Here's What You Can Do With Leftover Fried Rice
We have all been there before: You got a bit over-excited placing your Chinese takeout order on Saturday night, and suddenly it's Sunday and the egg rolls are gone, the lo mein box is empty, and yet, there's somehow still enough fried rice left in the fridge to feed a family.
Don't toss a thing in the trash just yet! There's a few easy ways to incorporate your leftovers in a new dish, whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And don't worry — if you are a fried rice purist, we have a few tricks up our sleeves to get your leftovers tasting equally as fresh as they did in front of the television last night.
If you want the best results, try to reheat your dish in a large wok. PopSugar suggests adding some peanut oil to revive some of the now-missing flavor and stirring frequently, or simply steaming the rice on the stove — just be sure to add a bit of butter and broth so it doesn't dry out. Alternatively, you can zap your leftovers in the microwave (like any sane, mildly lazy person would), but add a few tablespoons of broth and keep the bowl covered.
Turn your fried rice into a crispy rice cake
If you are hoping to jazz your leftover fried rice up and make it a whole new gourmet entrée, channel your inner chef to create a crispy rice cake. It's a process just as simple as reheating it on the stove, except this way, you get an entirely different dinner experience. Start by mixing one egg, one teaspoon of coconut flour, and your leftover fried rice in a bowl. Heat up some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is searing hot, pop in your rice mixture and squish it into a single layer so it cooks evenly. Cook the rice for about 5 minutes on each side, or until it has a nice golden crust — just like any takeout crispy rice cake should (via Saving Every Day).
You can even mash some ripe avocado over the top to enjoy a fun spin on the popular Millennial toast trend, or serve it with a dipping sauce of your choice. Either way, we can guarantee this method will get you excited to eat your leftovers for once!
Start your day strong with a fried rice inspired breakfast
Everyone has had leftover pizza for breakfast, but have you ever considered starting your morning with some leftover fried rice? All you need is a couple of eggs and a little bit of faith!
My Recipes recommends this fun spin on fried rice to elevate your leftovers into yōshoku, which is essentially a Japanese adaptation of western fare. Sauté your fried rice until it is fully heated through, then place it aside while you get to work on your eggs. Make your omelet in the leftover oil, add your rice to fill, and fold. Top it with some ketchup (or sriracha for a kick) and you are good to go!
If you are craving something heartier, toss in some garlic and bacon (like in this recipe from The Flavor Bender). And if you are trying to balance out the savory goodness that was last night's Chinese takeout, you can add a little bit of sweetness to your leftovers with these effortless Pineapple Sriracha Breakfast Bowls from Budget Bytes instead.