It takes more than soy sauce to make a proper Chinese Fried Rice, just like what you get at Chinese restaurants. I learnt how to make proper Chinese Fried Rice from Australia’s most well known Chinese chef, Kylie Kwong!
The first thing some might notice is that there’s bacon in this Fried Rice. “That’s not authentic!”, you may be thinking.
And that’s true. Authentic Chinese restaurants make Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage. I’m betting that the vast majority of readers have never bought or cooked Chinese Sausage before.
But you know what? Kylie Kwong says bacon is ok. In fact, it’s the alternative in her recipe to Chinese Sausage. And as someone who has bought, cooked and eaten Chinese Sausage, I can assure you that bacon brings a very similar salty / oily / meaty pop to fried rice.
And as someone who has eaten a lot of fried rice in her time, here in Sydney, in China, Hong Kong, the US and London, I can also tell you that I’ve seen a fair share of fried rice made with bacon and even with ham!
So this recipe I have for you today is not so much about exactly what should be in the Fried Rice. Because even in China, and certainly in Chinese restaurants around the world, it’s clear that there are no hard and fast rules about what should be in a fried rice.
However! And there is a big “however”. While I give much concession to the additions, the thing you cannot skimp on is the sauce! The sauce has to be right – and it isn’t just soy sauce and chicken broth!
So here are my 10 8 commandments for making a great (proper!) Fried Rice. (I really wanted to say 10, but I can only think of 8 key ones.)
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No chicken broth / stock. This adds moisture to the rice which goes against the very core of what the texture of fried rice should be. Unless you’re trying to make Stewed Rice, not Fried Rice … 🤔
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Day old rice is best. Fried rice is not meant to be sticky and the only way to achieve that is with cooked rice that’s been refrigerated overnight. If you don’t have day old rice, you can cook rice, spread it on a tray then refrigerate to speed up the process (about 1 1/2 hours). Or keep bags of cooked rice in the freezer – that’s what I do!
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Chinese cooking wine is key. It’s the secret ingredient that makes this into a fried rice that really does taste like what you get in restaurants.
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High heat. Get that wok or skillet stinking hot and cook it hard and fast!
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Get everything prepared. Once you start cooking, it comes together fast. So have everything lined up and ready to throw into the wok!
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Keep it moving! Stir fry, stir fry, stir fry! Don’t let your ingredients sit still for a second!
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Don’t overcrowd. Even in a large home wok, 4 cups of rice is the max. Unless, as with #1, you are trying to make Stewed Rice.
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Char flavour is authentic. Next time you get takeout, notice how the fried rice has a distinct mild char flavour. That’s the real deal! So don’t stress if you get burnt bits!
This recipe that I’m sharing with you today is how I make it as a usual midweek meal, hence why it has bacon in it rather than Chinese sausage. I swap out the prawns for whatever other proteins I have on hand, or leave it out. I’ve also been known to increase the veggies in this – and for a super speedy version, to even use frozen diced veggies. If you substantially increase the veggies, reduce the quantity of rice, otherwise there won’t be enough sauce.
Really, other than the rice, the cooking technique and the sauce, feel free to substitute the other ingredients for whatever you want. That’s the beauty of fried rice – it’s so flexible! – Nagi x
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Chinese Fried Rice with Shrimp / Prawns
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable), separated
- 2 eggs , lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup bacon , excess fat trimmed, chopped (or 1/2 cup Chinese Sausage) (Note 1)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 3 tsp ginger , minced or very finely chopped
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped (about 3/4 cup) (brown, white or yellow)
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry (or sake, Japanese cooking wine) (Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 5 oz/150g small shrimp/prawns , cooked and peeled (Note 3)
- 3 cups cooked long grain white rice , refrigerated overnight (Note 4)
- 3 scallions , thinly sliced
Sauce
- 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce (all purpose or light) (Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil (roasted - i.e. dark colour)
Instructions
- Mix together Sauce ingredients, set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok (or heavy based skillet/fry pan) over medium heat. Add eggs and cook until scrambled, then remove onto plate.
