Frozen Vegetable Fried Rice

Fried rice is one of my favorite meals to make! It is quick to prepare, simple, yet incredibly comforting to have. Although I love making my kimchi fried rice, Thai vegetable fried rice, and green curry fried rice, this is my go-to recipe when I want something super easy to throw together.

Although great on its own, it is also perfect with Asian mains like my mushroom tofu stir-fry and baked teriyaki tofu. I also love making tofu egg rolls and vegan wontons to go alongside this dish!

💚Why you will love this recipe 

• Jam-packed with flavors and incredibly filling 
• A budget-friendly recipe that only calls for simple ingredients 
• Highly versatile and customizable 
• Quick and easy to make - ready in 15 minutes! 

🍚What you will need 

📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 

• Rice - Both medium-grain white or brown rice can be used in this recipe. I am using Jasmine rice. Although day-old rice works best, you can use freshly cooked rice that has cooled completely. 
• Frozen vegetables - You can use any combination of frozen veggies. I am going with the basic blend of peas, carrots, and corn. 
• Oyster sauce - Use vegetarian oyster sauce to keep this recipe vegetarian-friendly. I highly recommend using Lee Kum Kee's stir-fry sauce. (Although it is labeled as a stir-fry sauce, it is a mushroom-flavored sauce imitating oyster sauce)

🔪How to make 

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large non-stick pan or wok. Add onion, and saute until translucent. Stir in garlic and fry for a minute. 

Add frozen vegetables to the pan. Saute for a few minutes or until vegetables are thawed and all the excess liquid evaporates. 

Stir in rice and all the seasonings. Fry until the ingredients are hot.

Remove from heat, then stir in chopped green onion. Your fried rice is ready to be served.

✅Tips for making the best fried rice 

• Day-old rice - Although refrigerated rice is the most commonly used, it tends to clump together after storing. Hence, do break the clumps of rice before using. I personally prefer using freshly cooked rice (see below).
• Freshly cooked rice - Freshly cooked rice works well in fried rice! You will need to spread it out and let it cool completely under the fan before use.
• Prep ingredients beforehand - Frying rice is a quick process that requires constant stirring. It's recommended to prep ingredients beforehand and have them nearby.
• Use a large pan or wok - You'll need to use a large pan to ensure even cooking in this frozen vegetable fried rice recipe.
• Taste and season - Taste your fried rice before serving, adding some salt if needed. It is not recommended to add more soy sauce as excess moisture will lead to mushy fried rice.  

✨Variations and add-ins 

Rice - Jasmine rice is used in this recipe, but you can also use other rice, like brown or basmati rice. Keep in mind if short-grain rice is used, it will produce clumpy fried rice.

Veggies - I am using a basic combination of peas, corn, and carrots, but any frozen vegetable combination will work in this recipe. Some great options include green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Egg fried rice - Before making the fried rice, scramble 2-3 eggs and set it aside. Then, add it to the pan at the last minute of frying the rice. For a plant-based version, you can also do scrambled tofu or JustEgg. 

Edamame fried rice - Add up to a cup of frozen, shelled edamame to your vegetable fried rice for a boost of plant protein. 

Chicken fried rice - Saute some chicken cubes (or seitan chicken for a plant-based version) before making the fried rice. Stir it in towards the end of frying rice. 

Make it spicy - Add some chili flakes to your fried rice, or top it off with a generous drizzle of sriracha before serving. 

🥟Serving suggestions 

Here are some dishes that go well with fried rice: 

• Chinese main dishes - Szechuan tofu, vegan chop suey, oyster sauce tofu 
• Soups and stews - Chinese tofu vegetable soup, cabbage manchurian, Chinese spinach soup 
• Sides - Tofu egg rolls, air-fryer rice paper rolls, tofu dumplings, okra stir-fry

❄️Storing suggestion 

Fridge - Leftover frozen vegetables fried rice can be refrigerated for 3-4 days, Store it in an airtight container to prevent rice from drying out too much. Reheat it in the microwave or a pan on the stove when ready to serve. 

Freezer - Portion fried rice out into individual servings. It can be frozen for 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. 

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