How to Cook Fried Rice Step by Step With Pictures
Welcome to the Naijafoodies blog, where you will learn how to cook fried rice step by step with pictures. Fried rice is one of the delicious and colorful meals enjoyed by Nigerians and worldwide. It’s also one of the most widely eaten Nigerian foods.
Whether you are preparing it for a family dinner, wedding, or a special event, fried rice is sure to be a better and sweeter food for almost everyone.
In this post, I will guide you through how to cook fried rice step by step with pictures to ensure you get it just right and delicious without going for catering training!
Ingredients for Fried Rice
Before you begin cooking fried rice, ensure that you have all the following ingredients:
- Cooked rice (preferably a day old for the best texture)
- Vegetables (carrots, peas, sweet corn, and green beans)
- diced chicken, shrimp, or beef (optional)
- Eggs (for scrambled eggs)
- small onion (chopped)
- cloves of garlic (minced)
- soy sauce
- curry powder
- Thyme
- seasoning cubes or powder
- Salt
- Black pepper (optional)
- Vegetable oil or any cooking oil of your choice
- Spring onions (chopped)
- Slices of fresh tomatoes
Equipment Needed
- A large frying pan or non stick pot
- A wooden spoon or spatula
- A chopping board
- A sharp knife
How to Cook Fried Rice Step by Step
1. Prepare Your Ingredients
Chop your vegetables: Dice the carrots, green beans, and onions into small, even pieces.
- Cook your protein: If you’re using chicken, shrimp, or beef, season it lightly with salt and pepper, then sauté in a little oil until fully cooked. Set it aside.
- Beat the eggs: In a bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside for scrambling later.
2. Cook the Rice
If you don’t already have cooked rice:
- Wash 3 cups of rice thoroughly to remove excess starch.
- Parboil the rice until it’s almost cooked (soft but not mushy).
- Drain the water and set the rice aside.
3. Sauté the Vegetables
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan or wok over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and chopped onions. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the diced carrots, peas, and green beans. Stir and cook for about 3-5 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender.
4.Scramble the Eggs
- Push the vegetables to one side of the pan.
- Pour the whisked eggs into the empty side and let them set slightly.
- Stir and break the eggs into small pieces as they cook. Mix them with the vegetables.
5. Add the Rice
- Add the cooked rice to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to mix it evenly with the vegetables and eggs.
- Drizzle the soy sauce over the rice and stir to combine. The soy sauce gives the fried rice its signature flavor and color.
6. Season the Rice
- Sprinkle curry powder, thyme, seasoning cubes, and a pinch of salt over the rice.
- Mix thoroughly to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
7. Add the Protein
- If you are using chicken, shrimp, or beef, add it back into the pan.
- Stir everything together and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.
8. Garnish and Serve
- Sprinkle chopped spring onions on top for a fresh touch.
- Serve your fried rice hot with slices of fresh tomatoes or a side of grilled chicken.
Tips for the Perfect Fried Rice
- Use Day Old Rice: Freshly cooked rice can be too soft and sticky. Day old rice is drier and separates better.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Fry the rice in batches if your pan is small to ensure even cooking.
- Adjust Seasonings: Taste the rice as you go and adjust the salt, soy sauce, or spices to your preference.
- Be Creative: Add your favorite vegetables or proteins like sausage, bacon, or tofu for variety.
Nutritional Benefits of Fried Rice
- Rich in Carbohydrates: Provides energy from the rice.
- High in Protein: Eggs and added proteins like chicken or shrimp make it a balanced meal.
- Loaded with Vegetables: Adds essential vitamins, fiber, and minerals.
How to Cook Fried Rice Step by Step With Pictures
Time needed: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Before you begin cooking fried rice, ensure that you have all the following ingredients
- Prepare your ingredients
Dice the carrots, green beans, tomatoes and onions into small, even pieces. If you are using chicken, shrimp, or beef, season it lightly with salt and pepper, then sauté in a little oil until fully cooked. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside for scrambling later.
