
In case you are not acquainted with the title “Yangzhou”, properly I’m right here to let you know that this fried rice recipe is from town Yangzhou, situated in Jiangsu province of China. It’s stated that the dish was invented by Yi Bingshou, a regional Justice of the Peace of Yangzhou, which is why it’s known as Yang Zhou Fried Rice. No matter how the dish was created, I imagine Yang Zhou fried rice displays the true spirit of genuine Chinese language rice recipes by turning leftover meals scraps right into a scrumptious dish.
Yang Zhou fried rice is likely one of the hottest fried rice dishes, and after years of ordering it at eating places, I began making it at house so I might management the elements and make it extra satisfying for my household. I prepare dinner it in about half-hour utilizing leftover rice, shrimp, Chinese language BBQ pork, eggs, and peas, stir frying every little thing in levels so every element stays distinct and properly seasoned.
This model is barely completely different from the restaurant model as a result of I desire a extra substantial fried rice through the use of extra shrimp. It’s one among my favourite methods to make use of leftovers from my fridge to make a terrific meal as a substitute of losing them. I hope you give this one a attempt to get pleasure from it as a lot as I do.


Substances
Making this Yang Zhou fried rice with on a regular basis elements is what I really like most, and they’re extraordinarily versatile. These are the elements I take advantage of, and beneath I additionally share some substitutions to contemplate.


- Rice: I all the time use leftover white rice as a result of the grains keep separate and fry properly. Contemporary rice holds an excessive amount of moisture for this dish.
- Proteins: I loaded with shrimp and my do-it-yourself Chinese language BBQ pork so as to add sweetness and savory depth.
- Greens: I maintain the greens easy solely utilizing peas and inexperienced onions to keep up steadiness.
- Seasonings: Gentle soy sauce, salt, and white pepper season the rice with out masking the elements.
- Cooking fats: Peanut oil provides a pleasant nutty aroma, carries warmth and retains the rice from sticking. You can even use different impartial oil reminiscent of vegetable oil or avocado oil.
- Eggs: This ingredient is a should as a result of it provides richness and helps tie every little thing collectively.
Substitutions and variations
- Protein: You possibly can simply modify the proteins primarily based on what you could have readily available. I typically use diced roast beef, roast hen, leftover ham, and even leftover stew meat as substitutes for char siu pork.
- Seafood choices: If I wouldn’t have shrimp, I merely skip it with none points. A frozen seafood combine additionally works properly after I need a bit extra selection.
- Vegetable decisions: I often depend on thawed frozen vegetable mixes to avoid wasting prep time. On this recipe I take advantage of inexperienced peas, however corn, carrots, edamame, inexperienced beans, or broccoli all work properly, and contemporary greens like Chinese language broccoli stems or seeded zucchini are nice choices too.
- Egg changes: Once I skip seafood or use much less meat, I enhance the eggs from 2 to three. This helps maintain the fried rice balanced and satisfying.
Find out how to make
1. Put together the elements: Begin by gathering and prepping every little thing earlier than turning on the warmth. I cube the pork, peel and devein the shrimp, beat the eggs, chop the inexperienced onions, and ensure the rice is absolutely loosened.
2. Prepare dinner the proteins: Warmth the a big skillet or wok over medium excessive warmth with a small quantity of oil, then add the pork and shrimp. I allow them to prepare dinner briefly till simply finished, then switch them out to stop overcooking.


3. Fry the rice: I add extra oil to the pan and add the leftover rice. I wish to let the rice to roast for some time with out stirring an excessive amount of, then breaking apart clumps and letting the rice warmth by earlier than including the sunshine soy sauce.


4. Prepare dinner the eggs: Push the rice to 1 aspect of the pan and add oil to the empty area. Pour within the eggs, allow them to set briefly, then scramble and blend them into the rice.


5. Add greens and seasoning: Add the peas and inexperienced onions, then season with salt and white pepper. Stir every little thing collectively till properly mixed.


6. End the dish: Return the pork and shrimp to the wok and stir fry for an additional minute. As soon as every little thing is combined and scorching, flip off the warmth and serve immediately.


