Kitchen & Garden

Craft a restaurant-worthy vegetable fried rice that’s crispy, flavorful, and starts right from raw, well-rinsed rice—no need for leftovers. This fried rice recipe easy method ensures each grain stays distinct, while vibrant veggies and aromatics create a satisfying breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Whether you’re craving Chinese fried rice recipe flavor or an Indian fried rice twist, this adaptable foundation delivers on texture, aroma, and taste.

Colorful Fried Rice is a quick and easy meal that kids will love. The mix of colorful veggies and fried rice makes it appealing and delicious. This dish is also a great way to use leftover rice!

Recipe Overview

Here’s how to prepare it:
– Serving Size: 6 servings
– Prep Time: 20 minutes
– Cook Time: 25 minutes
– Total Time: 45 minutes
– Calories: Approximately 250 per serving

Nutritional Information for Vegetable Fried Rice:

A great source of carbohydrates and vitamins.

Ingredients (For 6 servings)

• Rice: 2 cups uncooked jasmine or long-grain white rice, rinsed
• Water (per rice packet instructions)
• 3 tbsp vegetable or neutral oil (divided)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2–3 tbsp light soy sauce (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• Salt and white pepper, to taste
• Fresh scallion greens or cilantro, sliced (for garnish)

Ingredient Notes & Swaps

• Use chicken fried rice recipe or shrimp fried rice recipe additions by tossing in precooked chicken, shrimp, or leftover baked garlic parmesan shrimp from our existing recipe.
• For an Indian fried rice recipe flair, swap soy for a dash of garam masala and stir in peas, diced bell peppers, and fresh cilantro.

Instructions

1. Cook the Rice from Raw

• Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear—this removes excess surface starch for better grain separation.¹Kenji Lopez-Alt. (2024). Easy Fried Rice. Serious Eats. https://www.seriouseats.com/easy-vegetable-fried-rice-recipe
• In a medium pot, combine rice and water; bring to a boil, then simmer covered until tender (about 10–15 minutes). Remove from heat, keep covered 10 minutes. Fluff, then spread onto a tray or baking sheet to cool for ~10 minutes (or chill briefly). This evaporation step is crucial for dry, non-clumpy rice.²Jessica Gavin. (2023). Fried Rice. Jessica Gavin. https://www.jessicagavin.com/easy-fried-rice/

2. Prep and Heat Pan

• Preheat a large wok or heavy sauté pan over high heat. Having everything chopped and eggs beaten upfront allows seamless execution.³Alex Delany. (2017) 9 Tips for Better-Than-Delivery Fried Rice. Bon Appétit. https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-make-fried-rice

3. Stir-Fry Raw Rice? (Optional Technique)

• Optionally, for extra texture, heat 1 tbsp oil, add the cooled raw rice, and fry until grains appear translucent and slightly toasted—about 2–3 minutes. Then add cooking liquid and finish steaming it (see Chatelaine method).⁴Chantal Braganza. (2023). The Simple Trick To Tastier Rice? Frying It First. Chatelaine. https://chatelaine.com/food/pre-fried-rice/

4. Fry Rice Properly

• Heat 2 tbsp oil until shimmering. Add cooled rice in batches if your pan is crowded. Stir-fry until slightly golden and starting to crisp.¹Kenji Lopez-Alt. (2024). Easy Fried Rice. Serious Eats. https://www.seriouseats.com/easy-vegetable-fried-rice-recipe

5. Add Vegetables & Aromatics

• Push rice aside, add a touch more oil if dry. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots until fragrant (~1–2 mins), then mix with rice evenly.⁵Lawrence Wang. (2025). Easy Fried Rice. The Kitchn. https://www.thekitchn.com/fried-rice-recipe-23652991

6. Egg Incorporation

• Slide rice to edge, crack in eggs, scramble in center tracking as threads, then mix throughout the rice.⁶Mindy Fox. (2025). How to Make Perfect Fried Rice Every Time With Whatever Is in Your Fridge. Real Simple. https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/perfect-fried-rice

7. Season and Finish

• Add peas, soy sauce, and sesame oil—toss quickly, avoiding excess sauce to keep grains crisp. Season with salt and white pepper. Garnish with scallions or cilantro.¹Kenji Lopez-Alt. (2024). Easy Fried Rice. Serious Eats. https://www.seriouseats.com/easy-vegetable-fried-rice-recipe

Tips: Use leftover rice for the best texture!

FAQs on Vegetable Fried Rice

This crispy vegetable fried rice recipe transforms raw rice into a flavorful, textured dish in just under an hour. Whether you’re following a fried rice recipe easy method, craving a classic Chinese fried rice recipe, exploring an Indian fried rice twist, or looking to add shrimp per your shrimp fried rice recipe inspiration—you’ve got the perfect base. Keep the grains distinct, the heat high, and the flavor balanced for a satisfying homemade fried rice that beats takeout any day.

