American Fried Rice is a simple savory delight that’s far from a Stateside staple. Hailing from Thailand it’s a childhood comfort food that combines a fragrant array of pantry ingredients with a bit of leftover rice.

Of the electric array of Thai dishes that grace the US, American Fried Rice isn’t something you’ll see on any Thai restaurant menu. It’s a comfort food especially for children who’d eat it as a cheap meal at school or out near a cheap streetside venue or made by parents in the home. The rice is fried with soy sauce and ketchup, mixed with an array of TV-dinner worthy vegetables (think corn, peas, and carrots), and a variety of proteins like ham, chicken, hot dogs, or eggs. Some versions even have a sweet element of raisins to add to the bunch. How it got to be in existence is a contested story, with a variety of versions that stretch in alternating directions. However, whoever made it is still up for debate, but its pervasive popularity is undeniable.

Start by melting butter in a fry pan and sauté the onions until softened.

Next add the other vegetables and raisins.

The rice comes next followed by the soy sauce and ketchup. Everything cooks until some of the rice is crispy.

Served piping hot with a freshly fried egg, makes this American Fried Rice a dish to have either morning, noon, or night. No one flavor is overpowering or domineering.

The sweet elements from the onions, raisins, and ketchup compliment the savoriness of the soy sauce and vegetables. Its sweet and salty combination makes it both intriguing yet satisfying and neutral for both kids and adults alike.

It takes no commitment to eat nor make and doesn’t over power you with heat or heaviness.

Its vintage charm is a perfect companion to chicken or pork chops for dinner or fried eggs and hotdogs for lunch.