shrimp fried rice (prawn fried rice)

this delicious shrimp fried rice is a classic dish that’s simple to prepare, yet packed with flavour. juicy shrimp, marinated in a blend of spices, is cooked, then tossed with tender vegetables, fluffy rice and scrambled egg. a drizzle of soy sauce and a sprinkle of green onion complete this satisfying one-pan meal that’s sure to become a weeknight favourite.

Shrimp fried rice is a fantastic way to turn leftover rice into the most satisfying meal! plump, juicy shrimp, marinated in a blend of spices, takes center stage in this dish. stir-fried with fragrant garlic, onion and colourful veggies, then tossed with rice and scrambled egg, this fried rice is a complete meal in one pan. add a splash of soy sauce and oyster sauce for some extra depth and top with a sprinkle of green onion for freshness. this shrimp fried rice is proof that sometimes the most delicious meals come from the simplest ingredients.

why you will love this shrimp fried rice recipe:

• easy recipe: you can make this fried rice recipe relatively quickly, by following just a few easy steps. this quick easy shrimp fried rice comes together in about 30-35 minutes, which makes it perfect for weeknight meals or just for days when you’re in a rush or don’t feel like cooking. it’s also a great way for you to use up any leftover rice or any vegetables you have on hand.

• customisable – you can easily customise this fried recipe based on the ingredients you have on hand and to suit your taste and preferences. adjust seasonings and sauces to your taste, use your favourite vegetables and swap out the shrimp for any other protein of your choice.

• healthier alternative to takeout – making this shrimp fried rice from scratch is a great way to have your favourite takeout meals but without all the unhealthy ingredients. the best part is that you have complete control over the amounts of oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, etc. that you include in your shrimp fried rice, so you can tailor this recipe to your diet and keep this shrimp fried rice healthy by reducing or omitting certain ingredients, or even adding extra protein or vegetables.

learn how to make this shrimp fried rice at home:

to make this shrimp fried rice, we’re going to start off by marinating our shrimp in spices, a little bit of oil, some vinegar and some hot sauce. after cooking the shrimp, we’ll fry garlic and onion in some oil, then we’ll add vegetables, cooked rice, our shrimp, any extra seasonings and sauces as well as some scrambled egg. mix everything together as you cook and it’s as easy as that.

shrimp fried rice ingredients:

• shrimp/prawns – you can make this shrimp fried rice using frozen shrimp or fresh. you can also swap this out for any other protein of your choice, like chicken, or even just skip it if you’d like to keep this dish vegetarian.

• spices – in this recipe, we’ll be using a mix of red chilli powder, black pepper and salt to marinate the shrimp. we’ll also be adding some more black pepper and salt to the final dish as we’re mixing everything together. these can all be adjusted to your taste.

• vinegar -i like to add a small amount of white vinegar in the shrimp marinade to enhance its flavour.

• hot sauce – i also like to add some hot sauce to the shrimp marinade as well as to the main dish for a little bit of extra spice.

• oil – we’re going to need oil for cooking our shrimp, as well as for cooking the onion and garlic. i like to use a neutral-tasting oil for this, but it’s completely up to you.

• onion- this recipe uses 1 small onion, chopped.

• garlic – this recipe uses fresh minced garlic.

• vegetables – you can use any veggies you like for this shrimp fried rice dish, whether they’re fresh or frozen vegetables. i used red and green pepper, peas and carrots, but you can add any other vegetables you like and skip the ones you don’t like. you can also make this shrimp fried rice recipe without vegetables if that’s what you prefer!

• cooked rice – fresh rice that’s still warm will make things difficult when it comes to making this dish, so to keep this shrimp fried rice easy, using leftover rice that’s already been cooked and chilled is the best option.

• egg – adding egg is a great way to keep this shrimp fried rice healthy and add some extra protein. i just lightly scramble the eggs in some oil for this recipe.

• soy sauce – soy sauce is great for extra flavour in this shrimp fried recipe. you can adjust it to your taste.

• oyster sauce – i also like to make this shrimp fried rice with oyster sauce to enhance the flavours in this dish. you can adjust it to your taste.

