Egg Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 44 votes

Nov 03, 2023, Updated Nov 20, 2023

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Egg Fried Rice is my GO-TO recipe when I don’t know what to eat and I need to clean out the fridge! I always have the ingredients needed to make this for a quick & easy meal!

Egg Fried Rice, a beloved classic in Asian cuisine, is a flavorful and satisfying dish that combines fluffy rice, scrambled eggs, and a medley of ingredients. The secret to achieving the perfect Egg Fried Rice lies in mastering a few key techniques. In this blog post, we’ll share essential tips that will elevate your Egg Fried Rice to restaurant-quality perfection.

Watch the Egg Fried Rice Recipe Video Below!

Egg Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (2)

Ingredients

You only need a few ingredients to make this delicious Egg Fried Rice. Here is what you’ll need to make it!

  • 1.5cupswhite jasmine riceat least one day old (dried out overnight in the refrigerator)
  • 3eggs
  • 3clovesgarlicchopped
  • 1tbspgingerchopped
  • 4scallionsthinly sliced, whites and greens separated
  • 1cupfrozen mixed vegetablesor raw
  • 1/4tspwhite pepper
  • 1/2tbspsugar
  • 1tspsalt
  • 1/4tspmsg
  • 1tbspsoy sauce
  • 2tbspneutral oilI used avocado oil

Key Ingredient Tips for Egg Fried Rice

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INGREDIENTS TIPS

VEGETABLES
You can use either fresh or frozen! The cooking time is similar for both, since the vegetables are so small, they’ll still cook quickly frozen. I used frozen because that’s what I had on hand!

RICE
Do not use freshly steamed rice! The rice should be at least one day old to avoid having too much moisture; too much moisture in the rice will make your fried rice soggy and mushy.

PROTEIN
I chose not to add protein but if you want, you can always add it! Popular choices are chicken, shrimp, sausage, or spam!

MSG
As always, this is optional 🙂

WHITE PEPPER
I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)

NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Korean food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.

Do you add egg or rice first in Egg Fried Rice?

Once my vegetables are cooked, I push them to the side and add some more oil to the pan, then fry my eggs until 80% cooked through. I add my rice after the egg then quickly mix them together to marry them together for a delicious and fragrant fried rice!

What gives Chinese Fried Rice its taste?

Chinese fried rice uses ingredients like garlic, ginger, white pepper, msg, and soy sauce to give it an incredibly aromatic flavor with lots of umami! Additionally, I love cooking my fried rice dishes in a wok to add a smoky element or wok hei to the final dish.

Top Recipe Tips for Egg Fried Rice

Egg Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (4)

RECIPE TIPS

CUT YOUR VEGETABLES!
I always recommend cutting your vegetables into similar sized pieces so they cook evenly – this little step makes a huge difference! In this recipe, I used frozen vegetables that were already the same size but if you are using fresh, make sure they are cut similar in size.

CRUMBLE YOUR OLD RICE
I like to crumble my rice (I’ve found that dried out rice gets clumpy) – this helps each rice grain get cooked and coated in all of the delicious flavors!

If you liked this Egg Fried Rice recipe, check out some of my other popular meat and side dish recipes!

  • Orange Chicken
  • Din Tai Fung Fried Rice
  • Panda Express Chow Mein
  • Sesame Chicken
  • Mongolian Beef

Egg Fried Rice

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 4

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

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Egg Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (5)

Egg Fried Rice is my GO-TO recipe when I don't know what to eat and I need to clean out the fridge! I always have the ingredients needed to make this for a quick & easy meal!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups white jasmine rice, at least one day old (or dried out in the refrigerator)
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tbsp ginger, chopped
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
  • 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, or raw
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp msg
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp neutral oil, I used avocado oil
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Cook 1 1/2 cups white jasmine rice and lay on a sheet tray to dry out in the fridge for 1-2 days.

  • Chop garlic, ginger, and scallions and prepare 1 cup frozen vegetables and set aside. Separate your scallion white from the scallion greens. Scramble 3 eggs in a bowl and set aside.

  • Over high heat, add 2 tbsp of avocado oil to your pan and fry your scallion whites, garlic and ginger for 15 seconds then add your frozen veggies and cook for 1-2 minutes.

