Really Special Fried Rice Recipes - Best Chinese Style Dishes


Chinese Special Fried Rice is a complete one dish meal that is popular as a take away (take out) dish. It is traditionally packed with prawns, ham, omelette pieces, chicken and a variety of vegetables. But there are many other exciting options, as you will see.

This article describes how to make this special fried rice dish at home so that it is crisp and tasty, without the soggy, oily taste that can ruin many home-cooked attempts.

It includes a range of very, very special fried rice with fabulous ingredients that will charm and thrill your dinner guests and the whole family. Enjoy discovering how to make fabulous special fried rice dishes easily, simply and reliably. Enjoy!

Fried rice is easy to make at home using the tips provided. But why not make it really special by adding very special ingredients.
Fried rice is easy to make at home using the tips provided. But why not make it really special by adding very special ingredients. Source: Public Domain

Secrets for Preparing Perfect Chinese Fried Rice, Every Time

Making great fried rice is easy in theory, but getting it right does take a little know-how and practice to avoid the disasters. It is the small things that matter to avoid burnt or soggy fried rice. It can also be too dry and clumpy.

Below are four secrets for wonderful fried rice:

  1. Use cold, day-old, leftover cooked rice that has been left uncovered in the fridge overnight. This firms up the rice grains, reduces the moisture and avoids clumping. The rice should have been just cooked, not mushy to start with and should be medium grain rice rather than short-grain. glutinous or other rice types. Medium grain rice is ideal, but long grain rice also works well.
  2. The wok or frying pan should be very hot. One of the problems with domestic appliances is that the gas burner is too small and the wok also too small to store enough heat to cook the rice at high temperature. Take the rice out of the fridge an hour or so before it is cooked to allow it to come to room temperature rather than being cold from the fridge. Preheat the wok to very high temperature before adding the oil, and then reheat to get the oil piping hot and just starting to smoke before frying. Work with small batches of rice to stop the rice reducing the oil temperature. A drop in oil temperature will cause the rice to absorb the oil and go soggy. It is best to cook individual servings of rice and other ingredients, plate by plate, rather than try to cook everything at once. It is too hard to control the temperature of a large wok and large amounts of food. Steam will be absorbed into the rice.
  3. Using the right oil is essential for stir frying - Don't use olive oil as it has a strong flavor and a low smoke point, and will degenerate at high temperature and taint the food. The best oils to use are rice brain and grape seed oils, that have a neutral taste and a high smoke point). Peanut oil is also suitable for high temperature frying. It does have a strong flavor , but many many people like this taste.
  4. Don’t overdo the sauce and seasonings. Use soy or oyster sauces sparingly otherwise they can dominate and ruin the subtle tastes of ingredients such as seafood. Use any liquid sparingly as any liquid will tend to make the dish soggy. If you use fresh herbs, lightly fry them first so they shed any excess moisture. Fish sauce used very sparingly adds magic to stir-fry dishes. A few drops of sesame oil also works wonders.
  5. Use medium to long grain rice such as basmati or Jasmine rice varieties. The sturdy grains won't fall apart or clump when cooked.
  6. Use a blazing hot wok (or better still a Dutch oven or large heavy frying pan, that stores a lot of heat. Once the temperature drops the rice will tend to become mushy. Proceed with small batches to keep the wok or pan very hot.
Homemade fried rice can include a huge variety of meats, nuts and vegetables that can be healthy choices for a wholefoods meal.
Homemade fried rice can include a huge variety of meats, nuts and vegetables that can be healthy choices for a wholefoods meal.. Source: Public Domain

Spectacular Very Special Fried Rice Recipe

This recipe has a wonderful variety of ingredients offering many options depending on your own preferences and what you have available.

