Fried rice, a timeless Chinese classic, is a great choice if you want a quick, easy, and delicious meal. You can toss this together in about 20 minutes. Here’s what you’ll need:
INGREDIENTS
1lb day-old cooked white rice (you can substitute brown rice too)
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
a pinch of fresh ginger, sliced
a pinch of spring onions, chopped
1lb frozen mixed veggies
(my preferred mix includes lima beans, carrots, corn, & green beans)
4 eggs, lightly scrambled
soy sauce, seasoned to your liking (approximately 4-5 tbsp)
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
2 cups of diced ham (bacon works well as a substitute)
* Trick of the Trade: have the deli cut up your sandwich ham into thick wedges that you can cube quickly.
DIRECTIONS:
Steam your frozen vegetables for about 10 minutes, or until tender, then drain. Simultaneously, lightly scramble your eggs in a medium pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, (on another burner) grab your large wok or pan, and add some extra virgin olive oil to it, then sauté the garlic and ginger over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Next add your day-old cooked rice to the garlic and ginger, and stir in your desired amount of soy sauce. Finally add the diced ham, scrambled eggs, steamed veggies, spring onions, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture cook for about 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
And you’re done!
Serve fresh off the stove, and as always: ENJOY!
Beginner’s Note: you MUST use day-old or pre-cooked rice. The first time I ever attempted this dish, I cooked the rice and then added it straight to the pan. It didn’t turn out well. It will be far too sticky—and icky in general. This is a make it or break it detail!
