Vegetable Fried Rice (2024)

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Vegetable Fried Rice

Savory, Satisfying, Versatile and Delicious!

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New! I’ve added a cooking video to this page so you can see how quick and easy it is to make this gluten-free Veggie Fried Rice!

If you’re new to the website, I have a printable recipe on the bottom of every recipe page with exact measurements and directions.

Enjoy!

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Update 2020: This dish is a long time favorite and go-to in our house. It is perfect now, more than ever! And we’ve been making it almost weekly!

Pro tip: Whenever we make rice for dinner, we always make extra just so that we know we can whip up this dish later in the week. It uses up extra rice and any extra veggies you have.

Plus, it is quick, easy, delicious and satisfying!

Hope you love it too!

Original post…

When we need a quick, easy, and crowd pleasing weekday dinner, savory Veggie-packed Fried Rice is always a win.

Perfect by itself or along side other veggies or proteins, one of the reasons we love fried rice (besides the fact that it’s delicious!) is that it’s so versatile.

It uses up any vegetables and rice, and can be adapted to tastes, adding in favorite vegetables and any additional protein desired (tofu, chicken, egg).

Here’s the basics of what you’ll need:

some rice and/or cauliflower rice

garlic

green onions

yellow onions

gluten-free tamari or gluten-free soy sauce

and a touch of rice wine vinegar.

After that, you’ll need:

2-3 cups of chopped veggies such as carrots, broccoli, snow peas, spinach or other greens, mushrooms, or even mung bean sprouts.

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My son loves his with egg, broccoli, snow peas and carrots. In this one, I also threw in some mushrooms and mung bean sprouts because I had some in the fridge.

A few bonus benefits… it only uses one pan!

So let’s make it!

All you do is saute some onion and garlic in a large saute pan, then add in your cauliflower rice if using and rice. Break up any pieces and cook until warm.

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Add in your veggies and saute. (Some days, I switch it up and saute the vegetables right after the onion and toss in the rice last… it’s a very forgiving recipe!)

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Then add in gluten-free tamari and rice wine vinegar and cook until warm and veggies tender enough.

And it heats up well the next day for lunch if you make a large enough quantity.

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Super quick, easy and in time you have a warm, cozy meal or side dish!

I’ve also added instructions below for adding in a cup of cauliflower rice if you’re looking for some additional nutrients.

You can add the cauliflower rice at any ratio you like — I know people who like a 50/50 split of rice: cauli-rice but my family prefers just 1 cup cauliflower rice to 2 cups rice.

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If you want to try the cauliflower rice, you can purchase the cauliflower rice already made (many places like trader joes sell it in bags) or you can make your own.

I’ve provided directions below but it’s super easy… you essentially just run cauliflower florets through a food processor until it’s pulsed into “rice”.

And when you make it, it’s still one pan and tastes amazing!

In fact, no one seems to notice the addition of 1 cup cauliflower rice. And my kids and husband are not big cauliflower fans… but they love this rice!

And you can’t see a difference. Below is the rice made with 1 cup cauliflower rice and it looks like fried rice to me!

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However you make it, hope you love it as much as we do!

For more 30 Minute Meals, click here.

PIN it!

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Scroll down to see the recipe and leave a comment ifyou try.

Vegetable Fried Rice (2024)

FAQs

Is vegetable fried rice healthy for you? ›

It is packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, which makes it a great option to use in recipes as opposed to plain, white rice. This fried rice is also healthier because it is packed with vegetables, such as carrots, corn and peas.

Is fried rice better with oil or butter? ›

Butter Makes Your Fried Rice Taste Richer But Also Increases Fat Content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

How to make fried rice in 5 steps? ›

How Do You Make Simple Fried Rice?
  1. Heat your wok or skillet to medium-high heat. Pour in the oil. ...
  2. Using a spatula, scramble the eggs then mix them with the veggies.
  3. Finally, stir in the rice and a bit of soy sauce. Serve warm and refrigerate leftovers.
Apr 22, 2022

Can I eat veg fried rice during weight loss? ›

Generally, fried white rice will not help you lose weight, especially the calorie-filled, soy sauce covered take-out varieties! However, if you're eating a dish similar to our recipe, it's much lower in calories and fat with a decent amount of filling fiber, helping you eat less food during the day.

Is it OK to eat fried rice everyday? ›

Fried rice is not a nutritionally balanced meal on its own, and you should enjoy it in moderation as part of a varied and balanced diet. Adding a variety of vegetables, lean protein sources, and whole grains can help to improve the nutritional value of fried rice.

What gives Chinese fried rice its taste? ›

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.

Why does Chinese restaurant fried rice taste so good? ›

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.

What is fried rice syndrome? ›

Fried rice syndrome is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which is present in these types of starchy foods prior to cooking. Bacillus cereus is a heat-resistant bacteria, so even recooking foods that have not been appropriately refrigerated can result in food poisoning.

What oil do the Chinese use for fried rice? ›

They use soybean oil. It's cheap and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for wok cooking.

What to add to fried rice to make it better? ›

Eggs: Which add great flavor, texture and protein. Carrots, onions, green onions and peas: This is the base mix of veggies that I always use for fried rice, but feel free to add in other stir-fry veggies you love (see ideas below). Garlic: Freshly-minced. Soy sauce: I created this recipe using low-sodium soy sauce.

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

How do restaurants fry rice? ›

It is important to note that rice is best fried over high heat until the rice dries up and 'jumps' around in the pan – as such, frying rice in a wok over a flame will definitely work better since you can crank up the heat and create that wok hei.

Is Vegetable rice good for you? ›

Vegetable rice

When included in a vegetable rice dish, they can help make up for the lower fiber content of white rice. Vegetables also contain nutrients like calcium, vitamin C, iron, and folate that support lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and may reduce the risk of some types of cancers .

Is fried Vegetable still healthy? ›

While deep-fried foods are often thought to have no nutritional value, a study published in the journal Food Chemistry revealed vegetables are healthier when fried in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) than when boiled in water.

Which is healthier vegetable fried rice or vegetable lo mein? ›

Lo Mein is a healthier option than Fried Rice for a variety of reasons. For starters, it can be a good source of protein, especially when combined with lean proteins like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu. Protein is necessary for muscle building and repair, as well as for keeping you full for longer periods of time.

Is Chinese food healthy for you? ›

Well that depends on where you are eating. If you go to a fast-food style, Americanized Chinese restaurant serving “fried everything” with MSG, then no, it's not healthy. However, many ingredients in traditional Chinese dishes are abundant in nutrients, and work to keep your health in good shape.

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