How To Make Better Than Takeout Fried Rice | Mahatma® Rice (2024)

Homemade Takeout

For all of us self-declared fried rice lovers out there, there’s nothing like a steaming bowl of rice cooked to perfection in savory sesame oil, colorful veggies and scrambled egg garnished with green onion. If you’ve ever wondered just how your favorite takeout place makes it so tasty every time, you’re not alone. But, one thing you’d be surprised to find out, is that it’s actually a lot easier to prepare fried rice at home than you might think.

With a few pantry ingredients like rice, frozen veggies and chicken or pork, you can prepare a delicious homemade fried rice dish from the comfort of your own kitchen. You can even host a potluck night with your family or friends and challenge them to a make-your-own-takeout where they can make a homemade version of their favorite take-out meal. If you’re ready to give it a try but not sure where to begin, don’t worry, we’ve put together a few tips to get you in the kitchen and mastering your favorite Asian-style dish like a pro.

Repurpose Your Leftovers

One of the best things about a fried rice dish is that there are so many flavors and ingredients you can add. Make it your own while clearing out the fridge using that leftover chicken, bacon, halved onion or red pepper, or that extra bag of baby carrots from your last veggie tray. It can be as simple or complicated as you like.

This way, you know exactly what’s going into your meals, you can use up your leftovers and you’ll save a bit each month by not spending it on takeout!

Craving something sweet rather than savory? Leftover rice is also often used for rice pudding! Don’t be afraid to unfollow the recipe and repurpose that rice with inspiration from this Arroz con Leche Recipe.

Fried Rice Tips

Take a look at this list of 4 tips and tricks to upgrade your dinners with a fried rice side or main dish that your family will soon be asking for on repeat!

1. Choose the right rice

The key to making a great fried rice dish starts with the right rice! All rice lengths are not created equal, and the best rice for your dish is a long-grain variety or Thai jasmine rice. If you’ve never made fried rice before, try using Mahatma® Long Grain and Jasmine Rice Blend, perfectly crafted for making all of your favorite fried rice dishes. However, other long grain varieties like brown rice works too! The long rice length ensures each grain cooks up evenly and doesn’t clump together for maximum flavor – learn how to cook jasmine rice by visiting our quick guide!

Why not start off with this classic Chicken Chow Fan Fried Rice dish, made with chopped chicken breast, mushrooms, ginger root, garlic, and soy sauce! It’s low on prep time and perfect for a midweek meal.

For another classic restaurant quality chicken fried rice dish, learn how to make this Hibachi Chicken and Fried Rice recipe.

2. Cool down your rice

Another perk to making fried rice, is that it works best with cold, day-old rice! This is because when your rice firms up, it’s easier to separate in the pan so the grains heat through evenly and that no excess water leaks out making your dish mushy. Use up that leftover rice from yesterday’s dinner, or if you need to cool your fresh cooked rice down fast, spread it out on a sheet pan until it reaches room temperature and then chill in the fridge for about 10 minutes.

Try it with this Chicken Fried Rice recipe. This restaurant quality dish is made using sesame oil infused Mahatma® Jasmine RIce, chicken, veggies, soy sauce and scrambled eggs.

You can also use your day-old rice to make ‘golden rice,’ a Chinese cooking technique where leftover rice is coated with egg yolks and turmeric to create a nice texture and aroma. You can see this cooking method in this Golden Shrimp Fried Rice recipe.

Pro Tip: You can even use long-grain brown rice! So, whether you choose white or whole grain brown, you can make a large batch to use in a few meals throughout the week like this simple and savory Bacon and Shrimp Fried Rice recipe and some oven-baked enchiladas next! Batch cooking is a great way to stretch your budget and enjoy delicious meals.

3. Assemble your Ingredients

Now comes the fun part! Like we said, feel free to make this as simple or complicated as you wish and as always, use what you’ve got. The process of making fried rice is actually fairly quick, so whichever ingredients you choose, make sure to have them ready to go before you start, while your pan is heating up. If you’re not sure what you can use, we’ve put together a list of delicious ingredients you can add in:

  • Fresh or frozen peas and carrots
  • Fresh or frozen broccoli
  • Red, green or yellow pepper
  • Celery
  • Bean sprouts
  • Pineapple
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • A protein of choice: tofu, pork, bacon, chicken, etc.
  • Eggs
  • Green onion (for garnish)

The list could go on, but we’ll let you take it from here! One of our top picks is using up that fresh or canned pineapple to toss into this Pineapple Salami Fried Rice dish made with Genoa salami, pork, hoisin sauce, and sweet pineapple. A great option for all of you fans of sweet and savory together in one tasty dish.

