Monday 6 April 2009

Chinese Fried Rice (Chicken or Prawn - Spicy if desired)



This scrumptious Chinese Fried Rice, makes for an easy meal to prepare if you have some left over cooked rice. A quick yet tasty lunch or dinner!

PREP TIME 10 Min
COOK TIME 15 Min
READY IN 25 Min

SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: Serves 2 as a main course

INGREDIENTS
250 gms of chicken fillet
200gms of mixed vegetables (finely cubed corn, peas and carrots)
2 eggs
Cooked rice (from 1/2 cup of uncooked basmati rice or any other white rice)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/3 ginger, finely chopped
1 medium onion, diced
Pepper (finely grounded, not peppercorns)
Salt
Soya sauce
Cooking oil
Vinegar (if desired - optional)
Belachan to taste (if desired - optional)
Spring onions to taste (if desired - optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. Firstly, cut the chicken fillet in smaller pieces(1 - 1.5 inches each). Sprinkle a dash of finely grounded pepper over the chicken pieces, then sprinkle a dash a salt. Mix the chicken well with the pepper and salt using your hands. Leave aside to marinate for a while (a quick marination of 10-15 mins or lesser will do).

2. Boil water in a pot. Throw the mixed vegetables in once the water boils. Once cooked, drain the water and leave aside.

3. Heat up the oil in the frying pan. Use around 2-3 tablespoons of oil at least. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the chicken pieces. Move them around with a frying stick. Once cooked, drain the oil and leave aside.

4. Leave a little bit of the oil in the frying pan (you are re-using the oil in step 3).

5. Add finely chopped ginger and garlic into the frying pan. Saute for a while (5-8 mins).

6. When the garlic is slightly browned, add in the diced onions. Saute till the onions are slightly transparent.

7. Add in the beaten eggs (in my case, it was 2 egg whites and 1/2 egg yolk as it's healthier and a low cholesterol option). Pour the eggs all over the onions, garlic and ginger (it looks like a nicely rounded omelette). Stir and break the egg mixture.

8. Once eggs are cooked, add a little bit of pepper and then salt.

9. Pour in the mixed vegetables. Add in a few drops of vinegar at this stage (less than a bottle cap - optional ). Add in soya sauce. Stir and mix well.

8. Add in the cooked chicken. Then add in the cooked rice. Mix well. Check the taste at this point.

9. Add in soya sauce for colour and more flavour if required.

10. If you want something spicy, add a little bit of belachan (or garlic chilli sauce - optional) and mix it up. You can also finish off with spring onions (optional) and mix it up.

There you have your Chinese Fried Rice ;)!

TIPS
Note: When marinating the chicken pieces with pepper and salt, you can also sprinkle some corn floor and add two drops of egg (beaten). I did without the corn floor or the egg when I cooked my Chinese Fried Rice.

If you want a less oily dish, place the chicken pieces on a napkin to soak up the oil.

You can use prawns / shrimps instead of chicken when cooking your Chinese Fried Rice. The same steps can be applied by simply substituting chicken for prawns/shrimp.

Instead of mixing the belachan or garlic chilli sauce, just have the belachan or garlic chilli sauce served on the side.

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