Get the sauce right and you can make a seriously tasty fried rice in less than 10 minutes using virtually anything! This is super quick, made with egg and frozen veggies, but I couldn’t resist adding a handful of bacon for added tastiness. A highly versatile fried rice recipe you can make your own – such as adding chicken or shrimp/prawns.
I don’t know about you, but I always have bags of frozen cooked rice in the freezer. Best handy cooking tip ever. No more waiting for the rice to cook + rest (25 minutes) when you’re whipping up a 12 minute stir fry using my All Purpose Chinese Stir Fry Sauce. Just reheat frozen rice!
And of course, having frozen rice means on hand at all times means you’re just 15 minutes away from serving up FRIED RICE for dinner!! Here’s a Chinese Shrimp/Prawn Fried Rice, Nasi Goreng (Indo Fried Rice) and Thai Fried Rice. Oh – and there’s always today’s Egg Fried Rice 😂…
Today’s Egg Fried Rice is a highly adaptable recipe. Terrific as it is, and also to add more vegetables or proteins. Use it to make Chicken Fried Rice, Prawn / Shrimp Fried Rice or skip meat completely and make it meat free!
If you make Egg Fried Rice “properly”, you’ll make a thin omelette using the eggs, roll it up, chop it, then toss it back into the wok with the rice.
Me – I make Egg Fried Rice as a lazy quick meal. So I scramble the eggs on the side of the wok – or skillet. It sounds cheeky, but actually, this is a technique common in Thai Stir Fries, like in the ever popular Pad See Ew. It works great!
I’ve used a basic mix of frozen chopped vegetables in this fried rice recipe, because I totally buy into the whole “snap frozen” thing. Just carrots, peas and corn.
But don’t let my laziness influence you. Feel free to use fresh veggies! – Nagi x
PS I’ve used a wok here but it’s not essential. A skillet will work just fine, but I recommend using a bit more oil to compensate for larger surface area. Also, if you use a large skillet, you can scale up the recipe. I’ve added these tips in the recipe. 😇
A super quick meal, using egg for protein and frozen veggies for convenience. To make shrimp/prawn or chicken fried rice, just add it in with the onion. Tip: Keep bags of cooked rice in the freezer, see notes - handy for quick meals! See notes for scaling recipe up and using skillet instead of wok, and for GF option. Recipe VIDEO below.
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped
- 120 g/4 oz bacon , chopped (optional, or use ham)
- 1 - 1 1/2 cups frozen diced vegetables (I used peas, corn, carrots)
- 2 cups, packed, cooked white rice (day old refrigerated or frozen defrosted (Note 1))
- 3 eggs, whisked
- 3/4 cup shallots / scallions / green onions , sliced
- 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (or sake or Mirin or dry sherry) (Note 3)
- 1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce (or light or all purpose) (Note 4)
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil , optional
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
-
Heat about 1 1/2 tbsp oil in a wok or 2 tbsp oil in a skillet over high heat until smoking.
-
Add onion, garlic and bacon. Cook until bacon is light golden - about 1 1/2 minutes.
-
Add vegetables (still frozen is fine). Cook for 2 minutes so they defrost and water evaporates.
-
Add rice and Sauce ingredients. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes until liquid evaporates.
-
Shove rice to the side of the wok / skillet. Add 1/2 tbsp oil into the cleared space, shift wok so the heat is centred over the cleared space. Pour in egg then scramble - cook it through properly, don't "soft scramble".
-
Add shallots then stir the egg into the rice. Remove from heat and serve immediately!
1. You need day old rice that's been refrigerated or frozen (then thawed) because the rice grains dry out, making them ideal for fried rice. Sticky freshly cooked rice is no good for fried rice - it makes fried rice gluey. Long grain white rice is best for fried rice because it is the least sticky once cooked. But brown rice, medium and short grain white rice, basmati and jasmine also works (albeit the last 2 will have a non Chinese fragrance). Sushi rice, paella and risotto rice are not suitable for fried rice.
2. Here is how I cook white rice: Place 1 cup rice in a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups water over medium high heat. Put lid on, then when the water starts to simmer, immediately turn down to low or medium low so the water simmers gently. Leave for 12 minutes or until water is absorbed into rice (tilt saucepan to check). Do not stir or remove lid during cook time. Remove from stove but leave lid on, leave for 10 minutes. Fluff with fork. Refrigerate or freeze (for use in fried rice). If it's an emergency, cook the rice per above, spread on a tray and refrigerate until cold, then proceed with recipe.
3. Chinese cooking wine, or cooking sake, Mirin or dry sherry, is an essential ingredient for making a truly "restaurant standard" fried rice. Though many recipes suggest using liquid chicken broth, please do not do this - it makes your fried rice wet and gluey!
If you can't consume alcohol, adjust recipe as follows: Reduce oyster and soy sauce to 2 tsp each, and add 1 tbsp water to the Sauce. Proceed with recipe. When you add the rice, add 1/2 tsp chicken or vegetable stock powder (or bouillon cube crumbled). Stir through, then add remaining Sauce ingredients exc the Cooking wine. Proceed with recipe, add tiny sprinkle of salt at end if you want it saltier.
4. Broadly speaking, there are 3 common types of soy sauce: all purpose ("normal") soy sauce, light soy sauce and dark soy sauce. Dark soy sauce adds a tinge of darker colour and a touch of extra flavour which is why I like using it in fried rice. But any soy sauce is fine for this (but not kecap manis or other sweet or flavoured soy sauces).
