Easy Healthy Fried Rice!

This healthy fried rice recipe is always on rotation in my household!

It’s a no-fuss meal, that you can easily modify with whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Just chop up some veggies, throw them in a pan with some garlic, ginger, cooked rice, soy sauce, and a couple of scrambled eggs, and you have yourself a healthy, hearty, and flavor-packed feast.

SIMPLE.

The whole shebang shouldn’t run you more than about 15 minutes from start to finish if your rice is pre-cooked.

(Maybe cook some rice today in preparation?)

Once you get into the rhythm of this basic egg fried rice recipe, play around with it!

Substitute rice for quinoa or cauliflower rice, add additional protein like shrimp, tofu or chicken.

Do whatever suits your taste.

It may sound strange, but I like to top my fried rice with some chopped fresh pineapple. The sweetness coupled with the savory, umami flavor of this rice is unreal.

Just throwing that out there.

Easy Healthy Fried Rice! 

1/2 yellow or white onion, minced

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon minced ginger (about 1 inch nub)

2 cups chopped green cabbage

3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil, divided*

4 organic eggs, scrambled (or tofu for vegan option)

1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen vegetables

4 cups cooked rice, at least 1 day old or use shortcut**

2-3 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari

Green onion, for garnish 

In a large skillet or wok, heat 2 tablespoons of the toasted sesame oil on medium heat. Saute the onion for 2 minutes. Add the cabbage, garlic and ginger and saute for 2 minutes. Stir in the rice, frozen vegetables and sauté for 1 minute.

Push the rice to the side. Add 1 tablespoon more oil. Add the eggs and pinch of salt, and scramble them in for 1 to 2 minutes until cooked through.

Add the soy sauce and taste. Add additional soy sauce or salt if necessary. Heat for a minute or two, stirring, until all rice is coated. 

Serve hot garnished with green onions.

*Toasted Sesame Oil

Toasted sesame oil is dark in color and has a distinct deep flavor. It’s different from regular sesame oil, which is light in color and mild in flavor. The toasted sesame oil is what brings together your healthy fried rice, so don’t skip it. A small bottle will keep in the fridge for a year or so (always check your expiration dates).

**Using Day-Old Rice 

Fried rice is usually a dish that you make to repurpose the leftover cooked rice from the day before. You want to avoid freshly cooked rice because it is still moist and steamy, which may yield fried rice with a mushy texture. However, if you forget about cooking rice the day before, here is a little trick that I use. Spread a layer of freshly cooked rice onto large baking sheets and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes. The grains of rice will dry out during this process and you’ll be good to go!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @nutritionsara on Instagram and hashtag it #nutritionsara so I can see all the deliciousness!