Chinese Fried Rice with Smoked Ham and Shrimp

The ham gives a smoky flavor to the family favorite Classic Chinese Fried Rice

The Chinese fried rice is as classic a Hong Kong dish as you can get. The fried rice is also one of our family favorite recipes from my mom. Her Chinese fried rice is famous in California, Minnesota, Georgia, Michigan and New York! OK I may have exaggerated a tag here. When we had visitors from afar, they too heard of her fried rice from friends and relatives of ours. So I am passing the baton to you!

At the restaurant, it may go by the name of “Yang-Chow Fried Rice” or “House Special Fried Rice”. The classic recipe uses Chinese BBQ pork, but the ham gives a nice smoky flavor too. The al dente rice with aromatic eggs and succulent shrimp, amidst cool crunchy veggies makes this fried rice a symphony of flavors and everyone at the table asking for more!

3 tips for perfect Chinese Fried Rice

1. Rice should be drier than normal. Use a tag less water than instructed on rice packages. For one cup of medium-grain raw rice, use no more than 1-1/4 cup of water. Leftover rice is perfect. If you use freshly cooked rice, place the rice in a large bowl, make a well in the middle to help air out extra moisture from the rice. The rice in the finished dish should be separate, not clumpy.
2. Think colors! Frozen mixed veggies which you can get for 99 cents are perfect. Broccoli stalks (I never understand why stores only sell broccoli crowns) and Chinese Gai-lan (Chinese broccoli) vegetable stalks work beautifully too. Any firm-textured colorful veggie is good.
3. Don’t be stingy with eggs. Unless you have an allergy to eggs, use one egg per 2 persons.

The Chinese fried rice with smoked ham is a delicious one-plate meal. Yesterday's leftover rice becomes the star today! Click To Tweet

Tasty, nutritious and eco-friendly

The fried rice is a delicious and simple one-dish meal. The basic ingredients are cooked rice, colorful veggies, eggs, some diced meat and shrimp. Leftovers are perfect! I use the leftover ham from Easter in my freezer. Dice up the last bits of veggies in the fridge’s veggie drawer. The leftover rice from a few days ago becomes the star of today! It is an eco-friendly and super nourishing meal.

The fried rice is a good source of protein with the eggs, shrimp and diced ham. The veggies provide healthy fiber, vitamin C and carotenoids (our body converts some carotenoids to vitamin A which promotes vision health). An extra plate of stir-fried Chinese vegetables goes perfectly well on the dinner table.

It is easy to make this delicious Chinese fried rice. Stir-fry the ingredients separately. Then combine them in a large skillet or wok. That’s it! Would this be on your dinner table? Drop me a note below!

Ingredients

Servings: 6

• 4 cups of cooked rice
• 6 oz ham, diced
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
• 4 oz shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 3 eggs, scrambled
• 1.5 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp fish sauce
• 3 tbsp peanut oil
• 1/8 cup green onions, diced (about 1 stalk, save 1/4 tsp for garnish)
• 3 slices ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a large 12″ skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry shrimp until pink. Set aside.
2. Stir-fry ham for 2 min.
3. Stir-fry mixed veggies for 2 min.
4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in the skillet over medium heat, stir in ginger for 30 sec. until fragrant. Add cooked rice, turn heat up to medium-high. Stir fry rice for 2-3 min.
5. Push rice to the sides of the wok or skillet. Add 1/2 tbsp oil to the middle of the skillet or wok, add eggs, salt, and scramble quickly. When the eggs begin to set, combine the rice with the egg. Stir for another 1 min.
6. Combine, ham, shrimp, veggies to the rice and eggs in the wok. Add the green onions. Stir fry for another 2 min until flavors mix well. Add the soy sauce and fish sauce. Stir fry for another 1 min. Serve hot on a large platter. Garnish with green onions.