Dinner
Quick Egg Fried Rice
Better-than-takeout egg fried rice with vegetables and soy sauce — a 20-minute way to use up leftover rice.
By the Forkful editorial team · Published
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Makes
- 4 servings
Fried rice is one of the most searched quick-dinner recipes on Google, and it is the best possible use for leftover rice. In 20 minutes you get a takeout-style meal with fluffy egg, sweet peas and carrots, and grains of rice that are lightly toasted in the pan.
The one rule is cold, cooked rice. Day-old rice has dried out slightly, so the grains separate and fry instead of turning mushy. Use high heat, keep everything moving, and add any leftover meat or vegetables you have.
Ingredients
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- 4 cups cooked rice, cold (ideally from the day before)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- ¼ tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Break up any clumps in the cold rice with your hands.
- Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat with 1 teaspoon of the oil. Add the eggs, scramble until just set, then transfer to a plate.
- Add the rest of the oil and the onion and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the peas and carrots and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the rice and toss for 3–4 minutes, pressing it against the pan, until hot with some lightly crisp grains.
- Pour the soy sauce around the edge of the pan and toss. Return the eggs, add the green onions, sesame oil and white pepper, toss once more and serve.
Tips for the best result
- 1No leftover rice? Spread freshly cooked rice on a tray and refrigerate it uncovered for an hour.
- 2Cook in batches if your pan is small; crowded rice steams instead of frying.
- 3Make it a full meal with shrimp, diced chicken, ham or tofu, added with the vegetables.
Storage
Cool quickly and refrigerate within 1 hour. Keep for up to 3 days and reheat until piping hot all the way through.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use freshly cooked rice?
It tends to turn mushy. If you must, spread it out and chill it for at least an hour first.
What rice is best for fried rice?
Long-grain rice such as jasmine is ideal because the grains stay separate.
Why is my fried rice mushy?
The rice was too fresh or wet, the pan was not hot enough, or there was too much sauce.
