Healthier, Easy Fried Rice (with vegan option)

I’m annoyed.

By a supposedly breakthrough invention called a cellphone. For what reason, you say. It opens up a world I’ll rather not face, a reality I rather not be part of my life. To some extent, it kind of has irritated me (badly).

Okay, maybe not the cell phone part of the cell phone (how does this even make sense???), I really mean the SIM card part of the cell phone. I’m actually quite happy with the cell phone. It does a splendid job functioning as an iPod.

Nonetheless, I have must have done one of the following things (thus explaining my lighter mood 🙂 🙂 today 🙂 ):

1. I have happily lost my phone (which always happen except this time, I didn’t bother to find it)

2. I have generously lent my cell phone to a lonely old lady in my block, who happens to be amused by this ‘cell phone’ thing that mysteriously allows her to listen to her favourite antique songs and talk to people who are actually miles away. She was so delighted by my kind offer! (which actually benefits me more than her)

3. I have changed my cell phone number (see, this way, I get to keep the phone aka iPod)

I think I really did one of the above.

I’m no longer annoyed.

.

I’m ready to have some Healthier Fried Rice.

.

I promised you a fried rice recipe on Tuesday!

There is an apparent misconception that Fried Rice is always unhealthy. That’s not true. Made with the right ingredients, fried rice can be healthy!! We had tons of leftover  rice last weekend and my mum asked me to help cook some fried rice. So I did. Though I’m not exactly into the savoury thingies, I’m happy to oblige. I love fried rice.

If there’s one thing I have in common with Barney Stinson, its that we both love shrimp fried rice. Other than the fact that we both love suits (on men).

[Source]

.

Because I had some Fry’s Vegetarian Traditional Sausages on hand, I added two in. They’re too salty to be eaten alone. I think they are vegan, according to the ingredient’s list, which I added below.

[Source]

Ingredients
Vegetable proteins (Soya), Wheat protein, Vegetable oil, Starch, Wheat flour, Flavourings, Spices, Sea salt, fibre,Colour: caramel. 58 kcal per sausage

.

.

Healthy Easy Fried Rice

No. of servings: 4

.

.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Overnight cooked rice
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1/4 head cabbage (chopped into small pieces)
• 1/2 head garlic, chopped into tiny pieces (use less if you don’t like garlic. Its healthy though!!)
• 2 Medium to Large Sized Vegan Sausages, cubed/chopped
• 1 egg (optional: if not used, add one more sausage)
• 3 stalks spring onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp mushroom ‘oyster’ sauce
• 2 tsp dark soy sauce
• 1 tsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp fish sauce (optional)
• dash pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the wok on high heat.
2. Add the oil and continue to heat. Don’t let the oil burn!
3. Add in garlic and fry them till they’re fragrant, and only very slightly brown.
4. Switch to medium heat.
5. Add in vegetables and stir fry till slightly cooked
6. Add sausages and stir fry till slightly brown.
7. Turn to high heat (the highest). Wait for the wok to be very hot.
8. Add rice in middle of the wok.
9. Stir until heated through (about 2 minutes), using a spatula to turn and move the rice around the wok. (Note: You can remove the stir-fried vegetables before adding the rice if the pan is too crowded, and then add them back before adding the seasonings. It’s generally not necessary though, since the rice is already cooked and just needs to be heated through).  Tip from here.
10. If using egg: Push everything to the sides of the wok. Crack an egg in the middle of the wok. When half-cooked, stir together with the other stuff in the wok
11. Stir in all seasoning. Taste and add more seasoning if desired. Stir fry for another 2 minutes.
12. After this stage, I like to let the rice sit in the wok for about 10 more minutes to get a wok-hei-like texture (the soy sauce and oyster sauce sort of caramelizes the rice)

.

.

For more tips on making fried rice, visit:

http://steamykitchen.com/68-secrets-to-cooking-the-best-chinese-fried-rice.html

http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/01/21/how-to-make-the-best-fried-rice/

.

That’s it for today!!

.

Tell me: Do YOU like fried rice? If so, what kind? 😀

.