Egg Fried Rice Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 3 cups day-old rice
- 3 eggs
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced, whites and greens separated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp sugar
Optional Garnish
- Extra scallion greens
Instructions
- Thinly slice the scallions, separating the whites and greens, and finely mince the garlic.
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk until completely homogenous.
- Heat a pan over medium heat with a bit of oil. Add the eggs and scramble until fully cooked, then remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the garlic and scallion whites and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add the day-old rice along with the scrambled eggs. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar, then toss until the rice is evenly coated and heated through.
- Finish with the scallion greens and toss until wilted.
- Serve in a bowl and optionally garnish with additional scallion greens.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Table of Contents
- Egg Fried Rice Recipe
- Introduction
- How This Egg Fried Rice Recipe Is So Good
- Why The Seasoning Is So Important For This Egg Fried Rice Recipe
- Egg Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients
- How to Make Egg Fried Rice
- What to Serve with Egg Fried Rice
- How to Store Egg Fried Rice
- Egg Fried Rice Substitutions
- What to Make Next
Introduction
Everyone needs a reliable meal they can make without thinking, and this Egg Fried Rice Recipe is exactly that for me. It’s simple, delicious, and will always satisfy any hunger I have. I know I’ve made a lot of rice dishes in my time, but this recipe proves that you don’t need a ton of ingredients or need to necessarily mix it up each time. This dish is a classic for a reason!
How This Egg Fried Rice Recipe Is So Good
When making a simple dish, there are a lot of small steps involved that end up making a big difference. For example, cooking the eggs first keeps them fluffy and separated instead of coating the rice granules and making a mushy texture. That way you can get actual bites of egg instead of it just being blended in. The garlic and scallion whites, which are cooked next, infuses the oil with their respective flavors, which will help perfume the rest of the dish. Additionally, using day old rice is also very important because they will actually fry in the pan instead of steaming like fresh rice would. Once the seasonings are tossed in, every grain is coated with a ton of flavor, which is what ultimately creates that classic fried rice texture and flavor.
Why The Seasoning Is So Important For This Egg Fried Rice Recipe
The seasoning is what gives this Egg Fried Rice Recipe its signature balance. There’s only really three ingredients, and each enhances each other and the other fried rice ingredients just enough to complement each other. For example, the soy sauce gives the rice its classic savory flavor while the sesame oil adds its signature nuttiness that gives every fried rice dish its flavor. A lot of people associate sesame oil with fried rice, and it’s true! Finally, the sugar may sound weird, but it helps round out the harsher notes of the soy sauce and is needed to balance the overall dish. Every ingredient has an important role, and you will see it pay off when you take your first bite.
Egg Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients
Day-old rice – Essential for proper texture. It stays separated, cooks evenly, and absorbs the seasoning without becoming mushy.
Eggs – The main protein that adds richness and fluffiness to the dish.
Scallions + garlic – The aromatics that build the flavor base. The scallion whites and garlic infuse the oil, while the greens add color and a slight bite at the end.
Seasoning (soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar) – A simple but balanced combination that seasons the rice.
Optional garnish (extra scallion greens) – Adds freshness and a bit of sharpness.
How to Make Egg Fried Rice
Thinly slice the scallions, separating the whites and greens, and mince the garlic.
Whisk the eggs until fully combined.
Heat a pan with oil and scramble the eggs until cooked, then remove and set aside.
In the same pan, cook the garlic and scallion whites until fragrant.
Add the day-old rice, eggs, and season with soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Toss everything together until evenly coated and heated through.
Finish with the scallion greens and cook briefly before serving.
Serve immediately and garnish with extra scallions if desired.
What to Serve with Egg Fried Rice
This Egg Fried Rice Recipe is excellent on its own, but it’s also easy to turn into a bigger meal and is perfect for a dinner party. Here are a few of my favorites:
- General Tso’s Chicken. A classic takeout pairing that’s amazing for a reason! The crunchy chicken provides textural contrast while the sauce is also slightly sweet, which further compliments the fried rice.
- Shredded chicken. A great pairing that’s easier to prepare than any specific dish. It adds protein and its plain flavor really compliments the flavorful rice.
- Frozen dumplings. A filling and delicious side that works great with fried rice because of their textural contrast.
How to Store Egg Fried Rice
This Egg Fried Rice Recipe can be stored in the fridge, and is a great meal prep option, either as a base for your protein or just by itself. This Egg Fried Rice can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. When reheating, you have a couple of options:
- Reheating in a pan. The best way to reheat the fried rice because the high heat can restore some of that texture.
- Microwave. A very convenient method that’s also a great option. I like to microwave this at high power for 2 minutes.
Egg Fried Rice Substitutions
This Egg Fried Rice Recipe is very flexible, and you can substitute some ingredients depending on what you have available. A few of my favorite substitutions are:
- Brown rice. A great alternative that adds a slightly nuttier flavor.
- Chili oil. A great addition if you want to add some spice to your dish.
- Coconut aminos or Tamari. A great gluten-free option for soy sauce that add a similar flavor.
- Different frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables such as peas, carrots, or corn work great with this. I would add the frozen veggies in between steps 4 & 5.
What to Make Next
Craving even more fried rice? You’ll love my Garlic Beef Fried Rice!
Want some noodles instead? Try my Garlic Sesame Noodles!
Feeling like some chicken? Cook my Sweet Chili Chicken!