Ingredients

Method

Slice the meat thinly, sprinkle with corn starch and a light drizzle of soy sauce and a little sesame oil and mix. Aim to cover the meat slices in a very thin coating of sticky cornstarch. Prepare the vegetables as needed by peeling and chopping. Sort the vegetables into mini-piles on your bench or chopping board according to how long they will take to stir-fry. Heat your wok or large heavy frying pan over moderate to high heat. Toast the sesame seeds or chopped peanuts in the hot dry pan and set aside. Pour in the oil and sesame oil, and wait until the oil gets very hot. Work in batches. Oddly it is best to fry the meat last, because meat tends to keep cooking after you remove it from the pan. You cook the meat last, just before serving the dish. Also, cooking the meat tends to 'clog' up the pan, whereas the vegetables leave the pan clean. Fry the prawns (shrimp) second last. Fry the onion until golden, then add garlic. Add the vegetables in sequence beginning with those that take longer to cook. Finish with the green vegetables and herbs that you want to leave crunchy and cook for seconds rather than minutes. Fry the vegetables until crisp and tender. Remove the vegetables and set aside briefly. Cook the prawns and add to the vegetables. Cook the meat until just tender and set aside. Then, add more oil to the wok and make sure it is very hot. Add the rice in several batches. You want the rice to be cooked in the oil and against the hot surface of the wok, and definitely not steamed. Keep tossing and flipping the separated rice grains to genuinely fry the rice, not steam and re heat it. When all the rice batches have been cooked, transfer the cooked vegetables, herbs, meat and rice back to the pan for final heating, stirring and combining of the flavors. Then, when mixed and hot serve immediately sprinkling each serving with peanuts and chopped fresh herbs.

Seafood is ideal with special fried rice, with delicate tastes and soft textures that pair well with the rice.
Seafood is ideal with special fried rice, with delicate tastes and soft textures that pair well with the rice. Source: Public Domain

Versatile Fried Rice Recipe with Fried Eggs and Anything Goes Really

You don’t need exact ingredients, measurements or rocket science to make fried rice, though the flames might help. Just about anything belongs in fried rice: leftover roast chicken, stir-fried pork or beef, fried tofu, ham, frozen peas, fresh chopped vegetables and herbs veggies. But avoid anything that releases too much moisture. Making fired rice in an adventure but be daring and add a huge variety of tastes colors and textures. Variety id the spice of life!

Ingredients

Method

Break the rice chunks up and separate into individual grains, which should be quite dry. Heat a wok or large skillet to very high heat. Add the oil and heat until very hot. Add garlic, ginger and onion and stir vigorously for 30 seconds. Add the carrots, hard vegetables and cook until tender (about 2-3 minutes). Add the chopped vegetables and herbs and stir fry briefly. Adding 2 teaspoons of water creates steam which helps wilt the herbs and vegetables. Remove the contents to a separate dish and set aside. Add more oil to the wok and reheat. Break the eggs into the wok, and stir until they just start to set and scramble. Add the rice in batches stirring and tossing between each addition. Transfer the cooked rice to the pot containing the cooked vegetables. Stir-fry the remaining batch of rice, adding the cooked meat and tofu to the last batch to heat through. Add all the ingredients back into the wok. Add the sauces, spices, salt and black pepper and stir for about 2 minutes until everything is combined. Serve immediately.

Vegetable feature prominently in special fried rice. The trick is to cook the various types separately so that each item is just cooked, crisp and crunchy
Vegetable feature prominently in special fried rice. The trick is to cook the various types separately so that each item is just cooked, crisp and crunchy. Source: Public Domain

Fried Rice with Fresh Abalone, Scallops or Mussels

Fried rice is seldom better than this. Fresh abalone slices, scallops or mussels, seared in a flaming wok, sweet and tender with just a hint of chilli.

Ingredients

Method

Heat wok over very high heat until smoking. Add the sesame oil, stir briefly. Add the dried chilli and garlic and fry for 20 seconds or so. Add the abalone, scallops or mussels and stir-fry until tender (do not overcook). Add the spring onions, sambal oelek, fresh chilli, soy sauce, ginger and finally the rice. Stir vigorously until well combined and heated through. Serve with fresh herbs and dried shallots as a dressing.

Fabulous Mixed Meat and Seafood Fried Rice Recipe

Ingredients

Method

Heat a wok or large skillet to high temperature. Add some oil, heat and then fry the eggs spread as a thin layer over the bottom of the wok (until just cooked). Chop the eggs and set aside. Clean the wok and add more oil. Stir-fry the onions for 1 minute and the add the garlic and stir. Crumble the rice with your fingers or a wooden spoon to separate all the grains. Fry the rice in batches to ensure it does not steam and go soggy. Remove the rice and set aside. Lightly stir-fry the prawns, sausage/ and shrimp to heat through. Quickly add the carrots, peas, scallions, bean sprouts and fry briefly. Add the chopped cooked eggs and season with the soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Add chopped herbs or leafy green vegetables (optional). Serve immediately.

