Who here has never had fried rice before? Please speak now or forever hold your peace.
Hmmmm, no one? I thought so too.
It’s hard to think of a meal that has more variations, more combinations of flavour and ingredients that are possible than fried rice. My mum, my dad, my sister, my husband, all have their own combinations and styles when it comes to making fried rice. When I was little, it used to be this “special occasion” meal that my parents and my grandparents used to make at home, which they often times made a big deal about. It wasn’t until a little later that I realized fried rice appeared on our dinner table, only when they had leftovers that needed to be used or when they had run out of ideas. But hey, I wasn’t complaining. It’s such an easy and flavourful way to use leftover rice, vegetables and meat and even now, whenever I make fried rice, it always seems like a special occasion to me.
There are times when I end up using all the leftovers in the fridge to make fried rice. However, my favourite is also the one that is the simplest. Fresh carrots and leeks, a choice of protein and spices. That’s it. Maaaybe some green onions at the end. My mother makes a fried rice that seems so simple but is so incredibly good that we always eat it just by itself. This is my twist on her classic. Ginger and Basil Fried Rice!
My mother is the culinary queen in my family and even out of all my relatives. She’s the best at it, from everyone I know. My father too is a great cook and the one thing he makes better than my mother is Bolognese. In fact, we are never allowed anywhere near the kitchen when he makes it, so I’m yet to learn his recipe. My mother on the other hand is much more forthcoming with her recipes (thankfully!). My father is also the “One Pot Wonder” king in my family! He specializes in the art of throwing whatever he can get his hands on (edible things of course) in one pot and cooking it all and then mixing it with rice. With delicious results no less. Sometimes, we would flinch at the ingredients he adds, but just like Professor Snape’s potions, they always work.
My fried rice is less adventurous than my dad’s, but just as flavourful. I use fresh veggies and one day old rice. It somehow makes everything taste better. I prefer adding only chicken, but Mr K loves shrimp, so in the true spirit of “Porque no los dos“, I add both. Since I love basil, I can’t resist adding it to my fried rice too.
What I love about fried rice is that anyone can add their own spin, their own signature so to speak, to it. Yes, there is a recipe here for this ginger and basil fried rice, but honestly, don’t let that stop you from experimenting. That is what’s great about food isn’t it? So this is more of a guideline for a great fried rice recipe. But sometimes, it’s fun to just close your eyes and throw things in that one pot fried rice wonder. Well, maybe keep your eyes open. You know, just in case.
I like this ginger and basil fried rice between a “wet” and “dry” stage. What I mean by that is that the rice is still dry enough that it’s fluffy (not clumpy and the cooked grains separate), but wet enough that each grain is coated with the amazing flavours of everything you mix it with. Using a good stock to add flavour is therefore important. If you’re using tofu, use a good vegetable stock. Otherwise you can use chicken, beef or pork stock instead.
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Ingredients:
- 20 oz of cooked one day old rice (Basmati or Jasmine rice)
- 4 tbsp peanut oil can use vegetable oil too
- 1.5 oz ginger julienned
- 2 cups washed and sliced leeks white and light green parts only
- 1 ½ cups shredded or julienned carrots
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 cups raw shrimps prawns, halved
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken I used left over chicken breast
- 4 eggs whisked in a bowl optional, but recommended
- 4 spring onions chopped
- 1 oz basil leaves
- ¼ cup chicken stock
Instructions:
- In a large wok or non-stick pan, heat 2 tbsp of oil. When the oil is hot, add the ginger and saute until the ginger starts to turn brown at the edges.
- Increase the heat to high and add the leeks, carrot, ½ the soy sauce, cayenne pepper, black pepper and sugar and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the shrimp and chicken and spring onions and cook until the shrimp turns pink.
- Push the vegetable to one side of the pan and increase the heat to high. Add some oil to the empty side, and when the oil is heated add the whisked egg. Scramble the eggs. Once the eggs are scrambled and dry, mix it through with the rest of the vegetable mix. Lower the heat to medium heat.
- Add the rice, stock, the rest of the soy sauce and basil leaves.
- Gently saute the rice until the liquid is absorbed, and the vegetables, chicken and shrimp are mixed through. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Serve with extra basil leaves as garnish.
Tips & Tricks
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Ginger and Basil together is one of my favourite flavour combinations! Using one day old rice does make a difference in this ginger and basil fried rice. It dries out the rice ever so slightly, which makes the rice soak up all the flavours readily without causing it to become “soggy”. It goes without saying that this is one of our favourite ways to eat rice and we just had it for lunch yesterday. 🙂 Sometimes I make it in bulk (like one huge batch) and then freeze it in lunch boxes, so that Mr K can take it to work for lunch. (It’s a little more challenging to make it in bulk while ensuring all the flavours are still in the correct proportions, but I’ve gotten much better at it now). The rice is perfectly cooked, the leeks and carrots add a fresh taste and texture and vibrant colours to this dish, and the ginger and basil add a nice earthy, spicy flavour. You just can’t go wrong with this ginger and basil fried rice.
On my lazy days, I will serve the rice as is (after all, it is a main meal and not a side dish). But on days when I do feel like it, I will make a chicken or shrimp stir-fry to go with the ginger and basil fried rice. And there are two things that will further elevate this dish. Asian chili paste and cashew nuts! 🙂
Do you like fried rice? Do you have a vegetable or an ingredient that’s a must have in your fired rice recipe?
