BLT Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

BLT Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Fried rice – is there anything better? I love how you can take innocent, singular ingredients and turn them into so much more. It’s funny how much regular, plain rice can change from being fluffy and slightly sticky, to crisp, intensely flavored and moreish. It’s absolutely one of my favorite things to make and eat. I like it simple and plain, with just eggs or all dressed up, like this BLT version.

But, before we go into BLT fried rice, let’s chat a little bit about fried rice in general. It seems to me that sometimes people get confused about fried rice. Is it a side dish, is it a main, is it a vehicle for old, leftover rice? Just what purpose does fried rice serve? Well, friends, I’m to to tell you once and for all: fried rice is all of those things and more.

BLT Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

Well, actually, it’s not really served as a side dish – most Chinese dishes are cooked with the intention to be eaten with plain white rice. Traditional, and even not so traditional, Chinese dishes are made to be extrasaucy and flavorful so that the ever present bowl of rice served alongside is a sponge to soak up all the goodness. And while fried rice is sometimesserved alongside traditional dishes,it’s more of an eat it on its own dish: good fried rice is incredibly flavorful on its ownand shouldn’t need anything with it. With that being said,people have been known to choose the fried rice option over the plain option, which is just plain gildingthe lily.

I’ve definitely been known to eat fried rice alongside other dishes, but my favorite thing to do is just make a big batch of fried rice for a complete meal. If you do it right, fried rice will have your protein, grain, and vegetables all in one tasty bowl. This BLT fried rice is the perfect example, with savorybacon, crisp lettuce and juicy tomatoes.

BLT Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

You might be thinking that lettuce in fried rice is kind of strange, but there’s actually a Hong Kong stylefried rice that features beef and crispy lettuce – it’s one of my favorites. I spun off that and went with the classic ingredients for a BLT, minus the mayo.

The key to this fried rice, and all of them, really, is a really really hot pan. Make sure all of your ingredients are prepped before hand and give this rice a try. It’s a fun departure from yourregular BLT and a super delicious bowl of fried rice.

BLT Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (4)

BLT Fried Rice
serves 3-4


  • 4-6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1/4 onion, diced
  • 2- 3 cups old, cold jasmine rice
  • 1-2 cups shredded romaine
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • sliced green onions, to garnish

In a large cast iron pan or wok, cook the bacon bits until the fat is rendered out and pieces are crispy. Remove some of the bacon fat, reserving on the side. You want about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat left in the pan/wok. Add the onions and cook until softened slightly, 1-2 minutes. Turn the heat up to high and add the broken up rice and cook, undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Toss and cook until rice is crispy and heated through. Add the romaine and tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes while tossing. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Note: Using old, cold rice is key. But cold rice tends to clump up and also key is breaking up the rice into individual kernels. Before starting your fried rice, break up the rice by wetting your hands and gently breaking up the clumps into individual grains.

20 Comments

  1. September 30, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    never thought about lettuce in fried rice until a couple months ago, when a korean restaurant put it in their fried rice. and when i asked my mom, she talked about it so casually that like she’d been withholding this from me all this time. i love how sweet and tender it gets when cooked into fried rice!

    Reply

  2. Lexi says:

    September 30, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    gonna try the recipe soon! btw: love the owl bowl :) where did you get those?

    Reply

  3. Synnøve says:

    September 30, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    BLT fried rice! what a wonderful idea!

    Reply

  4. cynthia says:

    September 30, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    Life. MADE.

    Reply

  5. September 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    I have never seen lettuce in fried rice before and I really love this idea. One of my favorite aspect of Chinese food is the plain rice bowl accompanying each dish. I am such a rice fan. I’ve been known to eat white rice as a side to my fried rice (oops!). Definitely going to be making this one.

    Reply

  6. Melissa says:

    September 30, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    This looks so amazing.

    Reply

  7. Cindy says:

    September 30, 2015 at 8:44 pm

    There really aren’t many things better than fried rice! Also, obsessed with those owl bowls.

    Reply

  8. T00551542 says:

    September 30, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    I thought lettuce in fried rice was a little weird at first too. However thinking about it it would work extremely well, heated just enough to be warm but not wilted, a BLT Fried Rice would be a great dish to make for me to take to work. I learned quite a bit about fried rice today. I will be honest, I never truly knew how fried rice was made or how it should be properly served. Now I knows its place in the dinner table.

    Reply

  9. Kristina says:

    October 1, 2015 at 12:43 am

    This is delicious. A perfect recipe for a quick dinner. I love rice in all forms (fried rice, rice as a side, risotto, you name it) and there are so much different kinds of it. I will deffinitely try this twist on it!

