Shrimp Fried Rice is a simple and classic Chinese dish loaded with a savory and sweet flavor. Made with succulent shrimp, fresh veggies, fragrant aromatics, and essential seasonings. It is a staple in many Asian homes and restaurants.
This recipe for Shrimp Fried Rice stands out among the best, as it can be whipped up in under 30 minutes, making it a versatile choice for lunch and dinner. Enjoy it as a standalone dish or as a delectable accompaniment to your favorite stir-fries or Asian-inspired meals.
The recipe shared here has easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions that will guide you through the preparation process. Additionally, I have included a detailed video tutorial that will make the cooking process simple and clear.
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What is Shrimp Fried Rice?
Shrimp fried rice is an easy, flavorful, and classic Chinese takeout-style dish that is loved by many. The main ingredients of shrimp fried rice include cooked rice, shrimp, vegetables such as carrots, peas, corn, eggs, and seasonings. This Shrimp Fried Rice is one of the best-fried rice recipes that are perfect for both lunch and dinner.
To make the perfect Shrimp Fried Rice, it is important to use a high-heat wok and stir-fry the ingredients quickly and evenly. This helps to retain the texture and flavor of the dish. The dish is loaded with veggies and proteins, making it a great one-pot meal for those busy weeknight dinners. What's more, the savory and slightly sweet flavor profile of this dish makes it a perfect treat for seafood lovers.
One of the key tips for making the best Shrimp Fried Rice is to use cold-cooked rice. This is because cold rice is firmer and drier, which helps to prevent it from turning mushy when stir-fried. The grains of the rice are also better separated, making it easier to stir-fry. Using cold-cooked rice is also a great time-saver, as it can be made in under 30 minutes.
Overall, Shrimp Fried Rice is a great dish for those who are looking for a quick and delicious one-pot meal at home. It is an easy-to-make, flavorful, and classic Chinese takeout-style dish that tastes great with other stir-fry recipes, and roasted or baked vegetables.
Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this Shrimp Fried Rice, you'll need some basic pantry ingredients along with some Chinese seasoning sauces that are commonly found in Asian grocery stores.
- Shrimp - adds a delicious seafood flavor and a protein boost. Here I have large jumbo shrimp but feel free to use what is available to you. Always make sure to remove the shell and vein from the shrimp before cooking
- Rice - For stir-frying rice, the best options are white rice, brown rice, basmati rice, or jasmine Rice. Although I have used medium-grain white rice, feel free to use any of the mentioned types. Leftover rice that has been cooled for a few hours tends to work best
- Sauces - The key sauces are soy sauce, which adds a salty and savory flavor, dark soy sauce, which adds color and depth, and chili sauce, which adds a spicy kick to the dish.
- Vinegar - Balance the flavors and add a tangy note. You can use rice vinegar, apple cider, or regular vinegar
- Veggies - Fresh vegetables such as peas, corn, and carrots add a pop of color and a subtle sweetness to the dish
- Aromatics - Aromatics such as ginger and garlic deliver depth, warmth, and a fragrant aroma to the dish
- Sesame oil - It is also an essential ingredient that provides a nutty and aromatic flavor, which is synonymous with Chinese cuisine. However, if it is not handy, you can use any neutral-tasting oil
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Shrimp Fried Rice at Home?
Shrimp Fried Rice is a popular Chinese dish that's easy to make and packed with flavor. This recipe uses a combination of shrimp, vegetables, eggs, and rice, along with a range of sauces and seasonings to create a savory, satisfying meal.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
- Season the Shrimp - To make this dish, start by cleaning the shrimp and seasoning it with salt and pepper
- Cook the Shrimp - Next, heat up a wok with oil over medium heat and add the shrimp, spreading them out evenly. Allow the shrimp to cook for a few minutes until they're pink in color, and then gently stir to ensure they cook evenly
- Remove and Reserve - Once the shrimp is cooked, remove it from the wok and set it aside
- Saute the Aromatics - In the same wok, you'll add more oil and saute garlic and ginger until they become fragrant.
- Stir Fry the Veggies - Next, add the vegetables like carrots, green peas, and corn and saute them until they're cooked through and slightly crispy
- Scramble Egg - Create a space in the center of the wok and add the eggs, allowing them to set before scrambling them and mixing them with the vegetables
- Add Rice and Seasonings - Finally, add cooked cold rice, along with a combination of soy sauce, dark soy sauce, chili sauce, black pepper, vinegar, and salt. Stir fry everything together until the rice is crispy and golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve - Garnish with spring onions and remove from heat, and your delicious Shrimp Fried Rice is ready to enjoy
Tips
- Seasoning - Seasonings are essential for adding the right flavors to Chinese rice dishes. To achieve the best taste, I recommend not compromising on the quality of seasonings you use
- Oil - To achieve an authentic rustic, earthy, and nutty flavor, I suggest using sesame oil or soybean oil for stir-frying
- Rice - For stir-frying rice, the best options are cooled or chilled white rice, brown rice, basmati rice, or jasmine Rice. Although I have used medium-grain white rice, feel free to use any of the mentioned types. Leftover rice that has been cooled for a few hours tends to work best, but you can also cook a fresh batch and cool it for at least 2 hours or refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before using it in your recipe
- Veggies - For vegetables, you can use a variety of options like carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, beans, corn, or snap peas
- Wok or Iron Pan - A high-quality wok or iron skillet can provide an authentic and restaurant-style earthy flavor to your dish. However, if you don't have one, you can always use a regular pan
- Temperature - To achieve a crispy texture, stir-fry the ingredients on high heat
- Prep Ahead - Since stir-frying happens quickly, it's best to plan ahead and prepare all the ingredients beforehand
Storage Suggestions
This Shrimp Fried Rice tastes best when you enjoy it immediately. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for up to a day. When reheating, you can use a microwave or stovetop. But note that the flavor and texture of the fried rice may not be as good as freshly prepared rice.