  • Move veggies to the side of your pan and add another 1/2 tbsp of oil, then add your eggs and scramble until about 80% cooked.

  • Add your rice and mix for 1-2 minutes. Then add your soy sauce and seasonings and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes and add your scallion greens. Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference. Finish with sesame oil, mix and enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Egg Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (6)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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Egg Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient to restaurant fried rice? ›

Cooking bits of chopped vegetables, seasoning, soy sauce, and oil, seems easy enough. However, when making fried rice at home, there's one ingredient you may be overlooking: Sugar.

Why does Chinese egg fried rice taste so good? ›

Chefs cook with high-quality woks and powerful heat

Basically, it's the irreplaceable, steaming-hot aroma and taste that can only be created at the highest temperatures with a wok. Chinese restaurants have high-quality woks and commercial-grade burners that allow them to cook at high heat.

What is the secret of egg fried rice? ›

The secret to delicious, restaurant-quality fried rice lies both in the rice and the seasoning. My dad's technique of fluffing cooked rice, then flipping and tossing as he stir fries ensures that there's no mushy, clumpy rice. It's also important to season both the eggs and rice to give it great flavor.

What makes fried rice more flavorful? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Why do Chinese restaurants use old rice for egg fried rice? ›

Day old rice is needed to avoid the rice being soggy. It also means that it's cold and dry enough so that it will fry in the wok in the oil, vs. basically steaming if you used fresh cooked rice. Don't mess about with the oil.

Do Chinese people put soy sauce in fried rice? ›

Soy sauce fried rice (酱油炒饭, Jiang You Chao Fan) is a classic. It is not just another fried rice. It's a signature of Chinese cooking, as it uses pretty minimal ingredients to create a wonderful flavor.

What oil do restaurants use for fried rice? ›

Sesame oil.

I do not recommend omitting or substituting the sesame oil in this recipe. It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish.

What to add to fried rice to make it better? ›

Eggs: Which add great flavor, texture and protein. Carrots, onions, green onions and peas: This is the base mix of veggies that I always use for fried rice, but feel free to add in other stir-fry veggies you love (see ideas below). Garlic: Freshly-minced. Soy sauce: I created this recipe using low-sodium soy sauce.

What is the black thing in fried rice? ›

No, there ISN'T supposed to be “black stuff” in your fried rice. It's okay, though, because nobody would put anything black in your fried rice that isn't intended to be there. It's more than a little strange to be examining your food so very closely. Either you trust the cook, or you should cook for yourself.

Why add mayo to fried rice? ›

To ensure that your rice is nicely fried, mix a bit of mayo in it before frying. The oil in the mayo will coat the rice so that it does not stick together.

What makes fried rice taste like restaurant? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Should I put rice vinegar in my fried rice? ›

Eggs – scrambled and cooked into the rice for that classic fried rice flavor! Omit if a vegan dish is desired. Rice – cooked and chilled. Soy Sauce, Seasoned Rice Vinegar, and Hoisin Sauce – this blend of sauces gives a salty, tangy, and sweet flavor.

What oil do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

What is special fried rice made of? ›

Special Fried Rice is an easy and flavorful Chinese rice dish made by stir-frying cooked rice with vegetables and protein, seasoned with soy sauce and spices.

Why does homemade fried rice not taste like restaurant? ›

In fact, the use of classic Chinese sauces is exactly what makes takeout fried rice so incredibly moreish. Key amongst these is soy sauce. By adding soy sauce during cooking chefs are adding both salt and umami to the fried rice which, unsurprisingly, greatly improves the dish's overall flavor.

Why does Chinese restaurant food taste so good? ›

Why does the Chinese food in restaurants taste better than that cooked at home? Restaurants will have a long list of ingredients prepped, including stocks, sauces, lots of different spices, dark, light, and regular soy sauce, etc.

Is MSG the secret to fried rice? ›

MSG: MSG adds the perfect sweet-salty boost to fried rice. It's a widely misunderstood ingredient—checkout this article all about MSG if you're looking to learn more. Peas: I personally love peas in fried rice, and find it's a common addition in many American versions.

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