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fried rice

Fried Rice for Late Lunches and Clean Bowls

Day-old rice transforms into restaurant-quality fried rice in under twenty minutes, delivering crispy edges and umami-rich flavor through the critical step most home cooks miss. Flexible proteins, vegetables, and aromatics combine with eggs and soy sauce to create an efficient, customizable dish that somehow works with random kitchen leftovers.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 3 slices bacon
  • 3 eggs slightly beaten
  • 1 1/4 cups meat finely diced
  • 2 green onions finely chopped
  • 1/2 lb fresh bean sprouts
  • 6 mushrooms sliced
  • Salt
  • 1 dash black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Method
 

  1. Begin by cooking 3 slices of bacon in a large skillet or wok over medium heat until it is lightly browned but not crunchy, then set it aside to cool. Once cooled, chop the bacon into fine pieces and reserve.
  2. Add your 3 slightly beaten eggs directly to the bacon drippings still in the pan and scramble them thoroughly. Once cooked, remove the eggs and chop them very finely—this guarantees even distribution throughout the finished dish.
  3. The bacon fat creates a flavorful base that infuses the eggs with rich, savory notes essential to authentic fried rice.
  4. Add your 3 cups of cooked rice to the same skillet and fry for approximately 5 minutes while stirring constantly. This step is critical for breaking up any clumps and allowing the rice to absorb the bacon-infused flavors from the pan.
  5. After this initial frying period, add all remaining ingredients: the 1 1/4 cups finely diced meat, 2 finely chopped green onions, 1/2 lb fresh bean sprouts, 6 sliced mushrooms, the reserved chopped bacon, chopped eggs, salt, 1 dash of black pepper, and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
  6. Mix everything together thoroughly and continue cooking for 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally to guarantee even heating and flavor distribution.
  7. Serve the fried rice piping hot, while it still retains its warmth and the vegetables maintain their slight crispness. The combination of tender rice, crispy edges, tender vegetables, and savory proteins creates a well-balanced dish that satisfies on multiple textural levels.
  8. Remember that you can customize the meat selection based on your preferences—pork, chicken, ham, beef, and shrimp are all excellent choices that will yield delicious results.

Notes

Fried Rice Substitutions and Variations

While the classic version I’ve just walked you through hits all the right notes, the beauty of fried rice lies in how forgiving it is when I want to shake things up. I could swap the bacon for crispy tofu, toss in cashews for crunch, or experiment with different vegetables like broccoli or carrots.
Pineapple chunks? Sure, why not. I might substitute oyster sauce for soy sauce, add ginger for warmth, or throw in sesame oil for depth. The meat’s flexible too—leftover rotisserie chicken works great. I’d say don’t fear improvising; that’s where fried rice truly shines.