Fried Rice with Peas and Pork

A perfect way to use up leftover rice is to repurpose it into a new dish. Fried rice can be cooked with almost any vegetable with or without meat of your choice. For this recipe, I have decided to use frozen peas which is readily available any time of the year. Whenever fresh garden peas are available in summer, I would switch these instead.

The addition of marinated pork as the protein source makes this a complete one-dish meal. Omitting the pork turns this into a vegan dish while substituting pork with 2 eggs transforms the fried rice into a vegetarian dish. Of course, you can use a different protein source such as chicken or seafood of your choice. Just prepare your selected meat as in step A) 2.

Onion is to provide aroma while sesame oil and soy sauces to enhance the savory taste.

Enjoy!

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Fried Rice with Peas and Pork

Course:  Main

Cuisine: Asian, wok-style

Serving size:  2 

Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook time: 15 minutes

Recipe: Ingredients

100 g (1 cup) - frozen peas cup

100 g (0.2 lb) - pork tenderlion or loin, sliced into small pieces

1 medium onion

400 g (about 3 cups) - cooked rice

3 tablespoons - cooking oil

1 tablespoon - sesame oil

1 tablespoon - dark soy sauce

1 tablespoon - light soy sauce

salt & pepper - to taste

For marinating pork:

1 teaspoon dark soy sauce

1 teaspoon light soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon corn starch

1/2 teaspoon salt 

Equipment needed:

Cutting board, knife, wok or saucepan, spatula or wooden spoon, bowls and spoon, measuring spoons & cup, scale - to weigh out ingredients in grams, serving plate or bowl

Instructions:

A). Prepare ingredients for cooking

1. Take the frozen peas out of freezer at least 30 minutes before cooking time - put them in a bowl of water and let thaw at room temperature.  Rinse the defrosted peas with water a few times, and set aside

2. Slice the piece of pork into small bite-sized pieces and put into a small bowl. Add all marinating ingredients to the pork - mix well and set aside 

3. Peel onion and chop it into small pieces

4. In a bowl, loosen the cooked-rice because the rice should not sticked together in big lumps

B) Cooking:

1. Set the wok (or saucepan) on the stove.  Turn on heat to high and let wok or pan heat up.  

   Note: To test if wok or pan is hot enough, sprinkle some water - if it sizzle, then it is ready

2. Add cooking oil - let it heat up - probably takes 1 - 2 minutes

3. Add onion - stir continuously till lightly brown. This takes about 1 minute.

   Note: watch the heat - if the pan is too hot, lower the heat to medium.

4. Add marinated pork - stir occasionally till pork is cooked - for about 2 minutes

5. Add peas - stir occasionally for 2 minutes

6. Add cooked rice, sesame oil and the 2 soy sauces - stir till all ingredients are well mixed together. When the rice grains are evenly coated with the brown soy sauces, then the rice is done cooking - takes about 2 to 3 minutes

7. Add salt and pepper - to taste

8. Dish out onto serving plate - best eat when it is hot.  

TIPS/Alternatives

1. You can substitute pork with other protein sauce? - Yes, sliced chicken or beef or even prawn go well with fried fried. Marinate the meat in the same way.

2. You can omit pork; then you will have a vegan dish. Skip step A) 2. and step B) 4.

3. You can replace pork with 2 eggs. In step B) 4. (instead of adding pork), crack the 2 eggs directly into the pan, scramble eggs with the onions for 2 minute, then continue with B) 5. step to add the peas.

4. Cooked rice left over from last night dinner is best to cook fried rice.  It is cold and a bit dried and is easier to break the rice crumps into individual grains.

5. If you are using fresh garden peas, cook the peas for a few more minutes in step B) 5.