You would be hard-pressed to find a Chinese household that doesn’t enjoy a good bowl of fried rice. Growing up, whenever I saw a large bowl of cooked rice in the kitchen, I would cross my fingers and wait with eager anticipation to see if it was fried rice night. The flavor of rice mixed with eggs, vegetables, and a thin layer of soy sauce was something that brought comfort to my belly.
It probably comes as no surprise that I cook fried rice very frequently. Not only do I find this dish comforting, but it is also darn easy to make. All you really need is rice, eggs, vegetables, and soy sauce. Once you get into the rhythm of this basic egg fried rice recipe, play around with it! Substitute rice for quinoa, add other vegetables or protein—do whatever suits your taste.
How To Make Easy Fried Rice With Egg
- Large skillet or wok
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Bowl
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- 2 cups cooked rice ((preferably day-old rice))
- 2 amount eggs
- 1/2 cup diced vegetables ((such as carrots, peas, bell peppers, or corn))
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- some Salt
- some pepper
- some chopped green onions
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Easy Fried Rice with Egg
Step1. Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a small amount of cooking oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable or peanut oil, and swirl it around to coat the surface of the pan.
Step2. Add the beaten eggs to the wok and quickly scramble them until they are just cooked. Remove the scrambled eggs from the wok and set them aside.
Step3. Add a little more oil to the wok if needed. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, and stir-fry for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Step4. Add the chopped vegetables to the wok and stir-fry for a few minutes until they are crisp-tender. It’s important to keep the heat high and continuously toss the ingredients to ensure even cooking.
Step5. Push the vegetables to one side of the wok and add the cooled cooked rice to the other side. Break up any clumps of rice with a spatula and stir-fry for a couple of minutes to heat the rice through.
Step6. Add the cooked protein, such as diced chicken or shrimp, to the wok and stir-fry for another minute or two to combine it with the rice and vegetables.
Step7. Pour the sauces, such as soy sauce and oyster sauce, evenly over the rice and toss everything together. Continue stir-frying for a few more minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to coat the rice and ingredients.
Step8. Return the scrambled eggs to the wok and gently fold them into the fried rice.
Step9. Taste the fried rice and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add a little more soy sauce, salt, or pepper according to your preference.
Step10. Remove the wok from the heat and garnish the fried rice with chopped scallions or cilantro for a fresh and aromatic touch.
Cooking Tips:
Below are tips on making the best egg fried rice recipe:
Use Day-old Rice
One of the most important things to a successful fried rice is using leftover long grain white rice. Because it won’t contain as much moisture as same day cooked rice. This creates fluffy separated rice grains versus using same day warm rice which creams rice clumps.
Use fresh eggs:
If you want those gorgeous yellow egg yolks, opt for local free run eggs with omega 3s.
Use a steel pan for smoky flavor!
Fried rice is especially tasty when stir fried in a hot preheated wok. When the oil meets the high heat, it creates “wok hei” which translates to “breathe of wok” in Chinese. This combustion is what gives the rice that smoky flavor.
I recommend a carbon steel wok or aluminum wok. But if you don’t own a large wok, use a large skillet. Important: do not smoke your non-stick pan over high heat. This will melt the non-stick coating off into your food.
Do not overcook eggs:
Once the eggs look like scrambled egg but are still moist, push to the side of the pan to prevent overcooking.
Easy Fried Rice Variations:
The sky’s the limit when it comes to homemade fried rice variations, so feel free to get creative and use up other leftover ingredients you may happen to have on hand. That said, here are some classic add-ins:
Chicken Fried Rice: You can either sauté some chicken in a separate sauté pan while making your fried rice. Then shred or dice and add to your fried rice. Or for a shortcut, I like to shred a rotisserie chicken. Or even better, shred leftovers from my favorite baked chicken breasts recipe.
Pork Fried Rice: Sauté a boneless pork chop in a separate sauté pan while making your fried rice. Then dice and add to your rice.
Beef Fried Rice: Sauté steak or brown ground beef in a separate sauté pan while making your fried rice. Then crumble or dice and add to your rice.
Shrimp Fried Rice: Sauté half a pound of peeled, raw shrimp in separate sauté pan while making your fried rice. Then add the shrimp to your rice.
Vegetable Fried Rice: Any stir-fry friendly veggies would be great in fried rice! Just sauté at the same time that you cook the onions, carrots, peas and garlic. Then stir to combine with the fried rice.
Kimchi Fried Rice: Fresh kimchi adds a major flavor boost to fried rice. Just chop and stir it in to make kimchi fried rice.
Pineapple Fried Rice: Fresh pineapple can be traditional in Chinese or Thai fried rice. Just chop and stir it in to combine.
Also, in lieu of using traditional white rice in this recipe, feel free to make:
Fried Brown Rice: For a healthier twist, feel free to use cooked brown rice in this recipe instead of white rice.
What To Serve With Fried Rice:
Egg Drop Soup or Hot and Sour Soup
12-Minute Chicken & Broccoli
20-Minute Moo Shu Pork (or Chicken)
Beef & Broccoli
Thai Basil Chicken
Sesame Noodles with Broccoli and Almonds
Black Pepper Chicken
Conclusion
In conclusion, making easy and delicious fried rice with egg is within reach for anyone willing to embrace the techniques and flavors of this classic dish. By selecting the right ingredients, mastering the stir-frying technique, and incorporating personal touches, you can create a versatile and satisfying meal that can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Whether enjoyed as a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing dish for gatherings, homemade fried rice with egg is sure to impress. So, grab your wok, gather your ingredients, and embark on a culinary journey to master the art of creating this beloved comfort food.