You can add variety to fried rice by replacing some or all of the rice with cellophane noodles
You can add variety to fried rice by replacing some or all of the rice with cellophane noodles. Source: Public Domain

Special Pork and Fried Rice Recipe with Mixed Vegetables and Bell Peppers

Ingredients

Method

Place the pork in a small bowl and sprinkle over with hoisin sauce. Mix well and set aside for 15 minutes to marinate. Heat a large wok or frying pan over high heat. Add half the oil and stir until very hot, but not smoking. Stir fry the marinated pork in two batches until just cooked (about 2 minutes), for 2 minutes. Transfer to a pot and set aside while you stir-fry the remaining ingredients. Heat the remaining oil to high heat. Stir-fry the onion, bell pepper and beans, until just barely cooked and still tender and crisp. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute. Remove the ingredients. Stir fry the rice in batches. Assemble all the ingredients back in the wok, and heat though for 2-3 minutes while stirring frequently. Add the soy sauce, salt and pepper to adjust the flavor to suit your preferences. Serve immediately topped with nuts, coriander and other fresh herb leaves.

Stir frying the vegetables is a good idea so they are softened before adding to the fried rice
Stir frying the vegetables is a good idea so they are softened before adding to the fried rice. Source: Public Domain

Special Vegetarian Chinese Fried Rice Recipe

Ingredients

Method

Soak the mushrooms in hot water for 60 minutes, then drain and chop. Heat the wok to high, add some oil and fry the eggs until just set. Remove the egg disks, roll tightly and slice to form long thin strips. Heat the remaining oil in a wok. Fry the rice in batches, remove and set aside. Stir-fry the ginger, garlic, and chilli for 1-2 minutes. Then add the mushrooms, snow peas and bean shoots and fry for 2 minutes. Then, add all the cooked ingredient back into the pan, season with soy sauce and serve hot.

Pineapple Fried Rice with Cashews

Ingredients

Method

Place the leftover cold rice in a large bowl, and break it apart apart to separate all the grains. Using a weighted plate or tofu press squeeze any excess moisture out of the tofu. Slice into small cubes (1⁄2-inch; 1.3-cm). Heat a large skillet, Dutch oven or wok over moderate to high heat. Add the oil and heat until it is very hot and has started to smoke. Stir fry tofu cubes, flipping them over frequently until golden brown and crisp on all sides (about 7-9 minutes). Transfer the fried tofu to a plate or bowl and set aside.
Add the bell pepper and onion to the pan. Stir-fry until the bell pepper and onion are tender (about 2 minutes). Then, when the pan is very hot, add the rice, stir and then the coconut sugar, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, and fresh chilli. Mix well, taste and then season with extra salt and white pepper if required.

Next, add the pineapple, mix through and fry for another minute or two, stirring regularly to stop the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Stir in the cashews, scallions, tofu and tomato. Mix well and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Serve in bowls garnished with fresh herbs and chilli slices.





A good homemade fried rice should show no trace of an oily or soggy taste and all the 
  ingredients should retain their identity. Discover how to cook perfect fried rice at home here
A good homemade fried rice should show no trace of an oily or soggy taste and all the ingredients should retain their identity. Discover how to cook perfect fried rice at home here. Source: Public Domain
Vegetables and fried meats add flavor and texture to homemade fried rice. See the great range of recipes here
Vegetables and fried meats add flavor and texture to homemade fried rice. See the great range of recipes here. Source: Public Domain
Bell pepper cubes, herbs, spices and sesame seeds add great flavor to homemade fried rice
Bell pepper cubes, herbs, spices and sesame seeds add great flavor to homemade fried rice. Source: Public Domain
Salad ingredients such as cabbage strips are delightful with fried rice, as well as fresh herbs and chillies
Salad ingredients such as cabbage strips are delightful with fried rice, as well as fresh herbs and chillies. Source: Public Domain
Fried rice can be served as a side dish with other items in a meal.
Fried rice can be served as a side dish with other items in a meal