FRIED RICE - INDIAN STYLE

     Fried Rice - a versatile way of converting plain rice to an enhanced array of tastes, flavours and aromas.  Fried Rice is prepared and served world-wide with a noteworthy taste and flavour of the region from where it hails from. The choice of add-ons and flavours can twist a simple rice into a delectable delight.
     Fried rice comes in many styles. In China, it's typically lightly seasoned with light soy-sauce & salt  along with a few aromatics and meat/fish. In the Chinese-American style, Fried Rice is prepared with ample amount of Sauces and Chunky Meat pieces. Whereas in every Country from South-east Asia has its own version with specific sauces, aromatics, herbs and choice of meat/fish/seafood.  Even exotic Fried Rice varieties with Dry Fish, Pineapple and Petai(Stinky Bean) can be found in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The culture of Fried Rice in Indian Cuisine is more synonymous with Indo-Chinese Cooking and it is prepared more specifically to suit Indian Palate and all the more Indian taste buds. Indian Version has a mild flavour and more or less this Indian style of Fried Rice is a counterpart of  Vegetable Pulao.
    The Rice used to prepared fried rice also changes with the region of the recipe.  South East Asian Fried rice use Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice and in Japan, they use short grained Sushi Rice/Uruchimai Rice for the purpose. Though a plain Raw Rice suits well for the purpose, it is the add-ons, seasonings and flavourings which really comprises a complete Fried Rice.  Similarly, Basmati Rice is used to prepare Fried Rice in India.
     Indian Style Fried Rice has very fewer ingredients and seasonings that we can even guess it out what goes into the recipe the first time we taste it.  This is one of the most ordered rice dishes next to Biriyani when we dine out in India and we prefer Vegetable Fried Rice.  They usually serve this along with Tomato Ketchup, Green Chilli Sauce and Pickled Chillies in a mix of Light Soy Sauce and Vinegar.

For more FRIED RICE RECIPES, Click here... 

Cuisine - Indo-Chinese
Course - Main
Spice Level  - Low
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 3 - 4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 20 - 30 Minutes
Cooking Time - 15 -20 Minutes

HOW TO MAKE FRIED RICE - INDIAN STYLE

INGREDIENTS :

To Cook Rice :

Basmati Rice - 1 Cup
Water - 11/2 Cups
Oil - 1 Tspn
Salt - To Taste

For Indian Fried Rice :

Onion - 1 No.(Large)
Green Chillies - 2-3 Nos.
Carrot - 1/4 Cup
Beans - 1/4 Cup
Green Bell Peppers/Capsicum - a Quarter
Cabbage - few Shreds
Spring Onions - Few
Oil/Butter - 3-4 Tbspns
Vinegar - 1 Tbspn
White Pepper Powder - 1 Tspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - a Pinch

METHOD :

To Cook Basmati Rice in Rice Cooker : 

• Place 1 Cup of Rice in the rice cooker.
• Add 11/2 Cups of Water.
• Drizzle a Teaspoon of Oil along with some salt to the above and give a quick stir.
• Cover the Rice Cooker and turn it on.
• Cook until it automatically turns off.
• Leave the Rice Cooker in warm mode for another 5-10 minutes.
• Allow it to cool for few minutes.
• Fluff up the rice with a fork or a chopstick before serving.

NOTES :

• The amount of water to add can vary depending on the rice. The new crop needs less water compared to the old rice.
• Cooking Basmati rice in a rice cooker is a bit tricky. You get the knack then it's really easy. Try cooking as per the ratio mentioned in directions of the Rice Cooker manual and as per the Rice variety. 
• Adjust the water until you get perfectly cooked Basmati Rice.  Few trial and errors don't matter.
• I get perfectly cooked Basmati rice at 1:11/2 ratio in Rice cooker.
• 1 cup of Basmati rice gives about 3 cups of cooked rice.
• Cold Rice ( a day old refrigerated one) is very good for making Fried Rice.
• Can cook the Rice in a Sauce Pan, Pressure Cooker or even in a Steamer.  Getting the right Rice Water Ration does the job.  Will write a detailed post on how to Cook Basmati Rice soon... 

For Fried Rice - Indian Style :

• Cut Carrots and Beans into Julienne's and keep it aside.
• Chop Bell Peppers into small cubes and chop Cabbage finely.
• Heat Oil/ in a Pan, Saute finely chopped Onions and Green Chillies.
• Let the flame be at the high.
• Immediately add Julienne Carrots and Beans to the above and cook on high flame for few minutes,
• Add Bell Pepper Cubes, sprinkle some Salt and Sugar over the vegetables and give a quick stir.
• Do not overcook the Vegetables, they should have a crunchy texture.
• Add Cooked Basmati Rice and gently mix the ingredients in quick movements.
• Let the flame be at the high.
• Pour in the Vinegar and sprinkle a dash of White Pepper to the above and mix well.
• Finally, add finely chopped Cabbage and mix well.
• Once all the ingredients are well incorporated, switch off the flame.
• Garnish the Indian Fried Rice with finely chopped Spring Onions.
• Serve Indian Fried Rice hot with your preferred Sauces or Condiments.

 

 NOTES :

• Any fragrant long-grained rice variety can be used for the recipe.
• Use a day old cooked rice for best results. Obviously, keep them refrigerated.
• The secret of perfectly cooked Rice is getting the right ratio of water to rice. Typically, the instructions on the package call for 11/2 cups Water for every 1 cup of Rice (1:11/2 Cups Rice : Water Ratio), if you like your rice “al dente” as per the instruction.
• Adding Oil while cooking the Rice also yields a non-sticky Rice.
• Can use Butter or Oil in the recipe.
• Can add a pinch of MSG(Aji-no-moto) if preferred.
• White Pepper can be substituted with Black Pepper. White Pepper helps to retain white colour and is mild compared to Black Pepper.
• Do not overcook the vegetables, they should have a crunchy texture.
• Adding Sugar while cooking the Vegetables helps to retain the colour.
• Can add scrambled eggs, Chicken/fish/prawns for a Non-vegetarian version of this recipe.