Why Fried Rice is a Global Favorite
Fried rice is a beloved dish all around the world, enjoyed as a meal of its own or as an accompaniment to another dish. Originating in ancient China as a way to repurpose leftover rice and prevent food waste, fried rice today comes in many forms and variations enjoyed all over the world.
From Indonesian nasi goreng to Thai khao pad sapparod and even Spanish paella, many dishes from cultures around the world can be considered fried rice. In general, fried rice consists of cooked rice that has been stir-fried with other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, seafood and meat.
Though you may associate fried rice with restaurants and takeout, it’s easy to create this delicious dish at home! Fried rice ingredients are often things you have on hand, like eggs, rice, and frozen vegetables, and can be a great way to give new life to leftovers. Plus, with a quick-cooking rice like Minute Rice, this dish can be very fast to prepare whenever the craving strikes.
Though there are countless fried rice recipes and different versions from various cultures around the world, the classic way to prepare fried rice comes down to a few steps. Typical fried rice is made by stir-frying your vegetables and other ingredients, then adding cooked rice and frying along with soy sauce and other seasonings. A beaten egg is added to the pan and scrambled, then folded into the rice and other ingredients.
The order of preparation varies depending on the recipe and ingredients you’re using, but in general fried rice is a convenient one-pan meal to prepare using any number of ingredients you have on hand.
Essential Tips for Perfect Fried Rice at Home
You don’t need to go to a restaurant or order takeout to enjoy delicious fried rice—use these tips to prepare fried rice at home!
- Have everything ready before you start. Fried rice cooks fast, and many of the ingredients have different cooking times. Make sure you have everything ready before you begin so nothing overcooks while you’re trying to get the next step ready. Have your rice prepared, with any large clumps broken up, and make sure that your eggs are beaten. Have your other ingredients sliced and ready to go and your bottle of soy sauce on hand.
- Use cold rice. Hot rice won’t fry as well when it hits a hot pan, which can result in soggy rice. Use day-old rice if you have it on hand or prepare rice and spread it on a sheet pan to let the excess steam evaporate. This cools the rice as well as dries it out, which helps the grains get the right texture.
- Use a wok. While any skillet will do to prepare fried rice, woks are ideal because they offer different zones of heat. This allows you to push ingredients away from the hot center when adding new ones, so everything cooks properly. It also makes tossing your rice far easier!
- Use high heat. Ensure that your wok or skillet is sufficiently hot before you add your rice, giving the exterior a chance to brown and get that ideal fried rice texture. This also helps prevent the rice from letting out excess moisture and steaming instead of frying.
You can prepare fried rice even faster at home with Minute Rice. Minute Instant Rice is ready in just five minutes—or 10 minutes for brown rice—which saves you a lot of time compared to traditional rice. To have your fried rice ready even faster, use Minute Rice Cups. These pre-portioned rice cups are ready in just one minute and are ideal for making a single serving of fried rice. Plus, they come in a lot of fun flavors and varieties to add another layer of flavor to your fried rice dish!
Fast & Easy Minute® Rice Fried Rice Recipes
Ready to start preparing delicious fried rice at home? These recipes are quick and easy to prepare thanks to the speed and convenience of Minute Rice. The beauty of fried rice is that you can easily make the dish your own by swapping in your favorite protein or veggies, using up produce in your fridge and even adding your favorite sauces and spices to the mix!
Quick and Easy Fried Rice with Jasmine Rice
Quick and Easy Fried Rice is a great place to start preparing fried rice at home. With aromatic Minute Instant Jasmine Rice and classic fried rice ingredients like ham, carrots and green onion, this dish is sure to satisfy your fried rice cravings. Start with cooking the vegetables together in a skillet or wok until tender-crisp, then add in Minute Instant Jasmine Rice, ham, soy sauce and eggs, cooking until the eggs are cooked through.
Classic Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
For another classic version of fried rice you can make at home, try this Shrimp Fried Rice, made with shrimp, ham, peas, green onions and mushrooms. While you prepare the Minute Instant White Rice, add the ingredients into a skillet or wok until the shrimp turn pink. Stir in your prepared Minute Rice, egg, and soy sauce, and cook until the egg is set. Like all of these recipes, you can substitute shrimp for another protein, or omit the proteins altogether for a meatless version.
Jalapeño Fried Rice with Minute® Rice Cups
This Jalapeño Fried Rice from recipe creator Laura Rieckhoff is perfect for a quick meal or as a side—or, add your favorite protein for a more filling version! It’s a great example of how to use Minute Rice Cups to enhance the flavors of your dish. This recipe uses a Minute Jalapeño Rice Cup, which brings a tasty blend of onion, green peppers and mild jalapeños for a hint of spice that enhances the fresh jalapeño in this recipe.
