Shrimp Fried Rice {30 Minute Recipe}

Shrimp Fried Rice is a kind of meals that feels slightly bit like magic. You begin with easy leftovers—chilly rice, a bag of frozen veggies, perhaps some shrimp hanging out within the freezer—and one way or the other find yourself with a scorching, savory dinner that tastes prefer it got here out of your favourite takeout spot. It’s quick, it’s satisfying, and it’s a complete lifesaver on busy weeknights.

What I like about this recipe is how versatile it’s. Bought leftover rooster as a substitute of shrimp? Go for it. Desire brown rice or have a handful of additional veggies you must burn up? Toss them in. When you get the essential methodology down, you’ll be able to combine and match based mostly on what you might have within the fridge.

Rising up, fried rice was at all times a kind of “clear out the fridge” meals my mother would make on the finish of the week. No matter leftovers we had—rice, veggies, the previous few bites of rooster or pork—they’d all get tossed into a giant skillet with soy sauce and garlic, and one way or the other, it at all times tasted superb.

This model retains issues easy however filled with taste—garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, and simply the correct quantity of peppery kick. And don’t skip the step of chilling the rice forward of time—it’s the key to that good fried rice texture that’s not mushy or clumpy. When you’ve by no means made fried rice at dwelling earlier than, you’re in for a deal with. It’s simpler than you assume—and method higher than takeout.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Higher than takeout: Contemporary, scorching, and filled with taste with out the supply wait time.
• Fast and simple: Prepared in about half-hour with easy substances you doubtless have already got.
• Nice use for leftovers: Good approach to repurpose leftover rice or frozen veggies.
• Customizable: Swap the shrimp for rooster or tofu, or depart it out for a veggie model.
• Household-friendly: Gentle, savory flavors that even choosy eaters can get behind.
• Meal prep win: Tastes simply nearly as good the subsequent day, making it very best for lunches.

Components

The total printable recipe card with measurements and directions is discovered on the backside of the publish.

• Unsalted butter: That is used for scrambling the eggs and sautéing the veggies. Utilizing unsalted butter permits you to management the saltiness of the dish.
• Sesame oil (or vegetable oil): Provides a wealthy, nutty taste typical of fried rice. If utilizing vegetable oil, think about including a splash of sesame oil on the finish for that basic style.
• Giant eggs: Scrambled individually for mushy, fluffy bites all through the rice.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides the rice a savory punch—don’t skip it!
• Frozen shrimp: Thaw, peel, and devein earlier than cooking. You may as well take away the tails in case you desire. Medium-sized shrimp work finest right here. 
• Frozen peas and carrots: No chopping required! Simply toss them in frozen and allow them to warmth by means of.
• Cooked white rice: Chilly, day-old rice is essential—it fries up higher and gained’t get mushy. I used long-grain white rice.
• Soy sauce: Provides salt and umami. Use low-sodium in case you’re watching your salt consumption.
• Rice wine vinegar: Offers slightly tang and helps steadiness the richness.
• White or black pepper: White pepper has a milder, barely earthy taste. Black pepper works simply as nicely for a bolder kick.
• Inexperienced onions: Stirred in on the finish for a pop of colour and freshness.
• Sesame seeds: For a of completion that provides texture and a touch of nuttiness, toast them for further taste you probably have time.
• Salt and pepper: Season to style on the very finish, particularly if utilizing common soy sauce.

Make Shrimp Fried Rice

• Step One: Warmth one tablespoon of butter in a small skillet over medium warmth. Add the crushed eggs and gently scramble till set, about 3 minutes. Put aside.
• Step Two: Warmth sesame oil over medium warmth in a big skillet or wok. Add the garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds till aromatic. Add the shrimp and prepare dinner till pink and opaque, about 4 minutes. Take away the shrimp from the skillet and put aside.

• Step Three: Soften the remaining tablespoon of butter in the identical skillet over medium warmth. Add the frozen peas and carrots. Cook dinner, stirring typically for six to eight minutes, till heated by means of and tender.
• Step 4: Add the rice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and white pepper to the skillet. Use a spatula to interrupt up any clumps of rice. Improve the warmth to medium-high and stir-fry for 4 minutes.

• Step 5: Add the cooked shrimp and scrambled eggs to the skillet. Toss every thing collectively and prepare dinner till heated, about 2 to three minutes.
• Step Six: Take away from the warmth and stir within the inexperienced onions—season with salt and pepper to style. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if utilizing. Serve scorching.

Store Really helpful Merchandise!

From cookware to helpful kitchen devices, take a look at all my favourite merchandise used to create on a regular basis recipes!

• Egg Rolls or Spring Rolls: Crispy, golden rolls are the right crunchy complement.
• Asian Slaw: One thing recent and crunchy with a tangy dressing helps steadiness the wealthy flavors.
• Miso Soup: Mild and comforting, it’s an ideal starter or facet.
• Steamed Dumplings: Go store-bought or selfmade—both method, they’re at all times successful.
• Cucumber Salad: Cool, refreshing, and tremendous easy to make.
• Edamame: Flippantly salted and steamed, these are nice for snacking or a lightweight facet.

