Ultimate Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients for my ultimate chicken fried rice (enough for 3 or 4)
2 chicken breasts
200 g rice
1 red pepper
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 green pepper
1 red onion
1 white onion
2 garlic cloves
1 thumb or fresh ginger
fresh coriander
lemon juice
150g frozen peas
Soy sauce


Everyone loves chicken fried rice from the take away! But why buy it when you can make it yourself, it's very easy, very tasty so why not try it yourself! 

I asked my son what he wanted for his last dinner before heading back to University and of course it was the chicken fried rice! It's been his favourite for years and a regular on his birthday! 

To make the best chicken fried rice the first thing you need to do is plan ahead! Frying rice is easy but it must be cooked and cold before you throw it in the wok!  So boil the rice a few hours ahead of time and let it completely cool down, this will stop it sticking to the wok. Also don't over cook that rice, leave a little bite in it so it can finish off in the wok. 

Whilst I was cooking the rice i also steamed the chicken breasts on top. This saves a bit of energy and allows me to get some flavours going with the chicken. Not only that the chicken juices drip into the boiling rice so getting every bit of flavour! 

Once the rice is cooked, strain it and run the cold tap over this will help the rice not to stick as it will remove a lot of the starch from the rice. Cover and leave to cool until its needed later.

Once the steamed chicken is cooked shred it with 2 folks, this will give a lovely texture to the chicken and is a bit more interesting that chunks of chicken. 

I put the shredded chicken in a bowl, add a big glug of soy sauce a shack of chinese 5 spice and some chinese rice wine. Add some finely chopped ginger and 2 chopped garlic cloves. Mix up and put it in the fridge to allow the flavours to develop. 

Easy peasy! 

What veggies to use is entirely up to you and often whatever I have in the fridge, today I have onions, red onions, peppers, chilli and peas. I also have some coriander in the freezer which i will add at the end. 

When its time to cook the dinner......

Chop the onions, peppers and chilli (you don't need chilli but i love em) and add to a very hot wok that has some oil in it that smoking hot. Cook the veg and add the peas and heat through. Once everything is cooked take it out and put in a bowl. 

You should now have a bowl of rice, a bowl or chicken and a bowl of veggies! 

Get the eggs and crack into the wok, mix around and make an omelette. Cut it up and remove to yet another bowl! Yep lots of washing up I'afraid. 

Right now the magic can happen. 

Get the wok very hot again and add the rice, let it fry - it is fried rice after all! Move the rice to stop it sticking and burning and add the chicken. It's very important that the rice and chicken is heated properly so make sure you have a hot wok and you cook it long enough to get it hot. Add the veggies and stir. Now add the egg and mix up , the dish should be looking fantastic and smelling great. 

Add a glug of soy sauce and stir. 

Finally add the chopped coriander and we are done. If you fancy a squeeze of lemon go for it! If you like mushrooms throw them in - there are no real rules here other than making sure the rice and chicken is heated properly! 

Add to a bowl and we are done, grab a glass of wine and enjoy. 

This is so simple and so tasty so give it a go. 

The fresh ginger really makes all the difference so try and get some, it's cheap, tasty and very good for you.