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.
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)
- ½ 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
- ⅛ pound deli ham, (cut into small cubes)
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
- ¼ 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 ½ 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 ½ 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!
Nutrition
Lola Osinkolu
Love how all the ingredients make it so lively and tempting!
Rika Livingston
Hi Lola,
Thank you! Hope you'll enjoy this recipe!
Ashley
Yum! We love fried rice, I make my own too but I've never thrown in shrimp. I'll have to try that next time.
Alli Smith
My husband would love this! We love fried rice and I hate to admit that I rarely make it al home. I need to try this ASAP. It looks amazing!
Pam Wattenbarger
This looks like a really awesome fried rice recipe. I need to make it ASAP.
Sarah Bailey
OK now this sounds absolutely delicious! I have to admit I do love fried rice and I love the fact you are using ham and shrimp in this yum!
Tasheena
Fried rice is one of my favorite side dishes to make. It's so versatile and pretty much goes with any main dish.
Theresa
I haven't had fried rice in so long, I need to remedy that asap! You have such an amazing combination of flavors in this recipe, I can't wait to try it out soon!
Kita Bryant
I've never used ham but I have used shrimp I will have to try the ham next time to change things up. I agree with the cold rice it's so much better that way
Ruth I
This is such an amazing dish to indulge. It looks completely delicious and easy to prepare. I'd love to give this a try.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
I have made fried rice with egg like this before. It's delicious and so easy to make! This reminds me I need to make it again.
Catalina
I am putting this fried rice on my next week cooking list! Looks like a winner in my house!
Kathy
This recipe looks so good. Fried rice is one of my favorites. My whole family actually loves it. I've been wanting to try making it too, so I'm glad I saw this!
Terri Steffes
I would love all the flavors in this dish! How flavorful it is with the egg.
Louisa
I am super excited to make this Fried rice recipe as we make our fried rice differently at home. Looks just as tasty if not more!
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations
Oh my word, this sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks for the recco. I know my husband would love it.
Lynndee
My favorite to order at the Chinese restaurant is Shrimp Fried Rice. I have never tried the ham and shrimp combo. I bet it's delicious!
Lauren
Wow, this recipe looks amazing and easy to make! Definitely going to pin this so I can come back to it and make it soon!
Heather
Love this combination. I could seriously eat this every single day.
Beth
My family loves fried rice, we haven't added ham to it, but I know my husband would think it is a great addition.
Bohemian Babushka
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
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
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
Delicious big hit with the family.
Rika
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