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.
American Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 cup frozen carrot pea and corn medley, defrosted
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sodium-reduced soy-sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 sunny side eggs, for garnish
- 4 ham slices, for garnish
Preparation
- In a large nonstick skillet, melt butter and saute onions until slightly softened, about 7 to 10 minutes. Add in vegetable medley garlic, and raisins, cooking for 30 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add in rice, using a spatula to break apart the rice and incorporate it in with the vegetables.
- Mix in ketchup, soy sauce, and black pepper.
- Cook on medium-high heat or until some of the rice starts to get crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately with freshly cooked eggs and fried ham slices, enjoy!
Recipe adapted from Hot Thai Kitchen and Real Thai Recipes.