- Cook the Rice
Wash 3 cups of rice thoroughly to remove excess starch, parboil the rice until it’s almost cooked (soft but not mushy) and then drain the water and set the rice aside
- Sauté the Vegetables
Heat oil in a frying pan or wok over medium heat, add the minced garlic and chopped onions. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, add the diced carrots, peas, and green beans, stir and cook for about 3-5 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender.
- Scramble the Eggs
Push the vegetables to one side of the pan, pour the whisked eggs into the empty side and let them set slightly, Stir and break the eggs into small pieces as they cook, Mix them with the vegetables.
- Add the Rice
Add the cooked rice to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to mix it evenly with the vegetables and eggs, Drizzle the soy sauce over the rice and stir to combine. The soy sauce gives the fried rice its signature flavor and color.
- Season the Rice
Sprinkle curry powder, thyme, seasoning cubes, and a pinch of salt over the rice. Mix thoroughly to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Add the Protein
If you are using chicken, shrimp, or beef, add it back into the pan, Stir everything together and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle chopped spring onions on top for a fresh touch and then serve your fried rice hot with slices of fresh tomatoes or a side of grilled chicken.
ALSO READ: How to Cook Egusi Soup Frying Method (Step-by-Step Guide)
FAQ
The best method is to parboil the rice until it’s firm. This ensures the rice doesn’t become mushy when fried. For the best results, use long grain rice like basmati or parboiled rice and allow it to cool completely before frying.
The most used and common spices for fried rice include curry powder, thyme, ground white pepper, and bouillon cubes. You can also add a pinch of turmeric for extra color.
In Nigeria, fried rice gets its greenish yellow color from curry powder and sometimes turmeric. The vibrant mix of colorful vegetables like green beans and bell peppers also adds to its visual appeal.
Cooking fried rice is easy and amusing. By following these steps, you will achieve a mouthwatering colorful dish that everybody will want. Be it for the family, wedding or for the party, this dish will always win hearts. Now try it out today, and have your own innovations with any ingredients of your choice.
How to Cook Fried Rice Step by Step With Pictures
Equipment
- A large frying pan or non stick pot
- A wooden spoon or spatula
- A chopping board
- A sharp knife
Ingredients
- Cooked rice preferably a day old for the best texture
- Vegetables carrots, peas, sweet corn, and green beans
- diced chicken shrimp, or beef (optional)
- Eggs for scrambled eggs
- small onion chopped
- cloves of garlic minced
- soy sauce
- curry powder
- Thyme
- seasoning cubes or powder
- Salt
- Black pepper optional
- Vegetable oil or any cooking oil of your choice
- Spring onions chopped
- Slices of fresh tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients
- Chop your vegetables: Dice the carrots, green beans, and onions into small, even pieces.
- Cook your protein: If you’re using chicken, shrimp, or beef, season it lightly with salt and pepper, then sauté in a little oil until fully cooked. Set it aside.
- Beat the eggs: In a bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside for scrambling later.
- Cook the Rice
- If you don’t already have cooked rice:
- Wash 3 cups of rice thoroughly to remove excess starch.
- Parboil the rice until it's almost cooked (soft but not mushy).
- Drain the water and set the rice aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan or wok over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic and chopped onions. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the diced carrots, peas, and green beans. Stir and cook for about 3-5 minutes until the vegetables are slightly tender.
- 4.Scramble the Eggs
- Push the vegetables to one side of the pan.
- Pour the whisked eggs into the empty side and let them set slightly.
- Stir and break the eggs into small pieces as they cook. Mix them with the vegetables.
- Add the Rice
- Add the cooked rice to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to mix it evenly with the vegetables and eggs.
- Drizzle the soy sauce over the rice and stir to combine. The soy sauce gives the fried rice its signature flavor and color.
- Season the Rice
- Sprinkle curry powder, thyme, seasoning cubes, and a pinch of salt over the rice.
- Mix thoroughly to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Add the Protein
- If you are using chicken, shrimp, or beef, add it back into the pan.
- Stir everything together and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve
- Sprinkle chopped spring onions on top for a fresh touch.
- Serve your fried rice hot with slices of fresh tomatoes or a side of grilled chicken.
Wow.. Can’t wait to try it…