Veg Fried Rice Recipe (Chinese Style)
User Reviews
4.8
126 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
3
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Calories
394 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Chinese, Indian-Chinese Fusion
Veg Fried Rice Recipe (Chinese Style)
Report
This Chinese-style Veg Fried Rice features basmati rice cooked al dente and mixed with finely chopped vegetables such as green beans, carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, mushrooms, and celery. Aromatics like garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and rice wine add savory depth. The result is a stir-fried dish with separate grains, crisp-tender veggies, and balanced seasoning. Cooling the cooked rice before frying prevents mushiness, ensuring proper texture.
Description
To prepare, basmati rice is rinsed repeatedly and soaked before cooking in salted water with a touch of toasted sesame oil. The rice is cooked until al dente and then drained and cooled, sometimes chilled, to stop cooking and reduce stickiness. Vegetables are finely chopped, prioritizing very small pieces of french beans as they take longer to cook. Garlic, ginger, and star anise add aromatics to the oil during stir-frying.
The cooked rice is then combined with the vegetables and seasonings like soy sauce, rice wine, salt, and black pepper. The goal is to retain individual rice grains while stirring with the vegetables for an even distribution of flavors and a lightly crisp texture. The dish serves as a flexible meal or side that can include tofu or paneer for protein.
Using naturally brewed soy sauce or tamari offers authentic flavor; omitting celery and adjusting veggies can suit available ingredients. Properly cooked and cooled rice prevents a soggy or mushy fried rice. Reheating can be done by steaming or stir-frying with splashes of water.
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Ingredients
For cooking rice
- 1 cup basmati rice or long grained rice - 190 to 200 grams
- 4 to 4.5 cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt or add as required
- 2 to 3 drops sesame oil or any neutral oil, toasted
Other ingredients
- 3 tablespoons neutral cooking oil any neutral flavored oil, generic cooking oil
- 1 star anise
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon garlic - finely chopped or 3 to 4 small to medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ginger - finely chopped or ½ inch peeled ginger - optional
- ¼ cup spring onion chopped (scallions, whites
- ¼ cup green beans finely chopped, French beans
- ¼ cup carrot finely chopped
- ¼ to ½ cup cabbage finely chopped or shredded, optional
- ¼ cup bell pepper or capsicum - chopped. can add red, green or yellow bell peppers
- 1 cup button mushrooms - chopped
- 1 tablespoon celery - chopped, skip if you do not have
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce (naturally brewed) or tamari - can add less or more as required or completely skip
- 1 teaspoon rice wine or rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper or add as required, powder
- 2 tablespoons spring onions chopped (scallion greens, greens
- salt as required
Instructions
Cooking rice
- Rinse rice very well till the water runs clear of starch. Soak rice in water for 30 mins. Drain and keep aside.
- In a pot, bring water to a gentle boil with salt and 2 to 3 drops of toasted sesame oil.
- Add the soaked and drained rice to the hot water.
- On a low to medium to medium-high heat simmer rice without the lid.
- When rice becomes al dente or just about cooked, remove the pot from the heat. Strain the rice in a colander or sieve.
- You can also gently rinse cooked rice in water so that they stop cooking and don't stick to each other. Cover the cooked rice and set aside until the rice cools completely. You can even refrigerate rice with a covered lid for 30 minutes.
Chopping veggies
- When the cooked rice is cooling, chop the veggies finely and keep aside.
- Remember to chop the french beans very finely. They take more time to cook than other veggies. You can also blanch them first and then cook. Another option is to add the beans first and then add the other vegetables.
Making veg fried rice
- Heat oil in a wok or a pan. First add the star anise and fry for a few seconds or until the oil becomes fragrant.
- Add the garlic, ginger and sauté for some seconds. No need to brown the garlic.
- Add the spring onions whites and sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Then add finely chopped french beans.
- Stir fry french beans for 2 to 3 minutes over medium to medium-high heat.
- Add the remaining finely chopped veggies, including mushrooms and celery. Increase the heat to a high to thoroughly cook all of the vegetables.
- You have to continuously toss and stir while frying so that the veggies are uniformly cooked and do not get burnt.
- The vegetables have to be stir-fried, until they are almost cooked and yet retain their crunchiness and crispiness. Stir-frying vegetables on high heat takes about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Add the soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stir quickly and add cooked and cooled rice.
- Stir fry for a few minutes until the sauce has coated the rice well. Keep a check when adding salt, as soy sauce already has salt in it.
- Serve the veg fried rice hot as it is or with with your favorite Chinese side.
Serving suggestions
- Though fried rice tastes great on its own, you can pair it with Veg Manchurian, Gobi Manchurian, Chilli Paneer, Spring Rolls or Chilli Mushroom. More side recipes for veg fried rice are linked and listed in the main post.
Storing fried rice
- Vegetable fried rice stays good for a day when refrigerated. But I would recommend it to be eaten as soon as you make it since a few days old refrigerated rice is not good for health.
Notes
- Use aged, long-grained rice like basmati to ensure non-sticky grains suitable for fried rice.
- Include a variety of finely chopped vegetables totaling 1.5 to 2 cups, adjusting types and quantities to preference.
- Choose naturally brewed soy sauce or tamari for authentic flavor and gluten-free options.
- Cool cooked rice thoroughly before stir-frying to prevent mushiness.
- Reheat leftover fried rice by steaming or quick stir-frying with a little water to retain texture.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
394kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
56g
(19%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
15g
(23%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Sodium
1815mg
(76%)
Potassium
309mg
(7%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
2014IU
(40%)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
3mg
Vitamin B6
1mg
Vitamin C
17mg
(19%)
Vitamin D
1µg
(5%)
Vitamin E
1mg
Vitamin K
37µg
Calcium
43mg
(4%)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
29µg
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Magnesium
33mg
(8%)
Phosphorus
129mg
Zinc
1mg
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 394 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 394kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 56g | 19% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Sodium | 1815mg | 76% |
| Potassium | 309mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 2014IU | 40% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 3mg | |
| Vitamin B6 | 1mg | |
| Vitamin C | 17mg | 19% |
| Vitamin D | 1µg | 5% |
| Vitamin E | 1mg | |
| Vitamin K | 37µg | |
| Calcium | 43mg | 4% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 29µg | |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
| Magnesium | 33mg | 8% |
| Phosphorus | 129mg | |
| Zinc | 1mg |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
126 reviews
Excellent
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