Vegetable Fried Rice

A quick, easy, and scrumptious Indo-Chinese delicacy loaded with the goodness of rice and vegetables.

PREP TIME: 45 Minutes
SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS

For Cooking Rice

• 1.5 cups Jashn basmati rice
• 5-6 cups water
• Salt as required
• 3-4 drops toasted sesame oil or any neutral oil

Other Ingredients

• 4 tbsp toasted sesame oil or any neutral oil
• 1 piece of star anise
• 3 to 4 small to medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
• ½ inch ginger, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup chopped spring onion whites (scallions)
• 0.5 cup French beans, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup carrots, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup bell pepper or capsicum – red, green or yellow, chopped
• 1.5 cup button mushrooms, chopped
• 1.5 tbsp celery, finely chopped (optional)
• 4 tbsp soy sauce
• 1.5 tsp rice wine or rice vinegar
• 0.5 tsp black pepper powder or as required
• 2.5 tbsp spring onions white, chopped
• Salt as required

METHOD

Cooking Rice

1. Wash rice a few times. Soak them in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water.
2. Take water in a pot, bring it to a boil. Pour some salt along with 2-3 drops of toasted sesame oil. Now add the drained rice to the boiling water.
3. Cook rice on a medium to high heat without the lid till al dente.
4. When the rice becomes parboiled, remove the pot from the heat. Strain them using a colander or sieve or gently rinse in water so they don’t stick to each other.
5. Cover the rice and set them aside, allowing them to cool down.

Preparing Vegetables

1. While the rice is getting cooled down, prepare the veggies.
2. Chop them finely and keep aside.
3. Since French beans take longer to cook, make sure to chop them into really small pieces or you can also blanch them first and then cook.
4. Alternatively, you can cook the beans first and then add the other vegetables.

Making Vegetable Fried Rice

1. Take a pan and heat oil in it. Add the star anise, fry for a few seconds until the oil becomes fragrant.
2. Add ginger-garlic and sauté for a few seconds but don’t let it turn brown.
3. Add spring onion whites and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
4. Then add finely chopped or blanched french beans. Stir fry for about 2-3 minutes over a medium to high heat.
5. Add the remaining chopped vegetables. Switch to high flame and cook them thoroughly.
6. Keep tossing and stirring while frying to cook all the veggies uniformly. Make sure no to burn them.
7. Keep stir-frying on high heat until the veggies are almost cooked. Do not overcook as they will lose their crispiness. This can take about 4 to 6 minutes.
8. Finally add salt, soy sauce, and pepper. Quickly stir it and add the cooled rice. Stir fry for a few minutes and mix well so that the rice gets well-coated with the sauce.
9. Fried rice is ready! Serve it hot as it is or with your favorite Chinese side- chilly or Manchurian gravy.