What puts smiles on kids’ faces, gets rid of left-overs, and makes a great lunch the next day? Delicious fried rice. It’s become a staple at our place on Sunday evenings. It’s easy to make with whatever is on hand and makes for some great lunches the rest of the week.
I’m not going to give you a recipe for this one – because it can be so variable. I will however step you through how to whip this great dish together in no time flat.
Preparation:
- Heat a wok over High heat. Add in 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut or vegetable oil.
- Add whatever protein you like – leftover chicken, beef, tofu or deli all work nicely. You can also add any cooked or frozen vegetables in at this point.
- Stir fry above ingredients until heated through and add in cooked white rice (left-over cold rice works even better here!). Stir and continue to heat in the wok. Drizzle with soy sauce as you mix.
- Once the rice is heated push aside to make a small well to the base of the wok. Pour in a couple of lightly beaten eggs and scramble in the well you’ve created. Once cooked, stir eggs into the rice mixture.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Let me know what you throw into your homemade version!
One of our favorites is hot dog fried rice. I know-very classy. I was planning on making fried rice with turkey and pastrami as I usually do however forgot to buy the turkey and pastrami. So I substituted with what I had on hand which was hot dogs. I often toss in green onions, canned corn and garlic. Can’t beat a good fried rice!
So glad you enjoyed it Beth!
And there is no better feeling than the kids trying and enjoying something you make them at home.
beth, your comments will be my placemat. thanks!
Don’t worry Julie, you’re definitely not the only one. My 2.5 yr old daughter wouldn’t eat anything kids like for the longest time. She wouldn’t eat anything “new” and I have no idea how things became regular foods. BUT, my friend who’s a childrens public health dietitian told me to plate the food for everyone, bring it to the table and not encourage or discourage the kids to eat. The only message if they said “Mummy, I don’t like this” – yes, even before trying it – is “ok sweetie, eat whatever you want on your plate and leave whatever you want.” And then go back to dinner conversation. The dietician said to keep dinner time enjoyable by not talking about how well or unwell everyone is eating. No nudging anyone to try things or to eat. And she said it takes 10-15 attempts before trying something new that’s on their plate. So I would always make sure that one thing on the plate was something she would eat. Then I didn’t have to worry about them starving or waking up in the middle of the night hungry. Recently, we had a major breakthrough. On the 15th lasagna night, my daughter decided to try it and professed, “Mummy, I DO like lasagna!” Best night of my life – hands down.
Gav- fabo dinner idea! Sadly, I never would have thought about this one on my own. All that would come to mind when I looked at my wok was stir fry, which I am sick of. I think I packed away 3 plates of fried rice tonight and there wasn’t even a protein in it this time. I’m sure if my kids didn’t both have the stomach flu they would have enjoyed it too. And I do love good leftovers! Thanks for this one.
_i_ love this. however, i am the only parent in the world (yah, right) who’s kids will refuse to eat “kid-tested kid-approved” recipes. it’s not that they don’t like them, they don’t even try them which is something i’m working hard on remedying.
i shall keep trying tho’, watch me 🙂
Great idea! Love it simple. Gonna try it tonight.