Vegetable Fried Rice Recipe Card

Vegetable Fried Rice Recipe – Crisp, Flavorful, Easy

Kenshah K.

Craft a restaurant-worthy vegetable fried rice that's crispy, flavorful, and starts right from raw, well-rinsed rice—no need for leftovers. This fried rice recipe easy method ensures each grain stays distinct, while vibrant veggies and aromatics create a satisfying breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Whether you're craving Chinese fried rice recipe flavor or an Indian fried rice twist, this adaptable foundation delivers on texture, aroma, and taste.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Chinese-Inspired, Pan-Asian

Servings 6 Servings

Calories 360 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups Rice uncooked jasmine or long-grain white rice, rinsed
• Water per rice packet instructions
• 3 tbsp vegetable or neutral oil divided
• 1 small onion finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup frozen peas thawed
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 2–3 tbsp light soy sauce adjust to taste
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
• Salt and white pepper to taste
• Fresh scallion greens or cilantro sliced (for garnish)

Ingredient Notes & Swaps

• Use chicken fried rice recipe or shrimp fried rice recipe additions by tossing in precooked chicken shrimp, or leftover baked garlic parmesan shrimp from our existing recipe.
• For an Indian fried rice recipe flair swap soy for a dash of garam masala and stir in peas, diced bell peppers, and fresh cilantro.

Instructions

 

Cook the Rice from Raw

• Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear—this removes excess surface starch for better grain separation.1
  
• In a medium pot, combine rice and water; bring to a boil, then simmer covered until tender (about 10–15 minutes). Remove from heat, keep covered 10 minutes. Fluff, then spread onto a tray or baking sheet to cool for ~10 minutes (or chill briefly). This evaporation step is crucial for dry, non-clumpy rice.2
  

Prep and Heat Pan

• Preheat a large wok or heavy sauté pan over high heat. Having everything chopped and eggs beaten upfront allows seamless execution.3
  

Stir-Fry Raw Rice? (Optional Technique)

• Optionally, for extra texture, heat 1 tbsp oil, add the cooled raw rice, and fry until grains appear translucent and slightly toasted—about 2–3 minutes. Then add cooking liquid and finish steaming it (see Chatelaine method).4
  

Fry Rice Properly

• Heat 2 tbsp oil until shimmering. Add cooled rice in batches if your pan is crowded. Stir-fry until slightly golden and starting to crisp.1
  

Add Vegetables & Aromatics

• Push rice aside, add a touch more oil if dry. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots until fragrant (~1–2 mins), then mix with rice evenly.
  

Egg Incorporation

• Slide rice to edge, crack in eggs, scramble in center tracking as threads, then mix throughout the rice.
  

Season and Finish

• Add peas, soy sauce, and sesame oil—toss quickly, avoiding excess sauce to keep grains crisp. Season with salt and white pepper. Garnish with scallions or cilantro.
  

Notes

• Rice texture matters: Dry, cooled rice ensures separation and crisp texture. Freshly spread rice cools faster than refrigerated day-old rice.
• High heat is essential: Use a hot pan and work in batches to avoid steaming rice—this is the secret to that crave-worthy crust.
• Light seasoning for balance: Keep soy and oil minimal for clean flavor and better texture.
• Make ahead: Cook and cool rice in advance; scramble eggs and chop veggies before cooking for speed and ease.
• Customization: Add shrimp, diced chicken, or experiment with Indian spices like cumin or garam masala for fusion variations.

Keyword Chinese fried rice recipe, fried rice recipe easy, fried rice recipe Indian, vegetable fried rice

List of Sources

• 1
  Kenji Lopez-Alt. (2024). Easy Fried Rice. Serious Eats. https://www.seriouseats.com/easy-vegetable-fried-rice-recipe
• 2
  Jessica Gavin. (2023). Fried Rice. Jessica Gavin. https://www.jessicagavin.com/easy-fried-rice/
• 3
  Alex Delany. (2017) 9 Tips for Better-Than-Delivery Fried Rice. Bon Appétit. https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-make-fried-rice
• 4
  Chantal Braganza. (2023). The Simple Trick To Tastier Rice? Frying It First. Chatelaine. https://chatelaine.com/food/pre-fried-rice/
• 5
  Lawrence Wang. (2025). Easy Fried Rice. The Kitchn. https://www.thekitchn.com/fried-rice-recipe-23652991
• 6
  Mindy Fox. (2025). How to Make Perfect Fried Rice Every Time With Whatever Is in Your Fridge. Real Simple. https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/perfect-fried-rice