Chinese Restaurant-Style Fried rice recipe with deli ham, shrimp, egg, red bell pepper, peas, and carrots. It’s packed with flavor and can be ready in less than 25 minutes. Better than Chinese take-out!
Fried rice is a homemade dish of cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok. It’s typically made with leftover ingredients from rice to meat. Those dishes are oftentimes my favorites from different cultures.
Fried Rice always reminds me of my childhood. Growing up in South East Asia, I often ate my mom’s rice for breakfast. And at night we’d often buy some from local street food vendors. It is the perfect dish for a weeknight.
Also, check out another great recipe: NASI GORENG RECIPE (INDONESIAN FRIED RICE)
FRIED RICE INGREDIENTS:
I called this House Special Fried Rice because it has everything from the land and sea to satisfy your hunger. From rice, seafood, meat to veggies, all in one bowl, just like a house special! It also has the perfect balance of carb and protein.
You can eat this dish by itself or as an accompaniment to another dish. It is seasoned with garlic, ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper.
ALSO, CHECK OUT THESE TASTY ASIAN RECIPES:
- EASY LARB RECIPE WITH CHICKEN (Top-rated https://www.pinterest.com/pin/184647653452679632/)
- BEST PORK TENDERLOIN STIR FRY (ASIAN BOWL)
- GREEN PAPAYA SALAD (SOM TAM) – A TASTY THAI STREET FOOD
- THAI BASIL CHICKEN (PAD KRAPOW GAI)
- NASI GORENG RECIPE (INDONESIAN FRIED RICE)
- MINCED PORK NOODLES WITH HOISIN SAUCE
For this recipe, I used leftover deli ham and rice. And because deli ham contains high sodium, I highly recommend adding salt at the later stage.
HOW DO I MAKE THIS FRIED RICE:
- First, I cook the vegetable and chopped shrimp then set aside.
- Secondly, I cook the garlic, ginger, and rice and make a well in which to pour the egg. Cook the egg, ham and mix it together with the rice.
- Lastly, I return the cooked vegetables into the pot and stir all the ingredients to combine.
BETTER THAN TAKE-OUT AND EASY!
The secret of delicious fried rice 炒饭 are the rice itself and cooking at high heat. The rice should have distinct, chewy grains and the best way to achieve this texture is by using cold leftover rice.
I recommend cooking the rice one day in advance and refrigerating it until you are ready to make the rice. This step and timing will give you the best texture. And the result is a dryer and less starchy fried rice.
TIPS FOR THE PERFECT FRIED RICE:
In Asia, fried rice comes in so many varieties and flavors. Each has its own specific list of ingredients. But the perfect fried rice is all about texture, it's even more important than ingredients.
- Best Types of Rice
My favorite rice to use is Jasmine rice due to its light aroma and has the perfect texture, as it’s not too sticky and not to dry. Alternatively, you can use medium-grain rice or sushi rice.
- Using Cold Rice
Best choice: Leftover or cold rice. If you forget to cook the rice one day ahead, feel free to use freshly cooked rice. To do this, you should first spread the rice on a baking sheet and let it cool down and allow some surface moisture to evaporate before cooking.
- Wash the Rice
Washing the rice could reduce starches that causes rice to clump.
- Butter or Vegetable Oil?
Either one is fine. My aunt is one of those people who makes the best fried rice and always used butter instead of oil, so I’ve always been partial to less oily rice (and butter hasn’t let me down!). Diet and health can play into your choice here, too.
- Go easy with Sauce
There are many sauces available to use to season rice. For example: oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce. Whatever sauce you decide to use, go easy and don’t use too much of it. Too much sauce will affect the rice texture. If you need to add saltiness to the dish, just toss in some salt instead of going overboard with the sauce.
- Break up the rice before stir frying
To prevent clumpy rice be sure to break it up with your hand or a fork before cooking it in the wok.
- Cook Rice on hot oil
Before you add the rice to the wok, make sure that the oil is hot.
- Hot pan
A really hot pan is key to preventing the rice from sticking.
๐ Recipe
Fried Rice Recipe with Ham and Shrimp
Ingredients
- 3 cups a day old cooked white rice
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter, (divided)
- 2 carrots, (chopped)
- ยฝ red bell pepper, (julienne)
- 5 pieces shrimp, (chopped into small pieces)
- 1 cup green peas, (defrost and dry well if use frozen)
- 3 cloves garlic, (minced)
- 1 tablespoon minced ginger
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- โ pound deli ham, (cut into small cubes)
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
- ยผ teaspoon of kosher salt, (use more according to your liking)
- black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the carrot for about 4 minutes then add bell pepper and cook for 1 more minute.
- Next, add the chopped shrimp and cook for 30 seconds. Then add peas, stir and cook for 1 minute or until the shrimp is cooked. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Heat 1 ยฝ tablespoons of oil in a skillet over high heat and until hot. Add garlic and ginger, then give it a quick stir for about 15 seconds or just until fragrant.
- Add white rice and keep stirring for about 2-3 minutes. Set the rice to the side, make a well in the center and add ยฝ tablespoons of oil and break the egg into it. Use a spatula to scramble the egg, breaking it up into small bits. Toss the egg and the rice together. Add deli ham, keep cooking and stirring for about 1 minute.
- Put the cooked carrots, bell pepper, peas, and shrimp back into the skillet, give a quick stir. Add soy sauce and sesame oil, keep stirring and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper if necessary.
- Remove from the heat. Serve and enjoy!
Bohemian Babushka says
Fried rice, que rico! BB's mom was CubanChinese and very proud of her ancestry. She would have loved this post. Gracias for the happy memories.
Vito says
Big Hit with the family ,added extra prawn to it ,turned out great ,reminded me of an old Chinese family I once knew in my younger days in which they always brought me fried rice in this same style of flavours and presentation ,now I have their secret thanks to this publisher,
Rika says
Hi Vito,
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. I am glad that you found this fried recipe and liked it.
Best,
Rika
Vittorio says
Delicious big hit with the family.
Rika says
Hi Vittorio,
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback! I am glad that you and your family loved this fried rice recipe.
Best,
Rika