Better Than Takeout: Your Ultimate Homemade Pork Fried Rice (So Easy & Flavorful!)
Okay, fried rice fanatics and lovers of quick, satisfying meals! Are you ready to ditch the takeout menus and create a truly epic Pork Fried Rice in your own kitchen that’s bursting with flavor and loaded with your favorite goodies? If you're craving that irresistible, wok-tossed goodness but want it fresh, customizable, and oh-so-easy, then you've hit the jackpot!
Tender, Flavorful Pork: Diced pork loin or shoulder, browned to perfection, adds a hearty, savory element. The Magic of Day-Old Rice: Using chilled, day-old rice is the secret to preventing mushy fried rice and achieving those perfectly separate grains. The Perfect Flavor Base: Aromatic onion and garlic, combined with soy sauce, optional oyster sauce for umami depth, and a hint of nutty sesame oil, create an irresistible sauce. Fluffy Scrambled Eggs & Veggies: Adds protein, color, and texture with classic peas and carrots. Quick, Easy, and Customizable: This dish comes together in a flash and is super easy to adapt with other veggies or proteins.
A Super Speedy Weeknight Dinner: Perfect when you're short on time but craving big flavor. Using Up Leftover Rice & Pork: The ultimate delicious way to repurpose leftovers! A Crowd-Pleasing Family Meal: Kids and adults alike love a good fried rice. Better-Than-Takeout Nights In: All the flavor, made fresh by you! A Versatile Base for Other Add-Ins: Get creative with your favorite vegetables and seasonings.
Cook the Pork: Brown those diced pork pieces until they're savory and delicious. Sauté Aromatics & Scramble Eggs: Build your flavor base with onion and garlic, then scramble those eggs right in the pan. Veggies In! Toss in the peas and carrots. Rice & Pork Re-Entry: Add back the cooked rice and pork. Sauce it Up! Drizzle with that magical soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil, then toss to combine. Garnish & Serve Hot! Finish with fresh green onions and dig in!
Pork Fried Rice
1 lb pork loin or pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and diced into small 1/2-inch cubes 3 cups cooked white rice (preferably day-old and chilled) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or other neutral high-heat oil), divided 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup frozen peas and carrots mix (no need to thaw) 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium recommended, plus more to taste) 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional, but adds great umami depth) 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 green onions, thinly sliced Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cook the Pork: Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced pork. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5–7 minutes, until the pork is nicely browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove the cooked pork from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Sauté Aromatics: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the same skillet. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic!). Scramble the Eggs: Push the onion and garlic mixture to one side of the skillet. Pour the lightly beaten eggs into the empty space on the other side. Cook, stirring gently, until the eggs are just set and scrambled. Roughly break up the scrambled eggs with your spatula. Add Veggies: Add the frozen peas and carrots mix to the skillet with the eggs and aromatics. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes, until the vegetables are heated through. Combine & Sauce: Add the cooked (day-old) rice and the reserved cooked pork back into the skillet with the vegetables and eggs. Drizzle the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), and sesame oil over everything. Using your spatula, stir and toss everything together very well, breaking up any clumps of rice, until all the ingredients are evenly combined, coated in the sauce, and heated through – this should take about 2–3 minutes. Taste & Finish: Give the pork fried rice a taste. Adjust the seasoning with more soy sauce, a pinch of salt, or black pepper as needed to reach your desired flavor. Stir in most of the sliced green onions, reserving a few for garnish. Serve Hot: Serve the Pork Fried Rice immediately while it's hot and fragrant. Garnish with the remaining sliced green onions. Enjoy your delicious homemade meal!
Large Skillet or Wok (a well-seasoned wok is ideal!) Spatula (a wok spatula is great if you have one) Cutting Board & Sharp Knife Measuring Cups & Spoons Small Bowls
Day-Old Rice is a Must! This is the golden rule of great fried rice. Freshly cooked rice is too moist and will result in a gummy texture. Using chilled, day-old rice allows the grains to firm up and separate beautifully when stir-fried. High Heat & Quick Cooking: Fried rice loves high heat. This helps to get a slight char and that desirable "wok hei" (breath of the wok) flavor, though it's harder to achieve perfectly on home stovetops. Work quickly once you start adding ingredients. Don't Overcrowd the Pan: If you're making a large batch, it's better to cook the fried rice in two smaller batches to ensure everything cooks evenly and doesn't steam. Pork Prep: Cut the pork into small, uniform pieces so it cooks quickly and evenly. You can also use leftover cooked pork (like roast pork or char siu), just dice it and add it with the rice. Oyster Sauce – Optional but Recommended: While optional, oyster sauce adds a fantastic savory depth (umami) that really elevates the dish. Customize Your Veggies: Feel free to add other finely chopped vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, corn, water chestnuts, or bean sprouts. Add them with the peas and carrots. Want some heat? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic, or a drizzle of sriracha or chili garlic sauce at the end.
As a side dish to other Asian-inspired mains like Sweet and Sour Chicken or Beef and Broccoli. With a side of steamed or stir-fried bok choy. Topped with a fried egg for extra richness. With a small bowl of clear soup, like egg drop soup.
Nutritional Snapshot (A Peek at Your Takeout Favorite!)
Calories: 800 kcal (Around 40% of a 2000-calorie daily intake – a truly filling and energizing meal!) Protein: 45g (A fantastic 90% of your daily needs! This fried rice is packed with protein!) Total Fat: 31g (48% DV) Saturated Fat: 7g (48% DV – This can vary based on pork cut and oil.)
Total Carbohydrates: 82g (27% DV – Primarily from the rice, giving you plenty of energy!) Sugars: 2g (A super low 2% DV! Most of the flavor here is savory.)
Cholesterol: 278mg (93% DV – Mainly from the pork and eggs.) Sodium: 1347mg (59% DV – Soy sauce is a key contributor; using low-sodium soy sauce is a great way to manage this if needed.)
Vitamin A: 7047IU (A whopping 141% DV! Thank you, carrots and peas!) Selenium: 75µg (An amazing 109% DV! Pork and eggs are great sources.) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 1mg (98% DV – Pork is a Thiamin champion!) Manganese: 1mg (77% DV) Phosphorus: 583mg (58% DV) Vitamin B6: 1mg (54% DV) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.84mg (50% DV) Vitamin K: 50µg (48% DV – Those green veggies are working hard!) Zinc: 6mg (46% DV) Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 8mg (42% DV) Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 3mg (31% DV) Vitamin B12: 1µg (27% DV) Potassium: 946mg (27% DV) Magnesium: 99mg (25% DV) Iron: 4mg (25% DV) Copper: 0.45mg (23% DV) Folate: 89µg (22% DV) Fiber: 4g (18% DV) Vitamin C: 14mg (18% DV) Vitamin E: 1mg (13% DV) Calcium: 122mg (12% DV) Vitamin D: 1µg (7% DV)
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