Debarshi’s Shrimp Fried Rice

This Shrimp Fried Rice is very special to me. Debarshi prepared this for me when I was pregnant with baby Prisha. I was craving something delicious yet was unable to cook anything myself. We didn’t want to have any store bought unhealthy, super greasy food. So, one evening he said, I am going to prepare something new for you and he served this delicious fried rice with Garlic Chicken for dinner.

Now you are thinking Shrimp Fried Rice is readily available at any Chinese restaurant, why take all this hassle of preparing it at home. But also think the reason why we go for the readymade options - Lack of knowledge (as to how to prepare a dish at home) and lack of grocery. I can’t even tell you how many times I have picked up a fried rice take out and it has left me completely dissatisfied because either I didn’t like the texture of the vegetables or there were too few shrimps in it. Eating a dish that has not been prepared to its fullest potential, just leaves me craving for a good fried rice even more! Hence the need to learn the recipe! With a little planning you can easily buy the ingredients beforehand and prepare this delicious fried rice at home.

All you need for this homemade Shrimp Fried Rice is shrimp and a few fresh vegetables, a packet of fried rice mix and soy sauce and that’s pretty much it. Use fresh vegetables because they have the best taste and texture. Debarshi added carrots, peas, scallions, bits of egg and onion for texture while the soy sauce and fried rice spice mix added layers of flavor. He said that he chose readymade spice mix because it is easy to find in any grocery store and hence makes this a perfect weeknight meal. 

You can also use leftover rice to make this fried rice. Leftover rice actually works great for frying because it has already dried out a bit so there is no extra moisture to break it. If you are preparing this with freshly cooked rice, make sure to cool it completely by running it under cold water. You can also spread it on a big plate so that it dries a bit but don’t let it outside uncovered for too long, a couple of minutes is enough.

Fry the rice and vegetables over medium high heat. Low heat will turn everything mushy so keep the heat high so that everything is quickly fried. Higher heat also prevents sticking but don’t go for the blazing restaurant style high heat. Heat the skillet/ pan/ wok properly before adding rice in it. 

This homemade Shrimp Fried Rice goes great with Debarshi’s Garlic Chicken and my Egg Drop Soup. Try it!

Ingredients:

• Rice - 3 cups, cooked and cooled
• Carrots - ½ cup, diced
• Sweet Peas -  ½ cup 
• Snow Peas - 1 cup
• Scallions - ½ cup, use only the green part, finely cut
• Red Onion - ½ cup, julienne
• Shrimp – 10-12, jumbo, peeled and deveined
• Red Chili Powder – ½ teaspoon
• Salt – to taste (about ½ teaspoon)
• Canola Oil - 5 tablespoons
• Eggs – 2, beaten lightly
• Fried Rice Spice Mix – 1 packet (any brand)
• Soy Sauce - ¼ cup

Recommended Reading: 

• Buying and Preparing Shrimp
• Kitchen Essentials: Knives, Oils, Vinegars, Sauces and Wine

Directions:

• Marinate the shrimp with Red Chili Powder and Salt and keep aside for half an hour.

• Heat a wok over medium high heat and add the Canola Oil (2 tablespoons).
• After a minute, add the eggs and start stirring so that the eggs don’t form big lumps. 
• Right when the eggs are just done (develop the yellowish color), add the Shrimp, Carrots, Sweet Peas and Snow Peas. Sauté lightly for 5 minutes and keep aside.
• In a cup mix the Fried Rice Spice Mix with the Soy Sauce, keep aside.
• In the wok add Canola Oil (3 tablespoons), add the Red Onion, sauté for 2 minutes over medium high heat then add the Rice.
• Add the Spice Mix with the Soy Sauce and the Shrimps with the vegetables, be gentle because cooked rice breaks easily.
• Sprinkle the scallions on the fried rice.

• Shrimp Fried Rice is ready! Serve with Garlic Chicken and Egg Drop Soup and enjoy!