Variations and Substitutions

• Use totally different protein: Swap the shrimp for diced rooster, pork, beef, and even tofu. Leftover rotisserie rooster works nice in a pinch.
• Go vegetarian: Skip the shrimp and eat further greens like inexperienced beans, bell peppers, mushrooms, or broccoli.
• Change the rice: Brown rice, jasmine rice, and even cauliflower rice can be utilized if that’s what you might have.
• Make it spicy: Add a splash of sriracha, a sprinkle of crimson pepper flakes, or a swirl of chili garlic sauce for some warmth.
• Add pineapple: A handful of pineapple chunks provides a candy distinction to the savory flavors—Hawaiian-style!
• Swap the veggies: Not a fan of peas and carrots? Strive corn, edamame, or no matter frozen veggies are in your freezer.

Storage Directions

Leftover Shrimp Fried Rice shops nicely, which makes it good for meal prep or next-day lunches.

• Fridge: Let the fried rice cool utterly, then switch it to an hermetic container. It may be stored within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
• Reheat: Heat it in a skillet over medium warmth with a splash of water or slightly oil to carry again that freshly cooked texture. You may as well microwave it in brief bursts, stirring in between.
• Freezer: You can freeze it, however the texture of the shrimp and rice might change a bit as soon as thawed. When you freeze it, retailer it in a freezer-safe bag or container for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Tip: When you plan on freezing the shrimp, barely undercook them so that they don’t get rubbery when reheated.

Recipe Suggestions and Tips

• Use chilly rice: Day-old rice chilled within the fridge is drier and firmer, so it fries completely with out getting mushy.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan: In case your skillet is small, prepare dinner in batches to keep away from steaming the substances as a substitute of stir-frying them.
• Prep every thing earlier than you begin: This recipe strikes quick, so have all of your substances chopped and prepared earlier than turning on the warmth.
• Scramble the eggs first. Cooking the eggs individually retains them mushy and fluffy, somewhat than dropping them within the combine.
• Cook dinner shrimp simply till pink: Overcooked shrimp can get rubbery. As quickly as they flip opaque and pink, they’re carried out.
• Style and modify on the finish: Relying in your soy sauce and butter, you may not want further salt—style earlier than including extra.
• Add a squeeze of lime: For a recent, shiny end, slightly lime juice excessive simply earlier than serving takes it up a notch.

Why Do You Use Chilly Rice?

If there’s one tip that makes all of the distinction in fried rice, it’s this: use chilly, day-old rice. Right here’s why it issues:

Freshly cooked rice is mushy, steamy, and filled with moisture, which is nice while you’re consuming it straight away, however not so nice while you’re stir-frying. Heat rice tends to clump collectively and may flip mushy within the skillet.

Chilling the rice in a single day helps it dry out simply sufficient so that each grain stays separate while you fry it. Which means a greater texture, extra even cooking, and people scrumptious, barely crispy bits that make fried rice so satisfying.

No leftover rice? You’ll be able to nonetheless make it work—simply unfold freshly cooked rice on a baking sheet and pop it within the fridge (or freezer) for 20–half-hour to chill it down and let some moisture escape. It’s not fairly the identical, but it surely does the trick in a pinch!

Rice Recipes

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Shrimp Fried Rice

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time 20 minutes minutes

Whole Time 30 minutes minutes

Straightforward Shrimp Fried Rice made with tender shrimp, veggies, and savory seasoning. A fast meal that’s higher than takeout!

• Add one tablespoon of butter to a small skillet over medium warmth. Pour the crushed eggs and gently scramble till set, about 3 minutes. Put aside.

• In a big skillet, warmth sesame oil over medium warmth. Add the garlic and prepare dinner for 30 seconds, till aromatic. Add the shrimp and prepare dinner till pink and opaque, about 4 minutes. Take away the shrimp from the skillet and put aside.

• Soften the remaining tablespoon of butter in the identical skillet over medium warmth. Add the frozen peas and carrots. Cook dinner, stirring typically for six to eight minutes, till heated by means of and tender.

• Add the rice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and white pepper to the skillet. Use a spatula to interrupt up any clumps of rice. Improve the warmth to medium-high and stir-fry for 4 minutes.

• Add the cooked shrimp and scrambled eggs to the skillet. Toss every thing collectively and prepare dinner till heated, about 2 to three minutes.

• Take away from the warmth and stir within the inexperienced onions—season with salt and pepper to style. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if utilizing. Serve scorching.

Store the really useful merchandise
Plus browse all of my favourite merchandise I take advantage of to create straightforward on a regular basis recipes!

Energy: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 19g | Fats: 9g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 172mg | Sodium: 624mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 3619IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg

The knowledge proven is an estimate offered by a web-based vitamin calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative choice to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation.

Course Aspect Dish

Delicacies Asian

Key phrase fried rice, rice, shrimp

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