    Reply

  10. Alana says:

    October 1, 2015 at 8:02 am

    FRIED RICE IS MY EVERYTHING. One of my absolute favorite quick meals. and HOMG, BLT fried rice!! YES YES YES, GF!!

    Reply

  11. madeline says:

    October 2, 2015 at 7:31 am

    My mom used to make me bacon, eggs, and fried rice all mashed together like this. I love the idea of adding tomato!

    Reply

  12. Joe says:

    October 23, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    OH MY GOSH. Definitely will give this a try! Is the green onions mandatory?

    Reply

    1. Stephanie Le says:

      October 23, 2015 at 7:04 pm

      you don’t absolutely need them but they do add a bit of freshness!

      Reply

  13. Mahee Ferlini says:

    February 12, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    Amazing idea! I have to try it!!

    Reply

  14. lorna says:

    March 2, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    I made this with pancetta and topped it with kecap manis. Delicious and simple.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

BLT Fried Rice Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

What makes Chinese fried rice taste so good? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Which vinegar is used for fried rice? ›

Season With Soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, and Sesame Oil

While not every recipe calls for this fried rice trifecta, many of our favorites do. Why? Soy sauce is the salt element, rice vinegar gives the dish a touch of brightness, and sesame oil lends an utterly delicious, toasty note.

What is the best oil for fried rice? ›

It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish. Peanut oil. this is another ingredient that adds authentic flavor to this recipe, but if you have a peanut allergy in your household you can substitute canola oil or additional sesame oil for the peanut oil.

Why do people put butter in fried rice? ›

Butter Makes Your Fried Rice Taste Richer But Also Increases Fat Content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

Why does homemade fried rice not taste like restaurant? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

Do Chinese people put soy sauce in fried rice? ›

Soy sauce fried rice (酱油炒饭, Jiang You Chao Fan) is a classic. It is not just another fried rice. It's a signature of Chinese cooking, as it uses pretty minimal ingredients to create a wonderful flavor.

What oil do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

What happens if you put too much rice vinegar in rice? ›

If you make this mistake, the rice gets too watery and doesn't stick properly anymore. So, it becomes hard to make a good shape for rolls or nigiri. If you do not know how much vinegar to add, check the right amount by using this link.

Which rice is best for fried rice? ›

The fine, long grains of jasmine rice with its delicate flavour are perfect for fried rice. Precook the rice at least 30 minutes, but preferably one day, before making fried rice and keep it uncovered in the fridge.

How long to refrigerate rice for fried rice? ›

After briefly resting the pot on the counter with a dish towel under the lid (to absorb excess moisture), spread the rice on a baking sheet to help it cool more rapidly to room temperature, and pop the sheet in the fridge for just 20 minutes. The resulting fried rice will be ideally dry and the clumps of rice minimal.

What is the secret to great fried rice? ›

Tips For Making The Best Fried Rice:
  • 1) Use cold rice: You've gotta plan ahead and use thoroughly-chilled cooked rice. ...
  • 2) Use butter: Yes, butter. ...
  • 3) Use veggies: This is one of my big pet peeves with lame take-out fried rice — not enough veggies!

What is the most unhealthy cooking oil? ›

Although your overall diet is what's most important for your health, it's best to prioritize healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocado oil, and sesame oil, and limit less healthy cooking oils, such as soybean, corn, and canola oil.

What is special fried rice made of? ›

Special Fried Rice is an easy and flavorful Chinese rice dish made by stir-frying cooked rice with vegetables and protein, seasoned with soy sauce and spices.

Is MSG the secret to fried rice? ›

MSG: MSG adds the perfect sweet-salty boost to fried rice. It's a widely misunderstood ingredient—checkout this article all about MSG if you're looking to learn more. Peas: I personally love peas in fried rice, and find it's a common addition in many American versions.

What gives Chinese fried rice its color? ›

Dark mushroom soy sauce is what gives this fried rice its rich brown/caramel colour. This soy sauce doesn't add much to the saltiness but is used to give dishes that nice caramel brown colour. Dark mushroom soy sauce also adds a hint of umami to a dish, but not much saltiness.

What Flavour enhancer for fried rice? ›

Fried Rice Sauce
  1. Chinese cooking wine or Mirin (secret ingredient!) ...
  2. Oyster sauce – it's like using 10 different sauces, all conveniently packed into one bottle 🙂
  3. Soy sauce – Any soy sauce is fine here (but not sweet or flavoured). ...
  4. Sesame oil and pepper (not critical)
Mar 14, 2019

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