Day-old rice, whatever protein you have, and a hot pan.
The trick to good fried rice is cold rice and high heat. Fresh rice steams instead of fries — plan ahead or use leftovers. Everything else is flexible.
Make it a bowl. Make it a plate. Use what you have.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked and cooled rice — brown, white, or cauliflower
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- a drizzle of avocado oil
- a thumb of fresh ginger, grated
- a clove or two of garlic, minced
- a couple handfuls of mixed vegetables — carrots, peas, broccoli, bell pepper, whatever you have
- a few green onions, thinly sliced
- a splash of Bragg’s liquid aminos or soy sauce
- a drizzle of sesame oil to finish (optional)
- salt and a few cracks of black pepper
Method
- Start with cold rice. Day-old is ideal — fresh rice turns mushy in the pan.
- Scramble the eggs in a knob of butter or tallow over medium heat. Set aside.
- In the same pan, heat oil over medium-high. Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant — about 30 seconds.
- Add vegetables and cook 3–4 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Add the rice. Stir-fry everything together, breaking up any clumps. Drizzle with Bragg’s and sesame oil if using.
- Fold the eggs back in. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Plate and add your protein on top.
Build It Your Way
- top with grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, salmon, or pork
- add a handful of edamame for extra plant protein
- swap the vegetables for mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, or asparagus
- finish with sesame seeds, extra green onion, or a drizzle of sriracha
- use Golden Basmati Rice with Bone Broth & Turmeric as the base for more depth
- a splash of rice vinegar stirred in at the end brightens the whole pan
Adjust to your taste. Use what you have.
Swaps & Notes
- Keep the heat at medium-high throughout — lower heat steams instead of fries.
- Miyoko’s plant-based butter works well for the eggs if you’re dairy-free.
- No sesame oil — skip it or finish with a drizzle of chili oil instead.
- This is a great use for leftover protein. Chop or shred whatever’s in the refrigerator and fold it in with the eggs.