• green onion – sprinkle on top once you’re done for some extra colour and freshness.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: in a bowl, add shrimp, and then add a small amount of oil, some white vinegar, hot sauce, red chilli powder, black pepper and a little bit of salt. mix everything together and then let this rest at room temperature for around 10 minutes.

step two: once the shrimp is ready. heat up a little bit of oil in a pan, then add your shrimp to the pan and cook at high heat for around 1.5 minutes, then change sides and cook at medium heat for around 1.5 minutes. then, remove the shrimp from the pan and add to a separate bowl or plate.

step three: in the same pan, add a little bit more oil, then add chopped onion and cook this until it becomes a golden brown colour. then, add minced garlic and cook this for about one minute.

step four: add any vegetables of your choice to the pan, and cook these at high heat for a few minutes. then, remove all of this from the pan.

step five: crack open two eggs into a bowl and beat them together. i also like to add a little bit of salt and pepper to the eggs before cooking and mix it in. add a little bit of oil to the pan, then pour the eggs in and scramble until they’re soft.

step six: to the pan, add the vegetables, the cooked rice, the shrimp, as well as some salt, black pepper, white vinegar, soy sauce, oyster sauce and hot sauce.

step seven: then mix everything together and stir fry for about 2 minutes at high heat.

step eight: top with green onion, serve and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• for best results, and to keep this shrimp fried rice recipe easy, use cold, leftover rice. using freshly cooked rice might make things a little more difficult and it can become a little too moist or sticky and mushy. if you really want to use fresh rice for this recipe, cook it ahead of time, then spread it out into a thin layer on a baking sheet or a plate. let it cool and dry a little before using.

• cut all of your vegetables into uniform sizes so that they are able to cook evenly. you can use fresh or frozen vegetables for this shrimp fried rice recipe. if you are using frozen vegetables, be sure to thaw according to package instructions before using.

• since all of the ingredients are added to one pan, i would recommend using a large, high-sided skillet or a wok when making this shrimp fried rice. this will make it easier to mix everything together and toss the ingredients. i did use two separate pans and cooked everything individually, but you can definitely just use one big skillet or wok and cook everything in there in batches to make this a one-pan meal and reduce clean up.

• do not overcrowd the pan as this can make it difficult to stir fry everything. if you find that your pan is not big enough, you can cook things in batches and remove them from the pan before adding the next ingredients.

• adjust spices and seasonings to your taste – i do tend to like my meals to be on the spicy side, so i added things like red chilli powder and hot sauce to this shrimp fried recipe. if you’RE WORRIED that this fried rice recipe MIGHT BE TOO SPICY for you (or if you’D prefer it to be spicier), I WOULD recommend adjusting the salt, spices and sauces to your preference.

• if you have time, let the shrimp marinate for around 10 minutes before cooking. this will help enhance and increase the flavours.

• if you’re not a fan of shrimp or prawns, you can easily swap them out with your protein of choice, like chicken or even tofu. you can even remove them completely and make a simple egg fried rice instead!

• feel free to add some sesame oil in with the rest of the sauces before stir frying everything together for some extra flavour.

frequently asked questions

1. can i use fresh shrimp instead of frozen shrimp?

   – yes, you can use fresh shrimp for this shrimp fried rice recipe. just be sure that they are peeled and deveined before you start marinating and cooking them.

2. what rice is best to use for shrimp fried rice?

   – i like to use long-grain white rice for this shrimp fried rice recipe, so something like jasmine rice or basmati rice will work fine. you can also use brown rice. avoid short-grain rice or sushi rice, as they tend to be stickier and can clump together in the pan. try to use cold, leftover rice, as warm rice will be too moist and mushy in fried rice.

3. can i make this shrimp fried rice ahead of time?

   – shrimp fried rice is best served immediately after cooking. however, if you would like to make this in advance, the best thing to do would be to prep all of the ingredients ahead of time and then store them in the fridge until needed. doing this will help make this shrimp fried recipe easy and quick to prepare when needed.

4. how can i increase/decrease the spice levels in this shrimp fried rice recipe?

   – if you would like to increase the spice in this dish, you can increase the amount of red chilli powder and hot sauce used in this recipe. you can also add some chopped fresh chilli peppers to the stir fry or add red chilli flakes. to decrease the spice, just reduce or leave out the chilli powder and hot sauce.

5. Can I use a different protein instead of shrimp?

   – yes, you can absolutely use your choice of protein in this recipe, such as chicken, beef or tofu or anything else you like. just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

6. how do i store leftover shrimp fried rice?

   – any leftover shrimp fried rice can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

7. can i make this shrimp fried rice without egg?

   – while i love making this shrimp fried rice with egg for some extra protein and texture, you can absolutely make it without the egg. just skip the step where you scramble the eggs and continue on with the rest of the recipe.

8. can i make this shrimp fried rice without soy sauce?

   – while soy sauce is great for extra flavour in this shrimp fried rice recipe, it’s not a necessity, so feel free to leave it out.

9. what oil is best to use when making shrimp fried rice?

   – when making shrimp fried rice, it’s best to use an oil with a high smoke point, as you’ll be cooking over high heat. i personally like to use a neutral oil like sunflower oil, but peanut oil, vegetable oil and avocado oil are also some good options.

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