Fried rice is a popular component of Chinese food and other forms of Asian cuisine. It is made from rice stir fried in a wok with other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables and some kinds of meat. It is sometimes served as the penultimate dish in Chinese banquets (just before dessert). As a home cooked dish, fried rice typically is made with ingredients left over from other dishes, leading to countless variations. [1]
There are many popular varieties of fried rice, each with its own specific list of ingredients. In Asia, the more famous varieties include Yangzhou and Fujian fried rice. In the West, Chinese restaurants catering to non-Chinese clientele have invented their own varieties of fried rice including egg fried rice, Singaporean (spicy) fried rice and the ubiquitous 'special fried rice'.
Fried rice is a common staple in American Chinese cuisine, especially in the westernized form sold at fast-food stands. The most common form of fried rice consists of some mixture of eggs, scallions, and vegetables, with chopped meat (usually pork or chicken, sometimes beef or shrimp) added at the customer's discretion. Fried rice is also seen in other Asian American restaurants, even in cuisines where there is no native tradition of the dish such as the Caribbean. The dish is also a staple of Chinese restaurants in the United Kingdom (both "sit-in" and "takeaway"), and fried rice is very popular in the West African nations of Ghana and Togo, both as a restaurant food and as street food.
Preparation
Fried rice is made from cold rice that has already been cooked by boiling. The use of leftover rice and other leftover ingredients is common when cooked at home. The oil may be seasoned with aromatics such as garlic before the rice and other ingredients are stir fried together in a wok. The non-rice ingredients used in fried rice are greatly varied. They can include eggs, poultry and meat (beef, pork), vegetables (carrots, bean sprouts, celery, peas, corn), spices and peppers, and soy sauce or sometime oyster sauce. It is often stir-fried in a wok with vegetable oil or animal fat to prevent sticking, as well as for flavour. Onions, scallion and garlic add zest and extra flavor. It is popularly eaten either as an accompaniment to another dish, or as a course by itself.
Popular garnishes include fried shallots, sprigs of parsley or coriander leaves, carrots carved into intricate shapes or sliced chili sprinkled on top of the heaped rice. Many food stands found on the streets across Southeast Asia will serve fried rice on the spot expecting the customer to choose which garnishes to add.
Common varieties
- Bai cha: A Khmer variation of fried rice that includes diced Chinese sausage, garlic, shoyu, and herbs usually eaten with pork.
- Canton (or Mui Fan) fried rice: A Cantonese dish of fried rice typically dry, Fukien fried rice is usually served "wet", with sauce or gravy on top.
- Cha Han (チャーハン): Chinese fried rice suited to Japanese tastes, sometimes adding katsuobushi for flavor.
- Yangchow (or Yangzhou) fried rice: A fried rice dish consisting of generous portions of shrimp, scrambled egg, along with barbecued pork. This is the most popular fried rice served in Chinese restaurants, commonly referred to simply as "special fried rice" or "house fried rice".
- Yuan yang fried rice: Fried rice dish topped with two different types of sauce, typically a savory white sauce on one half, and a red tomato-based sauce on the other half. Elaborated versions use the sauce to make a taichi ("yin-yang") symbol.
- Thai fried rice (ข้าวผัด, Khao Pad or Khao Phad): The flavor of this version is radically different from that of common fried rice, and comes from various additions not found in Chinese fried rice.
- American Fried Rice (ข้าวผัดอเมริกัน, Khao pad Amerigan): This style of fried rice is actually a Thai invention using hot dogs, fried chicken, eggs as side dishes or mixed into rice fried with ketchup. Apparently, this was served to G.I.s during the Vietnam war,[citation needed] but now has become very popular and commonplace all throughout Thailand. The Malaysian counterpart, substituting pork with chicken, is called Nasi Goreng USA.
- Nasi goreng: A Malay and Indonesian version of fried rice. The main difference compared to fried rice is that it is cooked with sweet soy sauce (kecap manis). It is often accompanied by additional items such as a fried egg, fried chicken, satay, or keropok. Served in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the southern Philippines, and most of the neighboring countries. Also very popular in the Netherlands.
- Chaufa: A popular version of fried rice in Peru. Brought by Asian immigrants, it combines the traditional Chinese recipe with a distinct touch of South American flavor.
- Kimchi bokkeumbap or kimchi fried rice: A popular variety of fried rice prepared with Korean pickled cabbage, kimchi, and a variable list of other ingredients. Although a wide range of fried rice dishes are frequently prepared in Korean cuisine, often with whichever ingredients are handy, Kimchi Fried Rice is a popular variety.
- Sinangag or Garlic Fried Rice: A Filipino version, only containing garlic (bawang) and is often a breakfast fixture. Sinangag is often part of the Tapsilog dish.
- Curry fried rice: standard fried rice mixed with curry powder for a spicier flavor.
- Hawaiian fried rice: A common style of fried rice in Hawaii. Usually contains egg, green onions, peas, cubed carrots, and one or both of Portuguese sausage and Spam. Also sometimes available with kimchi added. Normally cooked in sesame oil.
- Arroz Frito (Cuban Fried Rice): Very similar to "Special Fried Rice", this version of fried rice can be found alongside typical criollo dishes in many Cuban restaurants. This dish features ham, bbq pork, shrimp, chicken, and eggs along with a variety of vegetables. Some restaurants add lechón (Cuban-style suckling pig), lobster tails, and/or crab. Chinese Cubans are responsible for the dish's popularity.
- Chowmin: A style of fried rice in Guyana. Served with Casserip chicken.
See also
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