Easy fried rice for one
Are you looking for an easy and tasty weeknight dinner that won’t take all night to make? Well, look no further than this super fast fried rice! You can may also like my egg roll in a bowl or easy ricotta pasta recipes – so check them out if you have time. But this delicious fried rice is my go to for busy weeknights since it has minimal ingredients and takes way less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Plus, you can customize this basic recipe by using whatever vegetables or proteins you have in your fridge whether they are fresh or frozen. Keep reading to learn how my step-by-step guide will help you whip up a batch of irresistible fried rice in no time flat. It can also be made as a side dish for two or easily made to feed the entire family.
Jump to RecipeIngredients you need for this easy fried rice recipe
- Toasted sesame oil – Other neutral oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil or olive oil will work well too here but sesame oil adds a lot of flavor.
- Garlic – this is a classic flavor component, so don’t skimp. You can mince whole fresh garlic, use jarred minced garlic or frozen cubes are a great way to add flavor.
- Fresh ginger – I like to use frozen cubes to keep this simple, but you can also grate fresh ginger.
- Mixed vegetables – think fresh veggies like broccoli, bok choy, carrot, bell pepper, zucchini, green peas, green beans, onions, mini corn, bell peppers. A bag of frozen veggies will work here too.
- Brown rice – I like to use brown rice, but it’s a matter of personal preference. Any rice will work. Leftover rice is a fabulous option if you have it. But white rice or cauliflower rice are also good substitutes. Just be sure any of the rice is pre-cooked and cooled. In fact, cold rice works best for fried rice recipes.
- Gluten-free tamari – low sodium soy sauce, coconut aminos, even regular soy sauce will work but it does have gluten. These are all interchangeable so just use what you have.
- Whole egg – We fry them sunny side up, but I also like to scramble the egg into the rice the way my mom used to do it for us, so it’s just personal preference.
- They key is to use a hot wok or well heated frying pan to make sure everything cooks evenly!
- optional toppings: Sriracha, green onions, bean sprouts, cilantro, sesame seeds, cubed tofu, or protein of choice such as leftover chicken.
Steps to make classic fried rice
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or large wok over high heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the garlic, ginger, and chopped vegetables and cook over medium-high heat .
- Stir-fry the vegetables for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned and softened. Keep the ingredients moving so they cook evenly.
- Add the rice and cook, for another 3 minutes, then add the soy sauce and cook for 1 minute more.
- Let the rice cook, undisturbed for 1-2 minutes if you like crispy bits in your fried rice.
- Remove rice from panServe with sriracha.
What kind of rice is best to use for fried rice?
Personally I love to use leftover cooked rice from takeout. Day-old rice works really well because the individual grains maintain their texture as opposed to getting mushy. While jasmine rice is popular because of its aroma and flavor, but it tends to naturally have wetter consistency that helps it clump together.
- If you have a rice cooker – Make the most of it by making a larger batch of fresh rice, let it return to room temperature and then freeze on a sheet pan in a single layer to use for later weeknight meals.
- Microwaveable packets of long-grain rice are great for this type of quick cooking. They are also the best way to keep on hand in your pantry to make a complete meal in under 2 minutes!
- Frozen brown or white long grain rice are other good options. I recommend that you microwave just before you add to the cooked vegetables. Though I find that rice doesn’t get as crispy with this method.
As you can see there are several types of rice you can use.
Here’s a secret for good fried rice: Cook your rice until it’s al dente, which means it has a little bite left to it. This prevents your fried rice from becoming mushy as you add sauces to your stir fry.
Tips for adding more flavor
When making dishes that include soy sauce, you may think more soy sauce is better. While you don’t want to skimp, it could become very one note if you use too much. Here’s what I recommend instead.
Make your fried rice with quantities listed in the ingredient list. Then taste it. While it may need more soy sauce for your liking, it’s important to remember that 15 milliliters or 1 Tablespoon of soy sauce has 920 milligrams of sodium. That’s 38% of the daily recommended value, and just about half of what the American Heart Association recommends for a heart healthy diet.
Instead of adding more soy sauce, you may want to sprinkle with a small amount of kosher salt to help bring out some high notes.
Alternatively, use lemon or lime juice! Citrus helps bring balance to salty or fatty foods and helps your tongue and mind appreciate the flavors. Just give a squeeze over the top and taste the difference for yourself!
If you happen to have leftovers, store your homemade fried rice in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Calorie information
This recipe is really macro friendly because it has a significant source of fiber, plus you can modify the fat, protein or carbohydrate to meet your needs easily!
Calories 456
Fat 12 grams
Saturated 2grams
Sodium 571 grams
Protein 16 grams
Fiber 7 grams
Quick Fried Rice for One
Ingredients
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tsp fresh ginger minced
- 2 cups vegetables chopped
- 1 cup cooked brown rice cooled
- 2 tsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 egg fried
- edamame, shrimp, tofu, green onion, sesame seeds, sriracha
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the garlic, ginger, and chopped vegetables.
- Stir-fry the vegetables for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned and softened. Keep the ingredients moving so they cook evenly.Add the rice and cook, for another 3 minutes, then add the soy sauce and cook for 1 minute more.
- Let the rice cook, undisturbed for 1-2 minutes if you like crispy bits in your fried rice.
- Transfer your rice to serving bowl and top with fried egg and additional toppings if desired.