Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
Chicken Fried Rice Recipe – Fried rice is so perfect for using up whatever you’ve got that the rice sometimes becomes an afterthought.
First, the rice is lightly seasoned with scallions, ginger and garlic, then judiciously studded with chicken, peas and small curds of egg so that you can still taste the rice itself.
Ground chicken is used instead of sliced or cubed because it’s easy to infuse with seasonings and can brown without drying out.
If you’d like to add additional vegetables, of course you can: Stir-fry them, remove them from the pan, then add them back with the chicken.
Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
In a medium bowl, use your hands or two forks to mix together the ground chicken, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, half the garlic, half the ginger, and the red-pepper flakes (if using).
Heat your largest nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high until very hot.
Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and the ground chicken, then use a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula to quickly press meat into a thin layer (like one giant smash burger).
Cook, undisturbed, until meat is browned underneath, 3 to 5 minutes. Break up meat into bite-size pieces and stir until cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.
Turn off the heat, then transfer the chicken to a clean bowl, leaving the juices and fat in the skillet.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the scallion whites and the remaining ginger and garlic to the skillet.
Raise heat to medium-high, scrape up browned bits on the skillet and stir until sizzling and light golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the rice, peas, the remaining 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and salt to taste.
Stir to coat in the oil and break up clumps of rice.
Spread out the rice along the sides and bottom of the skillet.
Cook, undisturbed, until the sound shifts from a sizzle to a crackle and the rice is golden at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. If the rice is burning, add more oil.
Pour the eggs in a thin stream over the rice.
When you see some of the egg start to set, 15 to 30 seconds, toss the rice constantly to break up and cook the eggs.
Add the chicken and toss to warm through, 1 minute.
Turn off the heat and stir in the scallion greens.
Serve with more soy sauce and other seasonings as you like.
Chicken Fried Rice Recipe TIP
Leftover, cooked rice from the fridge has less moisture, so it will crisp more easily.
If you’re starting with uncooked rice, cook it as you would pasta so that the grains are not clumped together: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add 1⅓ cups rice and cook until just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes for white rice and 25 to 30 minutes for brown rice.
Drain, run under cold water to cool, shake to get rid of any water, then spread out on a baking sheet and refrigerate.
Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients
Yield:
4 to 6 servings
1pound ground chicken or turkey, preferably dark meat
2tablespoons soy sauce, plus more to taste
4garlic cloves, finely chopped
1(3-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 to 1½teaspoons red-pepper flakes, chile sauce or chopped fresh chile (optional)
3tablespoons neutral oil, plus more as needed
1bunch scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, dark green parts separated
4cups cooked, long-grain white or brown rice, preferably day-old (or 1⅓ cups uncooked rice; see Tip)
½cup frozen peas (about 2½ ounces; no need to thaw)
Salt
2large eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt
Any combination of chile sauce, rice or black vinegar, toasted sesame oil, white pepper, cilantro and MSG (optional, for serving)
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