Fried rice is a staple of the Asian diet. It’s fast, inexpensive, and easy to make. Depending on where you live and what ingredients are available, fried rice can also be a seasonal food. In northern climates like the United States, we tend to eat more fried rice during the winter months than we do in the summer. The reason for this pattern is obvious: cold weather requires stews and soups that require longer cooking times than lighter summer foods. In order to perfect your own fried rice recipe, it’s important to understand how different types of rice are used in Chinese cuisine as well as their specific cooking properties (i.e., sticky vs. dry grains) before starting on your own recipe venture. Read on for some insights into how different types of rice are used and how you can use them in your own fried rice recipe:
How Rice Types Affect Fried Rice Recipes
Depending on which rice you use for your fried rice recipe, you’ll receive a different outcome. Popular types of long-grained rice include: - White rice: This is the most commonly used rice for fried rice recipes. It’s sticky, so it cooks up soft and sticky, but it remains unbroken and can be easily broken up with a fork when done. White rice is the perfect rice to use when you want to make a light, fluffy fried rice. It’s also what you’ll find in most Asian supermarkets. - Brown rice: This is a whole grain that’s been partially husked and then parboiled before being steamed and then cooled to remove the hull. Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice and is often used in Asian desserts and Asian-inspired healthy meals. It’s also a great option for vegetarian diets because it has more nutrients than white rice, but it does require a little more time and effort to prepare. - Wild rice: This is an American variety of rice that’s been cultivated for thousands of years. You’ll find wild rice in Asian supermarkets and health food stores. Wild rice has a slightly sweet and nutty taste that pairs nicely with many types of fish and seafood. Wild rice is a dry grain, so it’s not ideal for making fried rice recipes. In fact, it’s so dry that it doesn’t even dissolve when cooked.
Why Are Some Fried Rice Recipes So Bad?
Asians aren’t afraid to dig into bowls of rich and filling fried rice. However, some recipes tend to be too heavy, too salty, and too oily. Here are a few key tips that can help you make the best fried rice ever!
- Seasoning: Certain ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar are added to fried rice recipes to enhance flavor. However, too much of these ingredients can overwhelm the delicate balance of flavors in a fried rice dish. Seasoning should be adjusted according to a recipe’s ingredients. Too much soy sauce in a recipe is usually a sign of too much oil as well. It’s important to remember that the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
- Cooking Oil: A good rule of thumb when it comes to fried rice is to use a light vegetable oil for sauteing the ingredients and a canola oil for finishing the dish. When making fried rice, you don’t want too much oil. It’s important to use a light oil that’s not too hot (above 180°F/82°C) or you’ll end up with an oily dish.
- Rice: The type of rice used in your recipe can have a big impact on the final result. Sticky-rice lovers can expect a soft, sticky, and mushy dish. On the other hand, a dry
-rice dish will remain grainy and unbroken. The best fried rice recipes use a combination of sticky rice and dry rice so that the dish remains soft but not mushy. The key is to not over
-mix the rice.
Instant or Quick-Cooking Rice
If you’re planning on making fried rice often, you might consider buying either quick or instant rice. These varieties are precooked and so they typically don’t require presoaking before being used. You can also find instant rice that’s specifically sold for making fried rice. If you have the ingredients and tools required to make your own fried rice, you can undoubtedly make it with either uncooked or precooked rice. However, the choice comes down to convenience. It’s hard to argue that making your own fried rice is any less convenient than using instant rice. If you’re just looking to make something quickly and easily, a package of instant rice is a great option.
how to make fried rice with egg
A classic fried rice recipe adds an egg to the mix. You can make fried rice with an egg by simply whisking an egg in with the already cooked rice. Although fried rice with an egg is a classic dish, some cooks prefer to scramble an egg before adding it to the cooked rice for a lighter result. Whichever method you prefer, it’s important to remember to not overcook the egg when making fried rice with an egg. If you’re cooking a fried rice recipe with an egg, make sure not to overcook the rice or the egg yolk will become rubbery as a result of overcooking. It’s important to know when you can take the rice off the fire (i.e., when the rice is cooked) and the egg can be taken off the heat.
fried rice ingredients
- Rice: If making your own fried rice, you can use any type of long-grained rice. In the case of using rice purchased pre-cooked, use medium-grain rice and make sure the package says “chinese-style” rice.
- Soy Sauce: This is a staple flavor enhancer in fried rice recipes. Too much soy sauce can overwhelm the delicate flavors in a dish, but you don’t want to under-sauce a fried rice dish either
– you want it seasoned to your liking.
- Cooking Oil: The oil used in fried rice recipes should be a neutral-flavored vegetable oil like canola. A canola oil will not change the flavor of your dish in any way.
vegetable fried rice recipe
One of the most delicious fried rice recipes includes a mix of vegetables. This fried rice recipe is perfect for spring, summer, and autumn when fresh vegetables are at their best. The vegetables in this recipe are grilled, not sauteed, and are seasoned with Koren spice blend, giardiniera, and fresh lime juice. The vegetables in this recipe are grilled, not sauteed, and are seasoned with Koren spice blend, giardiniera, and fresh lime juice. Vegetables for this recipe include: - Onions: These are grilled and then deglazed with hoisin sauce for a delicious flavor combination. - Cucumbers: Grilled and then tossed with koren spice blend. - Fresh peppers: These are grilled and then tossed with koren spice blend. - Fresh mushrooms: These are grilled and then tossed with koren spice blend.
Tips For Making The Best Fried Rice Ever
- Rice: Make sure that you use long-grained rice in your fried rice recipe. Sticky-rice will result in a mushy dish, while a dry-rice recipe will be grainy.
- Seasoning: Soy sauce should be used generously in fried rice recipes, but make sure not to drown the dish in soy sauce. Freshly ground black pepper should also be added to your fried rice recipe as well.
- Cooking Oil: Keep in mind that oil used for frying should not be too hot. It should be around 180°F/82°C. Vegetable oils such as canola or soybean are good options for frying.
- Vegetables: You can use any type of vegetable for this recipe, but make sure that they are steamed and not sauteed. You can also use a combination of vegetables for a more flavorful dish.
- Egg: The best fried rice recipes only include an egg that has been well
-cooked and not raw.
Fried rice is a staple of the Asian diet. It’s fast, inexpensive, and easy to make. Depending on where you live and what ingredients are available, fried rice can also be a seasonal