Fried Rice

Fried rice is a dish originating from Asia, which has many variants. In Italy, it could be considered a very creative way to reuse leftover rice, perhaps transforming it into a sort of “stir-fried risotto”. Here is a version inspired by classic fried rice, but with an Italic touch.

Ingredients

• 200 g of rice (preferably long-grain rice like Basmati or even risotto rice if you want a more Italian touch)
• 2 eggs
• 100 g of frozen peas
• 1 carrot
• 1 small onion
• 50 g of cooked ham or pancetta (optional, to stay on theme with Italian ingredients)
• Extra-virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan (for an Italian touch)
• Aromatic herbs to taste (for example chopped basil or parsley)

Preparation

1. Cook the rice in plenty of salted water, following the instructions on the package. Drain it al dente and then cool it under cold water and let it drain well.
2. In a pan, heat a little oil and sauté the finely chopped onion until it becomes translucent.
3. Add the carrot cut into small cubes and the peas; let cook until tender.
4. If using cooked ham or pancetta cut into cubes, add them to the pan and let them brown slightly.
5. In a bowl, beat the eggs with salt, pepper and grated Parmesan.
6. Move the vegetables and cooked ham/pancetta to one side of the pan and pour the eggs on the other side. Let them begin to set and then stir to create small pieces of omelette.
7. Add the rice to the pan and stir-fry it together with the other ingredients, mixing well for a few minutes.
8. Add the chopped aromatic herbs, adjust salt and pepper and stir for another couple of minutes.
9. Serve hot, garnishing with additional Parmesan or herbs if desired.

Trivia

Fried rice is a very versatile preparation that lends itself to numerous variants: you can add shrimp, tofu, different types of vegetables or meat depending on your tastes and what you have available in the kitchen. In Italy it could be presented as a one-dish meal, a sort of stir-fried risotto rich in flavors.