Yangzhou Fried Rice (扬州炒饭)
An easy version of Yangzhou fried rice, a classic stir-fry dish combining a wide range of flavors and textures. Make it in under 15 minutes!
- Prep time
- 8 min
- Cook time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 3 cups cooked rice (cooled (see notes 1 & 2))
- 3 tablespoon neutral cooking oil (divided)
- 2 clove garlic (minced)
- ⅓ cup carrots (diced)
- ⅓ cup peas
- ¼ cup dried shiitake mushrooms ( rehydrated and finely chopped (see note 3))
- ¼ cup water (or chicken stock)
- ½ teaspoon salt (divided)
- ⅓ cup shrimp (peeled (cooked or raw))
- ⅓ cup SPAM (or ham, char siu, diced (see note 4))
- 2 eggs (lightly beaten)
- ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 stalk scallions (finely chopped)
Instructions
- 1
Use a fork to loosen up the grains of the cooked and cooled rice. Set aside. Cut and chop other ingredients to the preferred size suggested in the list above.
- 2
Heat an empty wok over high heat until smoking hot (see note 5 if using cookware with non-stick coating). Pour in 1 tablespoon of oil then add minced garlic.
- 3
Once the garlic turns lightly golden (do not burn), put in carrots, peas, and shiitake mushrooms. Stir fry for 30 seconds or so then pour in the water (or stock) along with half of the salt. Leave to steam over high heat until most of the liquid has evaporated.
- 4
Stir in SPAM (or other substitutes) and shrimp. Toss and fry for about 30 seconds (or until the shrimp turns pink if they are raw). Transfer everything to a plate and set aside.
- 5
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the same wok. Swirl to coat a larger area. Pour in the batten eggs once the oil just starts to smoke. Swirl the eggs with a spatula to cook them quickly and break them into small pieces.
- 6
Put in the cooked rice. Toss constantly to heat the grains evenly. Loosen any lumps with the spatula.
- 7
When the rice is piping hot, return the fried vegetables and proteins back to the wok. Add the remaining salt, white pepper, and chopped scallions. Stir and toss for 20 seconds then dish out. Serve immediately.