Char Siu Fried Rice

Happy National Chinese Takeout Day! Did you know this kind of food holiday exists? I didn’t, until a few months ago and was surprised as you do now! 

So do you take out food from Chinese restaurants? 

I used to do it a lot when I was a college student and newly started to work full time. Sometimes my brain was too tired to think about how to assemble ingredients just for my dinner, so taking out food from Chinese restaurants was such a huge savior to my stomach and foodie soul!

 

To celebrate this food holiday, I made one of the most popular food items from typical Chinese restaurants, fried rice. As they are so flexible for what veggies/protein we put, I also added whatever vegetables in my fridge and char siu that my father-in-law gave us when we visited him.

 

It’s Friday/fray-yay/National Chinese Takeout Day, so let’s cook some fried rice together to enjoy the day! 

 

<Today’s Recipe>

Char Siu Fried Rice

<Ingredients>

*Consult with your fridge/pantry. Fried rice never makes you fail at cooking!

*May contain Amazon Associate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 1 zucchini – chopped
• 1 medium carrot – chopped
• ½ onion – chopped
• 3~5 mushrooms – chopped
• Optional – some char siu if you are carnivore or on cheat day like me!
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 bowls brown rice
• 1 clove garlic – minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger – grated
• Some salt and pepper
• ½ lime for juice and garnish

 

<Direction>

1. Pour sesame oil in a pan and bring it to medium high heat. When the pan is getting warmed, add garlic and ginger. When the bubbles start to appear, add onion, carrot, zucchini and cook for about 5 min.
2. Add mushroom and char siu.
3. Add rice and stir well.
4. When the all ingredients get mixed well, sprinkle some salt and pepper to taste. Splash lime juice.
5. Set the dish and place a slice of lime on the top for garnish. Enjoy!

 

<Cooking Tips>

When you’re making fried rice, try to use a day old, leftover rice. This is the point that makes your fried rice stand out! 

If you want to make it as real as the one from Chinese restaurant, switch brown rice to jasmin brown rice.

 

Mmm, so good! I don’t usually eat char siu anymore since we’re trying to be on a plant based diet, but mmm, I still have carnivore spirits in my soul! The juicy soft cha siu was adding flavor that only meat can add, and you can’t complain about nutritional balance since my fried rice has plenty of vegetables and rice! 

So some people would ask me why I didn’t decline my father-in-law’s offer of char siu, and here is what I think as the reason. Even though we grew up perfectly to take care of ourselves, still our parents think we’re kids with empty stomachs. Remember when you visit your grandpa/grandma during summer vacation or holiday season? I bet you saw them endlessly bringing another candy, fruits, pie, ice creams…whatever they thought you’d love to have. We could say no thank you anytime, but soon you’d see a little sad face that you want to change to smile. 

 

I remember when I went to my neighbor’s grocery store prior to Thanksgiving. I saw/eavesdrop family with grandpa and a couple of kids, and the grandpa decided to buy 10 loaves of bread. The kids were trying to stop him but all he said was “no worries…I’m sure you can eat them all, or wonder if they’re even enough.” I still wonder if the family could finish them or some stayed in a fridge for another occasion, but the bottom line is, older people always want to feed younger people, and I’m sure I’d be part of them when I get a new family. 

 

Anyways, happy Chinese Takeout Day all! 

 

<Other Chinese Fakeaway Ideas>

Cook fakeaway with fake meat! Crispy Orange Cauliflower

 

The signature veggie delights! Green Bean Garlic Ginger Stir Fry

How about a refreshing comforting drink for dessert? Taro Latte

Enjoy home cooking and your own creation of homemade food!