This Coconut Fried Rice dish is another great way of mixing sweet and savory flavors. This dish can easily be made into a lunch/dinner or a dessert depending on what you serve it with.

4. Signature flavor

Last but not least, give your dish some flavor. There are many ways to do this, like using olive oil, canola oil or even butter to fry your rice for a great base. To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you’ll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Gluten Free Tip: to make your dish Gluten Free, instead of soy sauce, use tamari or coconut aminos for great flavor without the gluten.

If you’re a flavor seeker, you’re going to want to try this Ginger Pork Fried Rice seasoned with a savory combination of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar sprinkled with green onions and pickled ginger. We can’t get enough of it and it’s sure to become a staple at home!

Bonus: Tasty New Fried Rice Flavor Combinations

Keep exploring and experimenting with flavor in the kitchen; fried rice is the perfect place to start. Use international ingredients from other countries in Asia all the way to Latin America.

  • Hibachi Chicken and Fried Rice – A Japanese take on the classic served with a homemade hibachi sauce on top.
  • Arroz Chaufa – A Peruvian take on classic fried rice
  • Miso Fried Rice – Using traditional miso paste, this fried rice recipe has a whole new level of flavor.

Also, what are tacos dorados? Check out the recipe and try it tonight!

Looking for more cooking inspiration? Check out our Fried Rice Recipe Collection and explore the tastiest Asian flavors by whipping up one of these savory, yet easy to make dishes, hand-picked for your convenience. Why stop there? You can also discover a whole world of flavor with our international-inspired dishes starting with Mexican Black Beans and Rice all the way to homemade sushi!

What are tacos dorados? Try them tonight and your whole family will be delighted!

How To Make Better Than Takeout Fried Rice | Mahatma® Rice (2024)

FAQs

What can you add to fried rice to make it taste better? ›

You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick. Gluten Free Tip: to make your dish Gluten Free, instead of soy sauce, use tamari or coconut aminos for great flavor without the gluten.

What is the secret ingredient in Chinese fried rice? ›

Here's what goes in Fried Rice Sauce: Chinese cooking wine or Mirin (secret ingredient!) – this is the secret to a really great fried rice that truly stacks up to your favourite Chinese restaurant.

Why does Chinese restaurant fried rice taste better? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Which spice is good for fried rice? ›

The Perfect Nigerian Fried Rice
  • 2 bay leaves.
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (optional)
  • 2 Tasty Cubes.
  • 1 teaspoon salt.
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper (substitute other ground pepper)
  • 2 teaspoon curry powder (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon thyme.

What oil do restaurants use for fried rice? ›

Sesame oil.

I do not recommend omitting or substituting the sesame oil in this recipe. It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish.

What is the difference between fried rice and Chinese fried rice? ›

The usage of rice

But in Chinese rice, it is suggested to use leftover cooked rice to avoid the rice from being sticky. In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.

Do Chinese restaurants use soy sauce in fried rice? ›

The main ingredients of basic Chinese fried rice are cooked rice, stir-fried with chopped vegetables and meat, seasoned with soy sauce and garlic.

Why add mayo to fried rice? ›

To ensure that your rice is nicely fried, mix a bit of mayo in it before frying. The oil in the mayo will coat the rice so that it does not stick together.

What Flavour enhancer for fried rice? ›

Soy sauce: I created this recipe using low-sodium soy sauce. So add less if you're using traditional soy sauce. Oyster sauce: This is a major flavor booster in fried rice and (don't worry) doesn't taste like oysters. You can find it in the Asian section of grocery stores, or order it on Amazon.

Should you cool rice before making fried rice? ›

Starting with freshly cooked or well-chilled rice guarantees it won't clump up as you stir-fry it. Frying in batches compensates for the low heat output of Western stovetops. Keeping the seasoning very light allows the flavor of the rice and aromatics to come through.

What can I add to rice to make it tastier? ›

6 Add-ins to Upgrade White Rice
  1. Alternative Cooking Liquid. For an effortless yet dramatic difference, infuse your rice with flavored cooking water or use more aromatic liquid like broth or juice. ...
  2. Cheese. ...
  3. Vegetables. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Herbs and Seasonings. ...
  6. Nopalitos or Cactus Pads.

What compliments best with fried rice? ›

What to Serve with Fried Rice: 39 Delicious Ideas to Make it Better Than Last Time
  • Canned Goods. ...
  • Pasta & Grains. • 1 Wontons.
  • Baking & Spices. • 1 Pepper, steak.
  • Bread & Baked Goods. • 1 Japanese pancakes.
  • Frozen. • 1 Chickpea potato curry. ...
  • Prepared. • 1 Kimchee. ...
  • Deli. • 1 Chinese garlic cucumber salad. ...
  • Other. • General Tso's.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 5570

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.