Ever wonder what to do with leftover rice? Don’t throw it away…make this! You’ll never get takeout fried rice again!
WHAT YOU NEED:
1.5 cups leftover or freshly cooked white rice
1.5 pounds medium to large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
1 medium onion, chopped
3 gloves of garlic, chopped
2” piece of ginger minced finely
¼ cup frozen mixed vegetables thawed and patted dry
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. tamari (sweet soy sauce) if you’ve never tried this, you should. It’s great mixed with regular soy- it’s a gluten free, organic soy sauce that is sweeter than regular soy, so it cuts the salt and balances the flavors.
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
LET’S COOK!
Get 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil hot in a pan then throw in the onions, ginger and garlic. When they are softened (about 2-3 minutes) add the bean sprouts and the mixed vegetables. Turn the heat down to medium low and let the flavors incorporate. Next, get your shrimp ready. Pat dry with a paper towel, sprinkle with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne (optional). Heat another pan on high and use about 1 Tbsp. of vegetable oil and 1 tsp. of sesame oil in your hot pan. Shrimp go in, and cook on each side about one minute (get a nice sear on each side). Transfer shrimp a plate and go back to the vegetable mixture- add to it the rice, soy sauce, tamari and stir until mixed together well. Here’s a little secret: next, flatten the mixture out and let the rice get a little crispy, then stir, flatten and repeat. You want the crispy pieces of rice! The actual name of this process is called socarrat, and it’s just the texture that this dish needs! Once you’ve let your rice fry (after all it’s called fried rice), push everything to one side of the pan. Now crack your two eggs in the empty part of the pan and just stir them until they are done and scrambled. Don’t scramble the eggs prior because you will not get the authentic texture. Stir the egg into the rest of the rice and plate with the whole shrimp on top.
You will never eat take out fried rice again…it’s that good.