- Increase heat to high and add bacon. Cook until golden, then remove onto plate with egg - about 2 minutes.
- Drain off excess bacon fat.
- Add remaining 2 tbsp oil, garlic and ginger. (Note 5) Return wok to stove on high heat. Stir fry as it comes up to heat, don’t let it burn. When garlic starts to sizzle, add onion and stir fry for 2 minutes until golden.
- Add Chinese wine and sugar and let it simmer rapidly, stirring, for 20 seconds, until mostly evaporated.
- Add prawns/shrimp and stir fry for 1 minute to heat through (if pre-cooked, cook longer to cook if raw).
- Add rice, Sauce, eggs, bacon and all but 2 tbsp of shallots/scallions. Stir fry for 2 minutes until rice is hot - around 2 minutes.
- Transfer to serving plate, sprinkle with remaining scallions and serve.
Recipe Notes:
ii) Her original recipe uses Chinese Sausage and she recommends bacon as a substitute and that's what I usually use, though Chinese Sausage is available in vacuum sealed packets in Asian section of large supermarkets.
ii) I added prawns. 7. This makes enough for 3 as a main or 5 as a side as part of a multi-course meal. 8. Nutrition per serving, assuming 3 servings as a main. Assuming 5 servings as a side: 313 calories.
Nutrition Information:
Lucky 8: Eight more Chinese takeout favourites
Life of Dozer
Just another day in the Hard Life of Dozer – starting with breakfast at The Boathouse in Palm Beach, Sydney. For visitors to Australia, this is a MUST VISIT!!
Brilliant! Just Brilliant. Can’t wait for your cook book, ordered 3 copies for gifts and myself.
Made this today for lunch. I’ve always been leery of making fried rice but this was amazing! Cooked the rice yesterday and refrigerated until today. Doubled the sauce because, why not? Added some peas to it and oh my, it was so flavorful. Definitely going into my rotation and I have leftovers for tomorrow. Thanks Nagi for another great recipe. #mygotorecipesite.
I am definitely going to make this. I have always made the one in AWW, since the book was released years ago, which we all love. Yours looks amazing and will be the first making other AWW version. Chris
Hey Nagi
Another great recipe from you!
I upped the amount to 9 servings, added a cup of corn kernels and a cup of green baby peas, to bulk it up a bit and colour. Also added a Corolina Reaper to give it a little kick (I like it when my food bites back)! 😀
amazing recipe so easy on the tummy was so good thank you Kylie Kwong <3
Made this for the kids for the second time last night. Subbed the scallion/spring onion for a handful of frozen green peas to tick the veg box. The kids can’t get enough of it. Thanks again Nagi!
Delicious and easy. I included some sliced mushrooms which added a little more texture.
Soooo delicious and easy, thanks Nagi 😘
This has become a regular favourite in my family. We usually add a few vegetables according to what is on hand and it is always delicious.
used this recipe for years, comes out good every time. Love your recipes!!
This was great. I did not use bacon or onions and used one less spoonful of soy sauce… I also used basmati rice that I cooked earlier in the day and it turned out really delicious.
Hey Nagi. I want to make this but want to confirm how to correctly quick long grain rice in a rice cooker – 1 cup to 1 cup ratio or different? I have tried before and failed ha!
Thanks again for the epic meals! x
1 cup rice to 1 1/2 cups water is the usual ratio for the rice cooker.
Absolutely lovely dish, thank you Nagi, very easy to make with beautiful flavours
Perfect, the bacon give it the magic touch.
Only problem is there is a typo in the recipe, left out peas and carrot.
Thanks for the recipe
Hi Nagi, today I am going to make your Chinese Fried Rice with Prawns. I always read your instructions before I cook the recipe. I notice that in the recipe note 4 you said Basmati and Jasmine rice are not suitable. I always thought they were both long grain rice. Am I wrong? Can’t wait to try this recipe. Sue
I’ve used both types of rice with success. Basmati is less starchy and less sticky than Jasmine.
When do you add the sauce?
Hi Rachel – step 8. I hope you love it! N x