Chinese Fried Rice

Chinese Fried Rice

2 tablespoons cup cooking oil
3 cups boiled rice, at least 1 day old
4 minced scallions
1/2 cup frozen peas
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cooked cooked pork, chicken, beef or ham, cut into small strips, or 1 cup cooked shrimp,diced (optional)
3 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup minced Chinese parsley leaves (optional)

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet. Add the rice, break apart the clumps and stir until it is hot and golden. Add the scallions, salt, peas and meat or shrimp. When the ingredients are well mixed and heated, make a hollow in the center of the rice. Break the eggs into the hollow and scramble them until they are semi-cooked. Then stir them into the rice mixture. Add the soy sauce and stir to coat.

Sprinkle with parsley leaves to serve. (Optional)

Makes 6 servings.

• This recipe is always best when it is made with leftover rice. The rice should be a day old. In a pinch you can boil the rice in the morning and use it for dinner, but it may not be as good as using day old rice. Newly boiled rice is more sticky and won't fry up to the texture we are used to.

• Other suggestions for vegetables that you can add include corn kernels, chopped steamed bok choy, or finely chopped cooked carrots.