Hawaiian-style fried rice
Fried rice is a delicious way to repurpose leftovers. It is also easy to make once you know a few secrets. Here is a recipe that comes from my childhood in Honolulu. I bet you will never guess the number one secret!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 pound of bacon, cooked and chopped, reserve 2 T bacon grease
- 2 eggs, lightly whisked (optional)
- 1 cup onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 cup carrots cut in 1 1/2″ matchstick pieces
- 3/5 cup water chestnuts, chopped
- 4 cups day old long-grain steamed rice, preferably basmati
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 T sugar
- 1 T sake or rice vinegar
- 2 t toasted sesame seed oil
- 2 T grated ginger
- 1 cup chopped green onions, plus more for garnish
- 1 cup defrosted frozen peas
- 1 cup cilantro leaves and stems, chopped, plus more for garnish
- White pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat wok until a drop of water sizzles and evaporates in 1-2 seconds after it hits the wok. Add 1 t bacon grease and heat until it shimmers. Swirl grease around the bottom of the wok and add the eggs. Cook 1 – 2 minutes and flip the egg and continue cooking another 1 – 2 minutes. Remove the egg pancake from the wok and let cool. Chop into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Make your sauce by combining soy sauce, sugar, sake or rice vinegar, sesame seed oil and grated ginger. Set aside.
- Wipe any remaining egg from the wok, return to the stove and heat again until a drop of water evaporates in 1 – 2 seconds. Add 1 T bacon grease and heat until shimmering. Add garlic and and onions stir fry briefly, about 1 minute, then add the carrots and water chestnuts. Stir fry for another 2 to 4 minutes until carrots are tender.
- Add the day old rice and use the wok shovel or spatula to chop up the rice and break up any clumps. Add the sauce and stir fry 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in green onions, peas, cilantro, chopped bacon and white pepper. Use your wok shovel to combine the ingredients without mashing until everything is coated with sauce and heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Do not over cook.
- Serve in individual bowls and garnish with green onions and cilantro.