Simple Egg Fried Rice
Egg fried rice is a popular Chinese dish. It’s made by stir-frying cooked rice with scrambled eggs, green onions, garlic, and soy sauce. This simple recipe creates a flavorful, satisfying rice dish in just 15 minutes.
Egg fried rice is beloved worldwide. Surprisingly, a few eggs and leftover rice create a delicious and satisfying meal.
Add chopped green onion and minced garlic to elevate the dish with an aromatic flavor that mimics restaurant-style fried rice. This easy recipe is perfect for novices to Chinese stir-fry cooking.
Expert Tips for Perfecting Egg Fried Rice
Achieving the perfect texture and flavor of fried rice can be a challenge. These expert tips will help you create a mouth-watering dish every time.
Use day-old rice
To make fluffy egg fried rice, it’s best to use day-old rice that has been stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Avoid using freshly cooked rice, as it may still be moist and steamy, leading to a mushy texture.
Any type of cooked white rice works, including short-grain, long-grain, jasmine, or basmati rice. I used jasmine rice this time, as it creates a fluffy texture.
- Check out my Spam fried rice or Korean egg rice (gyeran bap) for another leftover rice recipe with egg.
Infuse green onion and garlic in oil
To enhance the flavor, stir-fry garlic and half the amount of green onion in oil for a few seconds to release their fragrance before adding the rice. This simple step makes a big difference in the overall taste of your dish.
Add more vegetables if you prefer to make it a hearty meal
Although I prefer a simple recipe, you can add veggies such as carrots, peas, peppers, or corn to make the dish more substantial.
If you choose to do so, stir-fry the vegetables first to soften them before adding the rice. Additionally, you’ll need to increase the portion of seasoning to ensure the dish is flavorful enough.
A hint of MSG (optional)
Adding a few dashes of MSG can elevate the flavor to that of a restaurant’s. It’s entirely optional, and you can skip it if you prefer. Just remember that a little goes a long way, so you don’t need much.
Recipe ingredient list
- Eggs: well beaten
- Cooked white rice: use day-old rice
- Oil: any non-fragrant cooking oil
- Green onion: savory addition
- Garlic: savory addition
- Light soy sauce: you can substitute with regular soy sauce
- Salt and Pepper o taste
- Sesame oil: to add fragrance, optional
- MSG: just a pinch, optional
How to make egg fried rice
Step 1. Scramble eggs
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly beat the eggs until the white and yolk are well incorporated. Add the eggs to the heated oil. You should see the eggs quickly bubble up from the edge.
Scramble the egg until cooked but still slightly moist, breaking into small chunks. Transfer the eggs to a plate and set aside.
Step 2. Stir-fry aromatics
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add garlic and 1/2 the amount of green onion and stir-fry until it releases the fragrance and is soft, about 30-60 seconds.
Step 3. Add rice
Add rice and stir-fry constantly to coat with green onion and to heat evenly. If there are still some clumps, press with a spatula to separate the rice grains.
Step 4. Return eggs and season
Return the eggs and add remaining green onion, soy sauce, salt, and sesame oil to the rice. Sprinkle 2 dashes of MSG if you are using. Give everything a good stir to evenly distribute the seasonings.
Taste to see if you need more salt. Sprinkle with pepper and give a good toss. Enjoy it while hot.
Serving suggestions
Serve this delicious and versatile dish as a side or a main course to any Chinese cuisine. Here are a few ideas for dishes that go well with this tasty rice:
- Kung pao chicken: This classic Chinese dish are a great match for the simple and subtle flavors of egg fried rice.
- Beef and pepper stir-fry: The savory flavor of the beef and the crunch of the peppers make for a perfect pairing.
- Cumin beef: Spicy and flavorful beef is a great complement to the mild taste of egg fried rice.
- Twice cooked pork: You will like the pairing of rich flavor and texture of this dish.
- Chinese crispy beef: Crispy texture of the beef and the bold flavors make a great combination.
More Fried Rice Recipes to Try
Expand your fried rice horizons with these tasty recipes!
- Authentic Thai Basil Fried Rice
- Quick Spam Fried Rice
- Best Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
- Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
- Bacon Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)
Simple Egg Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp oil, divided
- 4 eggs, beaten well
- 3 green onion, finely chopped, divided
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups (600 g) cooked Jasmin rice, day-old leftover
- 1 tsp light soy sauce, or soy sauce
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tsp sesame oil, optional
- 2 pinches MSG, optional
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the eggs to the heated oil. You should see the eggs quickly bubble up from the edge. Scramble the egg until cooked but still slightly moist, breaking into small chunks. Transfer the eggs to a plate and set aside.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add 1/2 the amount of green onion and garlic, and stir-fry until it releases the fragrance and soften, about 30-60 seconds.
- Add rice and stir-fry constantly to coat with green onion and to heat the rice evenly. If there are still some clumps, press with a spatula to separate the rice grains.
- Return the eggs and add remaining green onion, soy sauce, and salt to the rice. Sprinkle 1-2 pinches of MSG and sesame oil if you are using. Give everything a good stir to evenly distribute the seasonings. Taste to see if you need more salt. Sprinkle with pepper and give a good toss. Enjoy egg fried rice while hot.
