Fried Rice the Flavorful Way

If there is one recipe in my arsenal that I can almost always make with what I have on hand, it's fried rice. The runners up would probably be homemade pizza and quiche, but those are different posts. My husband loves it when he comes home to fried rice and I love it because it's super easy and quick. And healthy. It's an easy way to pack in a bunch of veggies and protein. Now this is not your standard fried rice. This is big on flavor, low on grease. Your mouth and tummy will thank me!!! Trust me, you'll be adding this workhorse to your repertoire. 

Here are the basics:

1 1/2 c. Uncooked rice, cooked (does that make sense??) white, brown, both, whatever your preference

Leftover chicken, beef, pork (my preference), and/or shrimp, chopped

3 slices bacon, crumbled

3 eggs scrambled and cooked separately

3 cloves garlic

Fresh or ground ginger

An assortment of veggies such as broccoli (super yummy), peppers, grated carrot, etc. 

1/2 onion, chopped

3 T. Soy sauce

Pepper

Oil for cooking

You can see I used sesame seeds, sesame oil, and peanuts. Whatever blows your skirt up. 

All right. Cook your rice and take the lid off so it dries out a bit or use leftover rice, chop your meats and veggies, cook your scrambled egg and heat a big pan to sauté all this stuff together. 

You'll see when I made this I added some of the "extras". A few things, like garlic, you have to have. But let's face it, why would you make this or really anything without garlic? Oh and don't question the bacon. Now, add a little oil to the bottom of your pan and sauté your garlic, onions and broccoli and whatever other veggies on medium-high heat. Sprinkle in 1t. ground ginger and let it brown a bit to bring out the flavor. (I used to make this with fresh ginger but I like the concentrated flavor of the ground better for this.) Lower your temp to medium and add your pre-cooked meats and bacon. Stir it around and add your rice. Sprinkle in pepper to taste and 3 T. soy sauce. Stir it up good. I mean well. And you're done!!!! Yay!!!! 

It does dirty up a couple pans, but it's still a one-pot wonder in my book. I normally serve this with pot stickers from the freezer section. I'm pretty sure there is absolutely nothing authentic about this meal, but it's sure yummy. If this meal was a girl, she'd be the easy-going one in the baseball jersey who's always fun to watch the game with. Flexible, goes well with everything, everyone likes it. Score. 

-t-