5. SKILLET: If using a skillet, add about 1/2 tbsp extra oil at the start to compensate for larger cooking surface. Also, if you use a large skillet, you can scale up the recipe by 50% - click on the Servings number and slide the scaler until the rice becomes 3 cups, it will change all the ingredients. Once you add the rice, use 2 wooden spoons to toss it - makes up for not having the high walls of a wok.
6. GLUTEN FREE: Make sure you use gluten free soy sauce and Oyster Sauce if you want to make this gluten free.
7. Nutrition per serving, assuming 3 servings. I find that this is sufficient for a meal - and no one has ever accused me of eating like a bird!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Watch how to make fried rice!
LIFE OF DOZER
I upsized my little 2 seater convertible to a smallish 4WD because he grew out of it and hated the wind in his eyes when we were zooming around with the top down.
All that for a bloody dog, and yet he was so unhappy shoved in the boot, he’d stand with his chin on the back seat so that drool dripped down the leather seats (sorry to gross you out).
I caved and folded down the back seat to give him more space. I find it so ironic that I upsized to a larger car just for him, and yet I drive around with the back seat permanently folded down. 🙄
Can chicken or beef be used in the dish?
Hello again Nagi.
I made a single serve of this for lunch today and it was Yummy.
Thanks.
I made this last night to accompany Nagi’s BAKED SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN (which if you haven’t tried already – get on it. So good.) It is very easy to make and I used streaky bacon in mine – the flavours were lovely! The only thing I will do differently is to cook the egg at the beginning and plate it until I was ready to add it at the end. Only because some of my rice burned while I was waiting for it to cook in the wok and I was so sad to bin any of this meal – it was seriously yummy. This would be nice just by itself. The sesame oil is must!
WHOOT! Glad you enjoyed this Emily!!! N xx
Just had this yesterday without meat to accompany some chicken fritters tasted delicious, We also had it a few weeks ago with some chunks of cooked ham thrown in that tasted good also, great for a quick and tasty meal.
Glad you enjoyed this Kay! Thank you for letting me know! N x
I have never frozen cooked rice how to? And how long does it last in freezer. Your fried rice was great. I am the only one who eats it in the family so it would be nice to just grab some for me.
Hi Nagi!
I just became your loyal follower because of your Chow Mein recipe and tonight I will be trying this recipe and your sweet and sour one. I just wanted to ask if I can use Charlie for this? And how’ much of it?
I made this tonight for my very fussy family and incredibly all 4 children came back for seconds! First time for everything I guess.
Thank you so much for a fabulous recipe 😊
Highest praise EVER right??!! 🙌🏻
Nice to hear that your dog has you well trained. Just like my two. I am trying your fried rice tonight. Thank you.
He has me totally wrapped around his little finger. Well, paw 😖
Happy to hear it. I had to buy a van with a double bed, TV and fridge for my two dogs. Your fried rice was very nice and easy to make, thank you.
I’m making this tonight! We have two “Golden Girls” – Lucy Lou (3) & Missy (2). Love the vehicle change and totally understand it! They rule our world and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks for the recipe!
Delicious!!! I love every recipe of yours I have tried!! I always end up changing a few things because of accessibility (I live in a super small town in Panama)….but with your “notes” it makes it super easy to know what things are important and which I can play with. Thank you so much for all your recipes!! Hoping to try your pad thai some day soon!!
Great to hear Becky! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! N x
Thank you very much for sharing your recipes. I am happy to meet you and especially to start trying your dishes, thanks again you are incredible!
Hi Jose! Hope you do get a chance to try some! 🙂
Just made this for lunch
I didnt have time to cook rice and wait so I used a packet of microwavable brown rice with quinoa that was in the pantry
its already partially dry
threw in some cooked prawn meat and shredded chinese cabbage and cauliflower sliced thin and carrot jullienned
also no oyster sauce so I used a small amount of hoisin
was very nice and will be doing this again and will try the different rices they have quite a few at my local Aldi store
So glad you enjoyed this Gaynor! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂 Have a great weekend! N x
Hi Nagi, I made your Egg Fried Rice for dinner tonight using your suggestions for substitutes to fit within my dietary restrictions. I asked my husband how many stars I should give the recipe (5 stars is we love it and want to make it again soon) and he said it was at least 6 stars! And I loved it too. Thanks
And give Dozer a hug from us!
Hey Nagi 🙂 I’ve cooked this fried rice for the first time last week, and my partner wants to triple the batch…(because he loved it too much and ate most of it!). My question is, would it be okay to triple the sauce?
Thanks, Nagi!
Glad you enjoyed this Thilani! As for tripling the sauce, it will make the rice very salty!! How ’bout just increasing by 50%? 🙂 N x
Just made this again using cauliflower rice and it was very tasty! Thank you for another winner!
This is the most delicious fried rice. I added broccoli to mine. Thank you Nagi. We love your Thai basil chicken as well.
That’s great to hear Linda! So pleased you enjoyed this! N xx
I love fried rice so much because of its flexibility of ingredients and cooking speed, of course. However, I often fry within 15-20 minutes as I want everything well-cooked and a little bit over-cooked would be super nice.
That’s great that you can adapt recipes to your taste Natalie! 🙂 N x
It was SO good!! Your pictures are absolutely stunning and I am so jealous!