The Simplest Fried Rice

What could be easier than cooking fried rice? Its easy to prepare requiring very few ingredients. All you need is cooked rice, eggs and salt for taste.

Rice is the staple food of most Asian countries such as China, India, Malaysia and Thailand. It is the second highest produced grain in the world after maize, and can be grown almost anywhere, even on mountain slopes.

Rice

Rice is an excellent source of energy because of its high starch content. It is also low in fat and cholesterol, easily digested, and contains a range of important nutrients including protein, vitamins B and E, and potassium.

Although there are many types of rice, only three; the long-grain, the short-grain and glutinous, are normally consumed. The long-grains are the most popular and usually used for fried rice. Short-grains are starchier, but soft and creamy when cooked. Glutinous rice is mainly used for stuffings and desserts.

How to cook rice:

Rice is cooked by boiling or steaming. Popular in Asia and Latin America, an electric rice cooker makes cooking rice extremely simple and easy. If you don't have one, boiling rice is the next best method.

Boiling rice can be tricky as the ratio of rice to water can't be scientifically set. 3 cups of water will perfectly cook 2 cups of long-grain rice. However, 1 cup of rice needs 13/4 cups of water and 3 cups of rice requires 4 cups of water. I said it was tricky. The most scientific way to measure the ratio of water to rice might surprise you. Put the rice in a pot and place your hand flat over it. Pour in the water until it's three-quarters of the way up your hand. The ratio is now correct. Another way is to put your middle finger over the rice (pointing downwards) and let the water come up three-quarters of your finger between the tip and the first joint.

To cook rice, bring to a boil and let bubble for 1 minute ( and 1 minute only). Immediately turn heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 20 minutes. No peeking while the rice simmers! At the end of 20 minutes, turn off the heat and let rice bathe in its own heat for another 5 minutes (do not lift off the lid). Uncover rice and fluff with a spoon or fork.

The key to making good fried rice is to use cold, firm rice, so that it'll loose and separated when stir-frying. Rice left overnight in the fridge works best.

The simplest fried rice (serves 2):

Ingredients:

* 2 cups cold cooked rice

* 2 large eggs

* 2-3 shallots, sliced (small brown onions with papery brown skin)

* 3-4 tbsp cooking oil

* chopped scallions for garnishing

Seasoning:

* 1-2 tsp salt

Method:

Heat wok over high heat until hot. Add 3 tbsp oil and swirl to coat wok. Scatter in the shallots and stir until brown and fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn or it'll taste bitter. Add in the rice and stir vigorously to coat each grain of rice with oil. Add salt to taste and stir for another minute.

Make a hole in the rice. Add the remaining oil and cook the eggs, stirring until about three-quarters cooked and having the consistency of scrambled eggs. Pull rice over eggs and stir vigorously so that you have a good mixture of rice and eggs. Turn off heat, add chopped scallions, and serve. Simply delicious!

The Simplest Fried Rice

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