Serving Suggestions
Shrimp Fried Rice is a delicious and satisfying dish on its own, but you can also serve it with a variety of other Chinese dishes to make a more complete meal. Here are some ideas for dishes that would pair well with Shrimp Fried Rice:
- Egg rolls or spring rolls - This crispy, fried appetizers make a great accompaniment to Shrimp Fried Rice.
- Hot and sour soup - This tangy, spicy soup is a classic Chinese dish that would complement the flavors of fried rice. It's typically made with mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, and a variety of spices.
- Sweet and sour chicken - This popular Chinese dish features succulent chicken pieces with a flavorful sweet and tangy sauce
- Szechuan chicken - Another spicy and flavorful Chinese dish, makes a perfect match with its spicy kick
- Stir-fried or roasted vegetables - A simple and healthy side dish, stir-fried or roasted vegetables like broccoli, green beans, bok choy, or snow peas would provide a nice contrast to the rich flavors of Shrimp Fried Rice.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar rice recipes below and more at Chinese recipes.
More shrimp recipes.
Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe below that I hope will help you to make a delicious meal at home. You can also find this recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Shrimp Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1½ lb Shrimp, cleaned and deveined
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder, ½ tsp for shrimp + ½ tsp for rice
- 1 tbsp Ginger, chopped
- 2 tbsp Garlic, chopped
- ¼ cup Carrot, chopped
- ¼ cup Green Peas
- ¼ cup Corn
- 4 cups Cooked Rice, day old cold rice preferred
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Chili Sauce
- 3 tbsp Sesame Oil, or other cooking oil of your choice
- 1 tbsp Vinegar
- Spring Onions, to garnish
Instructions
To make Shrimp Fried Rice
- In a bowl, add the cleaned shrimp and season it with salt and pepper
- In a wok with medium heat, pour oil and add the shrimp, spreading it evenly. Allow the shrimp to cook for about 2 to 3 minutes undisturbed. Stir gently until it turns pink in color. Remove the shrimp from the wok and set it aside for later use
- In the same wok with high heat, pour oil and add ginger and garlic. Saute until it becomes aromatic
- Now add the carrots, green peas, and corn, and stir fry until they turn crisp
- Make a space at the center and add the eggs, allowing them to set. Once they are set, scramble them well. After scrambling, mix them with the veggies
- Add the cooked cold rice, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, chili sauce, vinegar, black pepper, and salt, shrimp, and mix everything well. Fry everything for 1 minute until the rice is nice and crisp
- Finally, garnish with spring onions and remove from heat. Now the delicious Shrimp Fried Rice is ready for you to enjoy
To Serve
- Serve this delicious Shrimp Fried Rice on its own or with other Chinese recipes such as hot and sour soup, Szechuan chicken, orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, egg rolls, or spring rolls
Video
Notes
- Seasoning - Seasonings are essential for adding the right flavors to Chinese rice dishes. To achieve the best taste, I recommend not compromising on the quality of seasonings you use
- Oil - To achieve an authentic rustic, earthy, and nutty flavor, I suggest using sesame oil or soybean oil for stir-frying
- Rice - For stir-frying rice, the best options are cooled or chilled white rice, brown rice, basmati rice, or jasmine rice. Although I have used medium-grain white rice, feel free to use any of the mentioned types. Leftover rice that has been cooled for a few hours tends to work best, but you can also cook a fresh batch and cool it for at least 2 hours or refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before using it in your recipe
- Veggies - For vegetables, you can use a variety of options like carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, beans, corn, or snap peas
- Wok or Iron Pan - A high-quality wok or iron skillet can provide an authentic and restaurant-style earthy flavor to your dish. However, if you don't have one, you can always use a regular pan
- Temperature - To achieve a crispy texture, stir-fry the ingredients on high heat
- Prep Ahead - Since stir-frying happens quickly, it's best to plan ahead and prepare all the ingredients beforehand
Nutrition
FAQ
Shrimp Fried Rice is a classic Chinese dish that's popular for its ease of preparation, delicious flavor, and versatility as a lunch or dinner option. The key ingredients in this dish include cooked rice, shrimp, a variety of vegetables such as carrots, peas, and corn, eggs, and a blend of seasonings that infuse the dish with flavor. This particular Shrimp Fried Rice recipe is among the best-fried rice recipes available, making it a must-try dish for all food lovers.
While it's possible to use freshly cooked rice for fried rice, it's best to use rice that's been cooked and cooled for at least 2 hours. The rice grains will be drier and better suited to absorbing the flavors of the dish. If you're using freshly cooked rice, spread it out on a baking sheet and let it cool for a while before adding it to the pan.
The best rice for fried rice is one that's slightly dry and has less moisture. Medium-grain white rice is a good option, but you can also use brown rice, basmati rice, or jasmine rice. The key is to ensure that the rice is cooled before using it in the dish.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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