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Winnie says
I LOVE fried rice, and you used her such a wonderful combination of flavors!!
I really like ginger and I’m a pesto-freak, but honestly – I’ve never though of combing them together 🙂 I MUSTtry it
Dini says
Thank you Winnie! I love fried rice too 🙂 I absolutely love those two separately too, but they’re even better together!!
CakeSpy says
Looks absolutely perfect. Basil in fried rice is the bomb.
Dini says
Thank you! 🙂 I agree… Basil in fried rice is the bomb! Basil in almost ANYTHING is the bomb!! 😀
Anne says
My family only makes one kind of fried rice: the kind with eggs and corn (and sometimes peas, which I always pick out). This variation looks delicious!
Dini says
I love fried rice with Corn in it too!! I used to hate peas, but eventually started liking them 🙂 I hope you try this… for me my favourite kind of fried rice is one with leeks! It REALLY makes it delicious! 🙂
lili says
Ginger and basil – yum!! 🙂
Judi Graber says
This is my kind of fried rice – there are no eggs in it! Thanks so much for a new version to cook 🙂
Dini says
Thank you Judi! This does have eggs, but it is optional! 🙂 The flavour for this comes from the ginger, basil and the stock mostly 🙂 I hope you do love it!
Polianthus says
Right have just printed this – have leftover egg whites from last night frozen shrimp and I’m hungry! looks divine!
Love your one pot wonder dad, very funny, as he guards his secrets jealously no wonder he stays ahead 🙂
Dini says
Yes please!!! let me know what you think of it! 😀 My plans is to get him to divulge his secrets soon! Fingers crossed… 😀
Sadia says
A very delicious looking fried rice Dini! Luv that it is so simple. 🙂
skd says
Looks aromatic and flavorful. Nice combination.
tentimestea says
Haha, I love the comparison to Prof Snape! My grandpa’s “one pot wonders” are sometimes…not so wonderful. The basil sounds like such an intriguing addition! I’ll try to remember that for next time I make fried rice 🙂
Dini says
Thank you! 🙂 He is hilarious when he cooks… everytime we comment on his additions he just tells us to just get out of the kitchen 😀
I really love Basil! It actually gives a really amazing flavour! 🙂
Julie @ HostessAtHeart says
This looks delicious Dini! I love fried rice, but I have never made it at home! I’ve pinned yours to change my ways. Happy FF!
Dini says
I hope you do Julie!! I have different versions that remind me of each of my family members, so I am absolutely fond of it! 🙂
Ginger says
Anything with ginger in it gets my full attention 😉 It looks absolutely delicious, your photographs as well as the recipe! Your nickname for your dad as the ‘one pot wonder king’ made me chuckle – pity he won’t share the recipe with you!
Dini says
hahaha!!! 😀 I absolutely love ginger too! Thank you so much!
I think I can convince him to teach me his recipe when he visits this year! (fingers crossed!) plus he has been called out now too!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
I love love love fried rice but I don’t make it very often at all, need to try this one the flavour combo is awesome!
Dini says
Thank you Michelle! 🙂 I think I make it too often… It has become my Cheat meal – so I have less to clean up afterwards!! hahaha!
Julie @ Cooks with Cocktials says
Hi! I just found your blog 🙂 Looking forward to checking out your delicious recipes like this one. Love fried rice and especially the addition of basil in this recipe!
Dini says
Hi Julie!! Thank you so much for coming over! I absolutely love fried rice too and I hope you like the other recipes here too 🙂
Denise Wright says
This looks unbelievable…I think I’m going to make this tonight. I love the combo of shrimp and chicken.
Dini says
Thank you!! Me to Denise! (Although my husband loves shrimp and chicken together more than I do… ) I hope you do make it and let me know how it came out 🙂
Sarah says
YUMM! This looks so delicious Dini!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
This looks like the best fried rice ever!! I can not wait to make this.
Christine says
I love the simple but bold flavors you added for flavor. Ginger and basil. Baaaasil – I cannot wait to overdose on it this summer. Perhaps your families “luxury leftover” meal shall become a regular at our house too! In our house it was the lo mein. Leftover noodles = lo mein. Better than take out. 😛
Dini says
Thank you Christine! I have already started to overdose on Basil! 😀 hahaha!! We used to get so excited when we were told we were having Fried Rice for dinners… looking back it was hilarious!
I do love Lo mein too! I need to learn how to make it! 🙂
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Teehee … my husband is just like your dad. His speciality is bolognese and he LOVES experimenting with one-pots. Obviously it’s an adventurous male thing!
This post has reminded me that I haven’t made any fried rice for literally YEARS. I think that needs to change. Pinning this!
Dini says
It does seem like that right?? 😀 They somehow manage to make it taste amazing though!
I hope you do make Fried Rice Helen! It’s too good of a thing to not make it a frequent thing 🙂 Thank you so much for Pinning and stopping by Helen! 🙂
mila furman says
When I make my rice I always try and load it up! But I have found that is better when you just keep it simple with a few ingredients that give it that pop of flavor like you have!!! Looks awesome!
Dini says
I have my days when I load it up too 🙂 but sometimes only using a few ingredients goes a very long way!
Thank you Mila! 😀