Cooking ideas
Greatest pan for Yang Zhou fried rice
I often suggest utilizing a skillet for house cooking, however Yang Zhou fried rice advantages from a wok as a result of it cooks shortly with minimal seasoning. A wok permits the rice to warmth quick and keep separate, which works particularly properly for easy fried rice dishes like this one. In case you are new to Chinese language cooking, I counsel utilizing a big nonstick skillet to keep away from sticking. Carbon metal or forged iron pans additionally work, however they require extra oil and a little bit of endurance to stop the rice from sticking.
Why leftover rice
The secret is to make use of rice that’s much less sticky so the grains separate properly throughout stir frying. Day previous lengthy grain rice works finest as a result of it has already misplaced extra moisture, however freshly cooked rice might be cooled shortly and chilled uncovered to attain an identical outcome. I additionally wish to freeze additional rice in ziplock luggage, since freezing removes extra moisture and makes it very best for fried rice.
A scorching pan and sufficient oil are key
Irrespective of whether or not I take advantage of a wok or a skillet, excessive warmth and a properly heated pan make a giant distinction in fried rice. Correct warmth helps crisp the rice and sear the meat and greens, and even a nonstick pan can produce crispy rice whether it is scorching sufficient and the rice is left undisturbed lengthy sufficient. I additionally be certain to make use of sufficient oil, since too little oil can go away the rice dry as soon as toasted.
Find out how to serve
In my home I serve this Yang Zhou fried rice the standard means, straight from the wok and loved by itself as a whole meal. I often deliver it to the desk household fashion, with no heavy sauces on the aspect, letting the rice, shrimp, pork, and eggs communicate for themselves simply as it’s generally served in Chinese language households.
You can even customise this dish to fit your personal style and pantry. I typically counsel swapping the proteins with roast hen, ham, and even leftover steak, and including additional greens utilizing any of my Chinese language vegetable stir fry recipes to make the meal extra filling, particularly when you’ve got a giant household or you might be internet hosting lunch with mates.
Steadily requested questions
Why does my fried rice flip soggy?
Soggy fried rice often comes from rice that’s too contemporary or a pan that’s not scorching sufficient. I be certain the rice is chilly and the pan is absolutely heated so the rice fries as a substitute of steaming.
Why do I prepare dinner the eggs individually?
I prepare dinner the eggs in a cleared spot within the pan so that they set on their very own as a substitute of instantly mixing into the rice. As soon as the underside of the eggs has simply set, I fold them into the rice. This manner, among the eggs calmly coat the grains for additional richness, whereas the remaining keep mushy and distinct.
How do I retailer leftover Yang Zhou fried rice?
To retailer leftovers, I let the fried rice cool utterly earlier than transferring it to an hermetic container. Within the fridge, it retains properly for as much as three days and reheats finest in a scorching pan with a small quantity of oil. For longer storage, I portion the rice into freezer protected containers or luggage and freeze it, then reheat straight from frozen in a skillet till scorching all through. You possibly can all the time reheat in a microwave too however the shrimp will grow to be more durable.
Chinese language Cooking Made Straightforward
Are you new to this web site? This free electronic mail collection is a good place to begin. I’ll stroll you thru a number of of my hottest recipes and present you the way and why they work. You’ll shortly begin to prepare dinner higher Chinese language meals in your individual kitchen.
Straightforward however genuine 30 minute meals like this Yangzhou fried rice are all the time on the prime of my listing for a random weekday. I really like the crispy rice paired with bits of shrimp and Chinese language BBQ pork which are wealthy and fragrant. My recipe is extremely easy to place collectively and tastes much better than most Chinese language takeout.
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
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Warmth 1/2 tablespoon of oil in a wok or a nonstick skillet over medium-high warmth till scorching. Swirl to coat the underside of the pan with the oil. Add the ham and shrimp. Prepare dinner for 30 seconds with out disturbing. Stir and prepare dinner till the shrimp flip white. Instantly switch the ham and shrimp to a separate plate.
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Add 1 tablespoon of oil and the rice. Stir and prepare dinner for 1 minute to coat the rice with oil. Pour within the soy sauce. Stir and prepare dinner till the soy sauce is evenly distributed. And the grains are separated.
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Transfer the rice to 1 aspect of the pan and add oil and the overwhelmed eggs to the opposite aspect. Let prepare dinner for 30 seconds till the underside is simply set. Stir gently to scramble the eggs, then combine the rice with the eggs. Stir and prepare dinner till the eggs are separated into small items, 1 to 2 minutes.
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Add the vegetable combine and inexperienced onion. Sprinkle salt and white pepper. Stir and prepare dinner for an additional minute.
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Return the cooked shrimp and char siu. Give it a closing combine. Flip to low warmth, fastidiously style the rice and modify seasoning if mandatory. Switch to serving bowls and serve scorching as a aspect dish, or a lightweight most important dish.
Ingredient Substitution Information
- In the event you use giant shrimp, you possibly can lower every shrimp into 3 to 4 small bite-size items. So the shrimp will disperse into the rice evenly and each chunk of rice could have a bit of shrimp in it.
- In the event you’re cooking from uncooked rice, 1 1/2 cups of uncooked rice will yield 4 cups of cooked rice.
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 304kcal, Carbohydrates: 40.5g, Protein: 15.1g, Fats: 8.4g, Saturated Fats: 1.8g, Ldl cholesterol: 115mg, Sodium: 312mg, Potassium: 231mg, Fiber: 1.5g, Sugar: 1.6g, Calcium: 54mg, Iron: 3mg
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