How to Make Chinese Fried Rice

​One of the best things about eating out at a Chinese restaurant is the absolutely delicious fried rice.   There is just something about it that is so savory, I just love it!  So, of course, I decided to try making it at home.  It was actually surprisingly easy to make, and it is also very easy to add to, to make all kinds of different meals!  It is a delicious base to just about any kind of dinner!
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Some restaurants serve their rice plain, with no vegetables in it at all, but my favorite Chinese place always served it with tiny carrots and green peas.  They add so much to the flavor, I included it in this recipe.  If you don't want to, you don't have to.
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​Ingredients:

• 2 cups white rice
• 4 cups water
• 2/3 cup chopped baby carrots
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 to 2 teaspoons soy sauce to taste (I use low sodium)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• pinch of salt

1. ​In a medium saucepan or wok, bring the water to a boil and add carrots.  Boil for 8 minutes and then add peas and boil for two more minutes.
2. Drain, keeping hot water and putting it back in the pot.  Set veggies aside.
3. Pour rice in water and when it comes to a boil, turn heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.  Drain any excess water.  Make sure rice is cooked.
4. In a large skillet or wok, add oil and peas and carrots.  Saute for 1 minute and then add raw eggs.
5. Scramble eggs until thoroughly cooked and mixed with vegetables.
6. Add rice and stir gently until mixed, dribble soy sauce in mixture while stirring.
7. Add sesame oil slowly while stirring until completely mixed.
8. Put fried rice in a bowl and sprinkle green onions on top.  Serve immediately.

This recipe is for plain fried rice.  There are many ways you can serve fried rice.  Below are three of my favorite ways to dress up fried rice.
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This is my favorite Wok.  It was less than $20 and it works great!!  14 inch!

Jumbo Wok

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​Pork, Chicken or Shrimp Fried Rice

Ingredients

Fried Rice made with the above recipe plus:

• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 pound ground pork, or cubed pork of any type you like
• 1/4 cup red sweet pepper diced
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. In a saucepan on medium heat, place the oil and pork (if raw) and cook until done.
2. Add onion, hoisin sauce, peppers, ginger and garlic powder and stir until onions are translucent.
3. Pour in rice and stir to mix
4. On low heat stir gently until thoroughly hot and combined.
5. Serve sprinkled with green onions

You can make this recipe with pork, chicken or shrimp, it is good any way you make it!
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Vegetable Fried Rice

This dish is made with the vegetables I like, you can make it with any vegetables that you like.  The vegetables really bulk it up, so you will need a bigger skillet!

Ingredients:

Fried Rice made with the above recipe plus:

• ​2 tablespoons peanut (or vegetable) oil with a pinch of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped green peppers
• 1/4 cup chopped red peppers
• 1/2 cup sliced white mushrooms
• 1/2 sweet onion diced
• 1 cup peapods
• 1 cup broccoli
• 1/2 cup chopped bok choy or celery
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or peanuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions

Directions:

1. In a large skillet or wok pour in oil with pinch of brown sugar, and stir.  Add garlic powder, ginger and nuts and stir till mixed.
2. Add bok choy (or celery) and peppers and saute for 2 minutes
3. Add mushrooms, onions, peapods and broccoli and saute for about 3 minutes until coated.
4. Add fried rice and stir until hot and throughly combined.
5. Pour mixture in bowl and sprinkle with green onions.  Serve immediately.

Sweet and Sour Fried Rice

This recipe basically is just for sweet and sour sauce.  You can use this sauce on either of the above recipes if you want to make it sweet and sour.  This recipe is also fantastic on meatballs or to dip eggrolls in.  The ingredients are what I use because I don't like my sauce overly sweet.  You can adjust the sweetness by the amount of brown sugar.  If you like it more tart, add more cider vinegar.  
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​Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup catsup
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
• salt to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, put all ingredients and stir to mix.
2. Stir constantly as the sauce thickens.  Keep stirring till sauce consistency and then remove from heat and pour over your dish immediatelyl

This recipe makes about 1 cup of sauce.  Just add it to your fried rice in whatever amount you like, and enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

​Jade    :)

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Image Credit:  https://pixabay.com/photos/restaurant-chinese-cuisine-1762493/

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The owner of Homemade by Jade is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com as well as other retail websites.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.