Easy Chicken Fried Rice with Brown Rice Cups
A great way to use up leftover chicken—or any other protein you have on hand—is this Easy Chicken Fried Rice. Using Minute Brown Rice Cups, this meal comes together extremely quickly, so it’s perfect for a fast weekday meal. Simply scramble an egg in a wok or skillet, then add prepared Minute Brown Rice Cups, mixed vegetables, shredded cooked chicken, edamame, and soy sauce. In just a few minutes, once all ingredients are heated through and well combined, you’re ready to enjoy!
Pork Belly Fried Rice for a Rich Flavor
Made with decadent pork belly and aromatic garlic, this Pork Belly Fried Rice is as delicious as it is easy to prepare using just a few ingredients. Everything cooks in one pan—first, cook the pork belly until brown and crispy, then sauté the garlic until fragrant and add in a Minute Jasmine Rice Cup to the garlic. Moving the rice and garlic to the side of the pan, cook the egg until it reaches the desired doneness. Add back in the pork belly along with soy sauce and stir until everything is combined.
Quick Nasi Goreng with Jasmine Rice
Nasi goreng is a classic Indonesian fried rice dish, and this Quick Nasi Goreng With Jasmine Rice recipe is a simple version you can make at home! The recipe calls for Southeast Asian ingredients like sambal oelek, a chili paste, and kecap manis, a sweet soy sauce, that add sweet-savory flavor to this meal. With ground chicken, Minute Instant Jasmine Rice and plenty of diced vegetables, this delicious meal is a satisfying dinner you can prepare in under 30 minutes.
Garlic Fried Rice & Quinoa Blend
Recipe creator Amanda Warren adds a twist to fried rice with her Garlic Fried Rice & Quinoa recipe. While she uses classic fried rice ingredients like carrots, green onions, peas and plenty of soy sauce, she uses Minute Instant Rice & Quinoa in place of standard rice. This delicious blend of brown rice, red rice, wild rice and quinoa adds a nuttier flavor and slightly chewier texture to the dish.
Quick & Easy Fried Rice at Home
With a few simple ingredients, it’s easy to prepare delicious fried rice at home. While there are typical ingredients found in classic fried rice recipes, the beauty of this dish is that you can make it your own. If you’re trying to use up the produce in your fridge or make the most of leftover rice, fried rice is a delicious solution. You can have fun incorporating different proteins, veggies and even sauces and spices to make a bowl of fried rice your own. And with Minute Rice in your pantry, preparing a delicious meal of fried rice takes less time and less hassle.
Looking for more quick meal ideas? Get some inspiration from Minute Rice’s Mix It Up meals for tasty rice bowls that use just a few ingredients.
Q: Can I make fried rice with Minute® Rice Cups?
A: Absolutely! Minute® Rice Cups are perfect for quick fried rice. Since they’re fully cooked and ready in just 1 minute, they save time and make fried rice prep even faster. Just heat them up, then toss them into your stir-fry with your favorite veggies, proteins, and sauces.
Q: What’s the best rice for quick fried rice?
A: The best rice is day-old rice or rice that’s been cooled and dried, which helps prevent sogginess. Minute® Instant Jasmine Rice and Minute® Brown Rice Cups work great for classic fried rice textures. Jasmine rice offers that light, aromatic base, while brown rice gives a heartier, nutty bite.
Q: How do I keep my fried rice from getting soggy?
A: Use cold, dry rice (leftovers are great!). If you’re making fresh rice, spread it on a sheet pan to cool before stir-frying. Also, make sure your pan is hot before adding rice to give it that perfect crispy texture.
Q: Can I use leftover ingredients in fried rice?
A: Yes! Fried rice is one of the best dishes for using up leftovers. Toss in leftover chicken, beef, veggies, or even that half-used bag of frozen peas hiding in your freezer.
Q: Is Minute® Rice good for meal prepping?
A: Definitely. Minute® Rice cooks fast and stores well, making it ideal for prepping ahead. Prepare a big batch of fried rice or keep individual Minute® Rice Cups on hand for easy, portioned meals throughout the week.
Q: What seasonings should I use for fried rice?
A: Soy sauce is classic, but you can also add sesame oil, ginger, garlic, or chili paste for extra flavor. Customize your fried rice based on your favorite cuisine—add sambal oelek for an Indonesian twist or swap in tamari for a gluten-free option.
