soggy.
- The secret to perfect fried rice is to keep stirring. You should stir it frequently until it turns golden brown and crispy.
- When done, remove from heat and sprinkle with some spring onions or green onions over the top. Serve immediately.
Fried rice recipe for beginners
Ingredients:
- Leftover non-fried rice (cup rice)
- 3 tablespoons of sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons Oyster Sauce or organic soy sauce
- ¾ pound of beef, pork, chicken, turkey, or tofu
- Cooked vegetables of your choice (optional)
- Sauce of your choice (optional): Sriracha hot chilli sauce, hoisin sauce, teriyaki sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, etc
- Cut the meat into bite-size pieces and set it aside.
Procedure:
Add sesame oil to a large wok or frying pan over high heat. Once the oil is hot, put the diced beef, pork, and/or chicken into the wok and stir fry until both sides turn light brown. Remove the beef from the wok and set it aside. Repeat doing the same thing with the rest of the ingredients.
Put the cooked rice back into the wok and mix well with the remaining ingredients in the wok. Sprinkle in seasonings like salt, sugar, black pepper, garlic, and oyster sauce if desired.
Taste test the flavour of the mixture. Season again if necessary. Keep mixing occasionally before adding more seasoning throughout the process.
Once the oil starts smoking, carefully place the fried rice into the wok. Put the lid on the wok and allow it to steam for 3 minutes and then check the temperature of the outside of the wok. Turn on the stove burner to medium-high heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove the lid and check the temperature again. Cook until the rice is tender and steaming hot.
Sprinkle some shredded carrots, green onion, cilantro, or other garnish on top of the hot rice.
If you want a better-tasting version of the fried rice bowl, try adding a splash of fish sauce. The fish sauce brings out the umami taste of the dish.
If you like crunchy fried rice, toss in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix well before serving.
You can also experiment with different types of vegetables such as broccoli florets, zucchini strips, snow peas, bok choy stems, baby corn, cabbage, bell peppers, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, cauliflower fried rice, eggplant, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, jicama sticks, shiitake mushroom slices, radishes, cabbage leaves, spinach, and kale.
Tips:
- Do not stir-fry the whole dish at once. It’s best to add the ingredients one by one.
- Do not leave the work unattended while cooking. Make sure everything gets evenly mixed and cooked properly.
- Use an electric wok instead of a gas wok. Electric works are safer and easier to use than traditional ones.
- To make this healthier, substitute your regular ingredients with lower fat versions. Try using low-fat cheese, lean ground beef, and lower-calorie sauces.
Have some veggies first. Add in 1 cup of fresh greens, 2 cups of raw salad vegetables, or a healthy bowl of soup.
After that, have your main course, which could be anything from a lean burger to baked chicken breast to a grilled salmon fillet.
Fried rice goes great with also with any type of protein meals. If you’re having trouble deciding what to have, try something simple like grilled chicken or shrimp, salmon, tuna, tofu, or even veggie burgers.
If you want to eat healthier meals without compromising taste or convenience, you should try to incorporate protein into every meal. Protein is crucial for building muscle mass and maintaining health. While animal proteins provide complete nutrition, they also come with added saturated fats and cholesterol.
In contrast, plant proteins are low in saturated fats and cholesterol. They are usually lower in sodium and higher in fibre. The benefits of consuming high amounts of plant proteins include increased satiety, better digestion, and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. So add some protein to your fried rice as well!
