Easy veggie fried rice

If you have leftover rice in the fridge then this easy vegetable fried rice recipe is for you.

I pretty much always cook too much rice. And sometimes it seems like there's always a Tupperware box in the fridge full of cooked rice.

But if I'm honest I don't mind that at all, because it's the perfect excuse to make one of my favourite easy dinners - veggie fried rice

What to do with leftover rice

Making fried rice is a great way to use up leftover rice. It's a quick dinner to make and you can adapt it to use up whatever veggies you have in the fridge.

In this easy veggie fried rice recipe I've used carrots, beans, corn and peas but peppers, courgettes and broccoli are also lovely.

Other ways to use up leftover rice include:

• add it to soups
• mix it with roasted squash and cinnamon and bake in filo pastry for a Greek-style pie
• chuck a spoonful into chillis or stews to make them
• mix with salad veg for a healthy rice salad
• stir in lentils, herbs and/or nuts and stuff peppers or other vegetables with it
• if you have leftover risotto you can make rice balls, or arancini, with it.

If you like this recipe you might like this Thai basil fried rice.

Can leftover rice be reheated safely?

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about whether rice is safe to be reheated. However, as long as you store your rice properly once cooled and reheat until it's piping hot it's safe to eat.

If you're not adding it to another dish you can reheat it easily in the microwave.

As Ann from Storr Cupboard says: "Despite some often repeated beliefs, rice can safely be reheated in the microwave. Cool your rice quickly by spreading it in a thin layer on something like a baking tray.  Once it’s cool, store it in a lidded container in the fridge and make sure it’s piping hot after microwaving.”

What ingredients do you need to make vegetable fried rice?

For full recipe, ingredients and quantities go to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Fried rice is a very adaptable meal. Almost any vegetable that you have in the fridge can be used.

Here's what you'll need to make my vegan vegetable fried rice recipe:

For the sauce:

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

For the fried rice:

• 300g rice, cooked
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 inch piece ginger, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 100g green beans, chopped
• Handful of frozen peas
• Handful of frozen sweetcorn

If you wish you can serve with some of the following:

• Coriander
• Cashew nuts
• Peanuts
• Spring onions
• Roasted tofu

2. Next heat the oil in a large wok. Add a finely chopped onion and stir fry for 5 minutes until soft. Add 2 cloves chopped garlic, a 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped and stir fry for one minute. Next add 2 diced carrots and 100g chopped green beans. Stir fry for a further 5 minutes until the carrots are softening.

3. Add a handful of frozen peas and another handful of frozen sweetcorn and fry for 2 minutes.

4. Add a large bowlful of cooked rice (mine weighed 300g before cooking). Stir fry until the rice is piping hot and well mixed in with the vegetables.

5. Add the sauce and mix in. Serve immediately. If liked you can serve with fresh coriander, toasted cashew nuts, peanuts, spring onions or roasted tofu.

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