Ham and Egg Unfried Rice

You don’t have to rely on day-old rice to make great fried rice. This Unfried Ham and Egg Unfried Rice uses uncooked rice, eliminating the need to plan ahead. Plus, it doesn’t require constant watch and stirring like the traditional method.

Have you ever wanted to make fried rice but didn’t because you didn’t have any day-old rice in the house? I have! In those instances, I had to resort to plan B for dinner. That is until I came up with a fried rice recipe that uses uncooked rice.

Using leftover rice can be a hassle. I don’t know about you, but my day-old white rice tends to be clumpy, and breaking it up can get a little messy. However, when the rice is cooked fresh, along with the other ingredients, this problem is eliminated.

While we are on the subject of using day-old rice, I love cooking shows, but I always chuckle when they add their perfectly separated, fluffy, day-old rice straight from the container to the frying pan. That does not happen in real life—mine, at least.

As I mentioned earlier, the unfried method is easier than the traditional method. The rice and onion are cooked first in simmering seasoned water, then the remaining ingredients are added towards the end. There is no need to constantly stir the ingredients or break up the rice. It comes out perfectly cooked—the key is the rice-to-water ratio, which must be 1:1.5 and no more.

I am sharing today a recipe for Ham and egg unfried rice, but you can substitute any other kind of meat you want. This is an ideal opportunity to use up leftover meat—pork, chicken, steak, shrimp, whatever floats your boat. If you want to go vegetarian, use tofu or a meat substitute product. Or omit the protein component entirely. It’s all good!!

Everything (except eggs) is cooked in the saucepan for the ham and egg version. Of course, you can omit the eggs altogether. The rice is scrumptious without it. I love eggs in my fried rice, so I like to take the extra few minutes to whip some up in a skillet.

I like to make this dish in my rice cooker because it is low maintenance and practically foolproof. Since not everyone owns one, I opted to share my stovetop method with you. Just follow the instructions and it will turn out great!

Although this is not a 30-minute meal, it is pretty close to it, making this rice dish a perfect quick meal for a busy weeknight. The dish is substantial enough to stand on its own as a meal, but it is also a fantastic side dish. This recipe makes 4 meal-size servings or 6 sides.

Helpful tips:

• A non-stick saucepan with deep sides and a tight-fitting lid works best.
• To best utilize time, chop onions and measure out rice before boiling water. It takes 2 minutes to come to a boil, and you would want to work quickly once it does.
• Dice the ham and chop the scallion while the rice cooks.
• Cook the eggs while the finished rice rests on the stovetop.
• If using a rice cooker, cook the rice, onion, seasoning, and water first. Then, add the corn, peas, ham, and scallion during the last 7-8 minutes.

Recommended supplies:

These are products I use, or on my wishlist, or are highly rated. (Amazon affiliate links)

• Medium saucepan—this 4-quart stainless steel saucepan heats up quickly and evenly. It does not discolor or react with food, and it has a flavor-locking lid.
• Large skillet—This 11-inch skillet has a titanium and ceramic nonstick coating. It has a stay-cool handle and is PFOA, PTFE, and PFAS-free.
• Spatula for cooking rice—this set of 3 silicone spatulas features a confetti design. They are heat-safe up to 428° F.
• Spatula for cooking eggs—this silicone spatula is safe on nonstick surfaces and is heat resistant up to 600°F.

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Ham and Egg Unfried Rice

Author: In Good Flavor Cooking Method:Stovetop Cooked Cuisine:Asian-Inspired Courses:Asian Inspired, Budget-Friendly Meals, Main Dish, Pork, Rice / Grain

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 30 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time: 35 minutesServings:4 servingsCalories: kcal Best Season:Suitable throughout the year

Description

You don’t have to rely on day-old rice to make great fried rice. This Unfried Ham and Egg Unfried Rice uses uncooked rice, eliminating the need to plan ahead. Plus, it doesn’t require constant watch and stirring like the traditional method.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups chopped onion
• 2 1/4 cups water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 3/4 teaspoon ginger powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 rounded teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
• 2 cups (about 10 oz) cooked ham, cut to 1/2 thickness and diced
• 1/2 cup chopped scallion, greens only
• 1/2 rounded cup frozen corn
• 1/2 rounded cup frozen peas

For the eggs (optional):

• 4 eggs
• 3 tablespoons water
• a pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Add 2 1/4 cups water to a medium non-stick saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat to low. Immediately stir in rice and onions. Cover and cook for 14 minutes. The liquid should be simmering—bubbling without boiling over. Adjust the heat slightly, if needed, to get it to simmer.
2. After 14 minutes, quickly add the corn, peas, ham, and scallion. Close the lid. Increase the heat to high for about 1 minute to bring the pan back to temperature. Turn the heat back down to low. Cook for 5 additional minutes.
3. Shut off the heat, remove the lid, and stir. Let the uncovered rice rest for 5 minutes to allow the moisture to evaporate.
4. While rice rests, cook eggs: Preheat a large skillet to medium-medium high. Whisk eggs, water, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Add oil to the skillet. Add egg mixture. Once the bottom of the eggs firm up, score the eggs with the spatula to divide them into four sections. Flip over each section. Once the second side begins to firm, remove from heat. Chop the eggs into small pieces using a rubber spatula. Add them to the rice. Serve.
5. Makes 4 meal-size servings or 6 sides.

Keywords:Unfried Rice, Fried Rice, Ham and Egg, Quick Meal