Char Siu Fried Rice

Char siu fried rice is a simple but delicious lunch or dinner recipe that is ready in about 20 minutes.

It’s packed full of flavor and is not difficult to make.

Char siu fried rice is also known as pork fried rice or bbq fried rice.

What is char siu?

Char siu is also known as Chinese BBQ pork.

It is a juicy, tender, and flavorful pork dish. It has the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

Some of the ingredients used to flavor char siu include hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, and five spice powder.

Char siu is popular to eat on it’s own, or is a great addition to different types of dishes such as bao, noodles or rice dishes.

For this recipe for Chinese pork fried rice, you could make your own char siu or buy it from your nearest Chinese grocery store or restaurant.

If you're after other quick and easy fried rice recipes, you might like to try tuna fried rice, ketchup fried rice, chorizo fried rice, egg fried rice or even garlic fried rice.

What Rice Do I Use?

It is important to use the right kind of rice when making fried rice. This is because different rice types give a different texture when cooked.

When making fried rice, it is best to use a long grain rice. Long rice rice types, such as basmati rice, is firm when cooked correctly and does not stick together like some other rice types.

Certain fried rice recipes may call for other kinds of rice, such as short grain (for example sushi rice), or even medium grain rice.

In those cases, you can use those types of rice.

This recipe uses day-old cooked basmati rice. This is because day-old rice has less moisture in it.

By using day old rice, it makes the final texture of the fried rice nicer. It also makes it easier to separate the rice grains apart when cooking.

Additionally, by cooking the rice the day before, it allows the rice to dry out. This means the cooked fried rice will be less moist and more crisp.

If you don’t have any leftover rice, you can still make fried rice.

You can make fresh rice on the day you are making the fried rice.

Using freshly cooked rice will still work, it will just result in your fried rice being a bit more moist.

• This recipe for char siu fried rice is ready in under 30 minutes.
• Use up any leftovers you may have in your fridge. You can add any leftover vegetables, char siu, or rice you may have.
• Char siu fried rice is easy to make.
• This recipe is budget friendly.

Cost To Make

Estimated cost = $4.25, or $1.06 a serve

Ingredients

Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

• Cooking oil
• Eggs: Lightly beat your eggs and salt them.
• Brown onion
• Carrot
• Minced garlic
• Char siu pork: Also known as Chinese BBQ pork.
• Day Old cooked basmati rice: Alternatively, you could use fresh basmati rice but your fried rice will be a bit more sticky.
• Green onions (spring onions)
• Salt

Instructions

This recipe for char siu fried rice serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.

Step One: In a deep frying pan or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil over high heat.

Pour in beaten eggs when wok is hot and scramble. Remove the eggs once cooked and set aside.

Step Two: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the wok. Add the chopped brown onion and diced carrot and saute for 1 to 2 minutes or until the onion starts to change color.

Then add the minced garlic. Cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes.

Step Three: Add the chopped char siu (Chinese bbq pork) and stir through. Cook until the meat starts to lightly brown (this may take about 3 to 4 minutes).

Step Four: Next, add the day old basmati rice. Break up any clumps of rice and mix through. Stir fry the ingredients for 4 to 5 minutes.

Step Five: Add the green onions and cooked eggs stir through. Cook for a further 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt to taste, then turn off heat and serve.

Tips for Success

• Use day old rice such as basmati rice. It is best to use a long grain rice as the rice will have a better texture.
• Use high heat when frying your rice for a crisp texture.

Substitutions / Variations

If you don’t have char siu, you could substitute your favorite protein such as chicken or prawns (shrimp).

You will need to cook your chicken or prawns before adding it to the fried rice. I recommend cutting them into smaller pieces and seasoning with salt and pepper.

Storage

Store any leftover char siu fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

After this, the rice may start to become gritty and unpleasant in texture. To reheat, you could use a wok or microwave.

FAQ

More Mains Recipes

• Singapore Fried Rice
• Pad Mee
• Rose Tteokbokki
• Crispy Rice Paper Rolls
• Purple Korean Rice
• Hosomaki
• Ghee Rice with Coconut Milk
• Bagara Rice