Vegetarian Fried Rice

Name: Vegetarian Fried Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 2 eggs, beaten; 3 cups freshly cooked white rice (can use leftover rice); 1/2 cup carrots, diced; 1/2 cup frozen green peas; 1/2 cup frozen sweet corn; 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil; 1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste); 1/2 tablespoon green onions (approximately 1 full stem), chopped; 1 teaspoon soy sauce (or maggi sauce); 1 teaspoon roasted black sesame seeds (optional)

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Who needs take out when you can make Chinese restaurant-style Vegetarian Fried Rice in your own home in 10 minutes? This rice has the best, crispy texture, tender, fluffy eggs, colourful vegetables, and packed with flavour. Plus, it's fully customizable so you can throw in whatever vegetables and protein you have on hand.

Say goodbye to takeout and make flavourful, Chinese restaurant-style vegetarian fried rice at home in 10 minutes, with fully customizable ingredients. | aheadofthyme.com

Fried rice is one of our favourite dishes, that we eat almost every week. It's Danny's specialty and it's one of the first dishes that he ever cooked when he moved to Canada on his own. Over the years, he has honed his skills and has really elevated his rice game. So today, he is sharing all his tips for creating restaurant-quality fried rice at home. Bye bye take-out!

Why You'll Love This Vegetarian Fried Rice Recipe

Tried and true. We've made this recipe countless times, and know that it will turn out great for you every time! Each measurement and ingredient is just right. Your dish will taste just like what we make at home!
So quick to make. Fried rice is surprisingly fast to make since eggs scramble up quickly and you can use frozen veggies to speed up the process. The longest part of the process is making the rice, but even that is pretty quick when you have a good white rice recipe. It's great for a last-minute meal to stick to your ribs.
Easy to customize. This is one of fried rice's main advantages - it's endlessly customizable. You can change the veggies, add leftover veggie scraps from your fridge, top with fried tofu or protein crumbles, sprinkle with chopped peanuts and fresh herbs, and so much more. Start with a great recipe like this one, and then adjust it to make it your own!

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Vegetarian Fried Rice, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

vegetable oil
eggs
white rice - freshly cooked is best, but you can use leftover rice. You will just need to add some water to soften the rice.
vegetables - fresh or frozen carrots, green peas, and sweet corn. Carrots and peas are essentials in fried rice. You can get creative with your other vegetable options and use whatever you have on hand. Broccoli and cauliflower are good options. You can even add peanuts or edamame beans.
seasonings - sesame oil, salt, Italiano seasoning (optional). Another popular seasoning that can be used is cumin, but use sparingly.
green onions - can be substituted with cilantro (but if using cilantro, it must be added at the end as a topping, as it will wilt under the heat).
soy sauce - can be substituted for maggi sauce, or teriyaki sauce for a sweeter taste, satay sauce or fish sauce for more of a seafood taste, or curry sauce for a Thai-style fried rice.
roasted black sesame seeds - this is optional, for serving.

You will also need the following equipment: measuring cups and spoons and a large wok or skillet.

How to Cook the Best Vegetarian Fried Rice

Make the eggs. Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat for one minute. Add beaten eggs, and stir until scrambled and cooked through, yet still tender.

Serve. Serve hot and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Recipe Variations

Load up on veggies. There's no reason to stick to the basics here. Use your favorite fresh vegetables, like broccoli, snow peas, spring onions, green bell peppers, purple cabbage, fresh ginger, green vegetables (bok choy or kale), bamboo shoots, mushrooms, etc.
Use brown rice. Since brown rice is higher in fiber than white rice, it can help fill you up a little longer. I recommend using long grain rice, as it holds its shape better after cooking.
Add protein. For a filling vegetarian main dish, top your homemade fried rice with crispy tofu, plant-based chicken, seitan, and more. Meat lovers will love adding grilled shrimp, leftover chicken, or small pieces of pork or beef cooked separately before adding to the fried rice.

Different Types of Fried Rice

There are so many different ways to make fried rice, whether it be vegetarian, meat or seafood. You can mix together an endless variety of ingredients to keep changing it up. Some common combinations are:

Beef with broccoli
Shrimp with cauliflower and broccoli
Chicken with chopped green beans with curry sauce
Chicken with peanuts with a black bean sauce

Tofu can also be added to this vegetarian fried rice. Just cut it up into small cubes, similar in size to frozen peas and corns, as all the pieces in the dish should look uniform.

How to Serve

This Vegetarian Fried Rice is delicious served on its own, but is especially good paired with some delicious Chinese entrees including:

For more recipes, see our 60 Chinese Takeout Recipes at Home.

Tips for Making Fried Rice

Continuously stir. You will need to continuously stir throughout the cooking process to ensure even distribution of heat across the dish, and even cooking. Fried rice is about uniformity. The rice is supposed to be evenly cooked and all the pieces should have the exact same flavour and texture. I often use 2 spatulas for cooking this dish.
Cook eggs until tender. Cook the eggs on medium high heat until cooked through, yet tender. You don't want the eggs to get to a very dry stage early on. You want them to be springy and bright in colour.
Cook fried rice over high heat. Cook fried rice over high heat to achieve the best mix of texture and flavours. Asian fried rice is supposed to be cooked quickly, so cooking over high heat speeds up the cooking process.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Let the fried rice cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container and storing in the refrigerator. It will last for 3-5 days in the fridge.

How to Reheat

The best way to reheat vegetarian fried rice is on a skillet on the stovetop. Preheat the skillet to medium-high heat and add the fried rice. Stir frequently until the rice and veggies are warmed through, a few minutes.

How to Freeze

Allow the fried rice to cool to room temperature first, then transfer it into an airtight container or portion it out into freezer bags and squeeze out as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating according to instructions above.

FAQ

Is fried rice vegetarian?

It really depends on the specific recipe. Many versions sneak in chicken or shrimp, so make sure you use a vegetarian fried rice recipe. Always double-check the seasonings and sauces, too. This version uses Maggi sauce, which is made from fermented wheat and doesn't contain any animal products.

Is it better to use fresh or leftover rice for fried rice?

There are lots of different opinions on this matter, as well as many regional preferences and variations. After much testing, we found that we prefer to use freshly cooked rice. If you choose to use day-old rice instead, be sure to warm it up well with a little water to plump up and soften the grains.

How do you make vegan fried rice?

For a totally plant-based meal, you only need to remove the scrambled eggs. All of the other ingredients are naturally vegetarian unless you use a different sauce besides Maggi.

More Fried Rice Recipes

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