Ginger Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

Fried rice is one of those dishes where preferences are very individualized (much like how well-done you like your instant noodles). Peas, no peas, soy sauce, no soy sauce, scrabbled egg bits or egg mixed right in, and the list goes on. My mom’s fried rice – aside from the protein – always has peas, diced onions, and scrabbled egg bits. She never seasons it with soy sauce. There are a ton of variations out there, but one thing remains consistent across all good fried rice recipes: using old rice.

Old rice is a must. Using freshly made rice usually ends in disaster – it’s just too moist. If you’re in a hurry, you can make rice, cool it off and put it in the fridge, uncovered. The fridge will usually dry out the rice enough for a decent fry-up.

Even Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s slightly French-ified ginger fried rice recipe calls for day old jasmine rice. Jean-Georges fried rice is vegetarian, which isn’t too common for typical home-style Chinese fried rices, but you won’t miss the meat in this dish. The ingredients are fried up separately, which is a traditional Chinese technique. Cooking the ingredients separately is key in making fried rice as cooking times vary for individual ingredients.

Ginger Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

In Jean-Georges’ fried rice, ginger and garlic are crisped up and then removed from the wok. Leeks are browned and fried up with the rice. The slight-sweetness of the softened leeks and the crispiness of the garlic and ginger make this fried rice incredibly moreish. Top it off with a sunny side up egg and you have a winner on your hands!

i am garlicky, i am gingery: i am ginger fried rice!

Ginger Fried Rice Recipe from nytimes.com
serves 2

  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • Salt
  • 1 cup thinly sliced leeks, white and light green parts only, rinsed and dried
  • 2 cups day-old cooked rice, preferably jasmine, at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

In a wok or large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp and brown. With a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels and salt lightly.

Reduce heat under skillet to medium-low and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and the leeks. Cook about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt.

Raise heat to medium and add rice. Cook, stirring well, until heated through. Season to taste with salt.

In a nonstick skillet, fry eggs in remaining oil, sunny-side-up, until edges are set but yolk is still runny.

Divide rice among two dishes. Top each with an egg and drizzle with 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Sprinkle crisped garlic and ginger over everything and enjoy hot.

Ginger Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

11 Comments

  1. Lynna H. says:

    April 25, 2012 at 10:53 am

    omg, i LOVE ginger rice. never occurred to me to make fried rice our of it so some reason… BUT I`LL DEFINITELY TRY IT. looks DELICIOUS.

    Reply

  2. Rachael says:

    April 26, 2012 at 10:12 pm

    Oh, you’re killing me! I just looked at the wontons and now this.. yikes. I wonder what’s in store for me next??

    Reply

  3. April 29, 2012 at 7:10 am

    oooh LOVE ginger fried rice… kinda like hainan chicken rice.. without the chicken… haha…

    Reply

  4. Renee says:

    April 29, 2012 at 9:39 am

    SO YUMMY!!!

    Reply

  5. Adjoa says:

    April 29, 2012 at 9:51 am

    Y’all need to install a ‘Share’ button. This stuff will be my new staple, my hands are so down.

    Reply

  6. sophie says:

    May 23, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    made this for dinner recently. it kicked ass. thanks for the recipe — your photos got me to do it, though!

    Reply

  7. leah says:

    January 1, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    YUM! this is hands down the best fried rice i’ve ever had. and I made it, thanks to you! just one thing though: shouldn’t you only heat 1/8 cup of oil at first, for the garlic and ginger? and then use the other 1/8 for the leeks and the eggs? i used all of the 1/4 cup at first, as written, and then wondered what to use later and figured it out when i went to the nytimes link.
    but the sweetness of the leeks and the crunch of the garlic and ginger does indeed make this dish a real winner. thank you!

    Reply

  8. Stefanie says:

    December 6, 2014 at 11:44 pm

    I just made this & my hubby loved it! Only thing is, I used chives instead of leeks & i didn’t take out the garlic & ginger- i mixed the rice with garlic & ginger into the pan while they were yellowish & fragrant, but not browned. And I also stir inthe sesame oil into the pan. The other thing, i used bacon lard instead of canola oil. Yummyyyy! Will be back for more of your recipes!

    Reply

  9. Lysandra says:

    March 14, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    I’ve never put ginger in my fried rice… always a ton of garlic instead. Something new to try next time! Your pictures are amazing!

    Reply

  10. kashish food says:

    July 2, 2020 at 11:03 pm

    I LOVE ginger rice………….

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Ginger Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Which vinegar is used for fried rice? ›

Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened. Add rice, VH® Lite Soya Sauce, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil.

How to make fried rice not mushy? ›

Perfecting Your Fried Rice

Starting with the Right Rice: Ideally, use day-old rice, like in the 15-Minute Easy To Make Pork Fried Rice recipe. Cold, day-old rice from the fridge has reduced moisture content, which is crucial for preventing mushiness. High Heat is Key: Cook the rice over high heat, as in the P.F.

What is the best oil for fried rice? ›

If you want an oil with a neutral flavor, go with canola oil. For a mildly nutty flavor, you'll want to pick peanut oil. If you want your oil to infuse your fried rice with a rich flavor, go with avocado oil, macadamia oil, or sesame, depending on what taste you're going for.

How do Chinese restaurants make fried rice taste so good? ›

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.

How to make fried rice taste better? ›

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.

Can we skip vinegar in fried rice? ›

While vinegar is not a traditional ingredient in most fried rice recipes, some cooks may choose to add it for a few reasons: 1. Flavor enhancement: Vinegar can add a tangy and slightly acidic flavor to the fried rice, which can help balance the overall taste and complement the other ingredients.

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar for fried rice? ›

Apple cider vinegar

Its sweet and sour combination makes it a close enough match to work in most circ*mstances by using a 1:1 ratio.

How to make Bobby Flay's crispy rice? ›

Preparation. Combine the coconut milk, 2 teaspoons salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the rice and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender, about 18 minutes.

Why is my fried rice not tasty? ›

You don't use flavorful sauces

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. Other chefs opt to include fish sauce for similar reasons.

Should rice be cold for fried rice? ›

Use COLD day old rice: For best results! Cold rice will crisp up in the hot oil. Warm rice will not toast and can even become mushy. If you are in a pinch make the rice first and spread it out onto a baking sheet in a single layer.

What oil do Asians use for fried rice? ›

You can also use day-old brown rice, however it will create a less-authentic taste and texture, even though it's still delicious. 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.

Should I fry rice in oil or butter? ›

Butter Makes Your Fried Rice Taste Richer But Also Increases Fat Content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

What gives Chinese fried rice its color? ›

Other recipes get the scarlet pigment from red yeast rice powder. Some cooks even use red food coloring to really nail the trademark char siu look. Either way, the result is a sweet-savory umami bite with a crispy exterior and tender interior that have kept foodies coming back for centuries.

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.

Why does my fried rice come out mushy? ›

Mushy or soggy rice is simply overcooked rice that has absorbed too much water. Water over-absorption causes the rice grains to split open, ruining the texture and creating a starchy, gummy result.

Why put egg in fried rice? ›

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).

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