Easy Fried Rice Recipe – Rice is sautéed with onion and garlic, then tossed in tomato sauce for a crisp-tender texture. This easy, quick, and delicious fried rice recipe is one of our favorite dishes for a light lunch on the go or a quick side dish for your grilled meats. Enjoy!
Key ingredients for the fried rice recipe
- Cooked rice
- Vegetable oil
- Onion and garlic
- Tomato sauce
- Dried thyme, bay leaf, curry powder, and salt
- Fresh cilantro
How to make fried rice
The method for cooking fried rice is super easy: We start with regular cooked rice that you prepare according to package directions, or leftover rice from another meal.
To make the fried rice: Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add the onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and spices and cook for 1 minute. Stir in cooked rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly toasted, about 5 – 7 minutes.
Add tomato sauce and continue to sauté the rice, stirring regularly. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving. And bam! You get one of our favorite rice bowl recipes in no time!
Tips for cooking fried rice
Your cooked rice shouldn’t be too mushy, otherwise, it will stick to the pan.
Go easy on tomato sauce at first. Let the rice soak up the liquid before adding more. You want slightly toasted rice and not a soggy mess.
What to do with fried rice leftovers
You can keep the fried rice leftovers in an airtight container for 2 or 3 days. Reheat in a skillet with a little oil.
More rice recipes
- Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Rice Soup
- Crack Chicken wild Rice Soup with Mushroom and Bacon
- Spicy Shrimp Jerk with Rice and Black Beans
- One-Pan Creamy Parmesan Chicken and Rice
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Easy Fried Rice
Easy fried rice recipe with onion and tomato, and a nice kick of garlic. Better than take out and so easy to make!
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked rice (long-grain, basmati, jasmine)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup canned tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 - 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 or 2 sprigs of cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add the onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, 3 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, bay leaf, curry powder and cook for 1 minute. Stir in cooked rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly toasted, about 5 - 7 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce and continue to sauté the rice, stirring regularly. Adjust seasoning with salt if needed.
- Remove the tomato-onion fried rice from the heat and divide it into bowls. Sprinkle with cilantro and garnish with a slice of lemon. Enjoy! ❤️
Nutrition
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