Seafood fried rice is a classic dish we can enjoy any day. It's quick, colorful, and full of flavor.

Using leftover rice, we can transform a simple meal into a golden, restaurant-style dish packed with shrimp, crab sticks, colorful peppers, and fragrant sesame.

This dish isn't just tasty—it's a fun way to cook together, explore flavors, and make the most of ingredients we already have.

Ingredients We'll Need

For 2–3 servings, we'll need:

- Leftover cooked rice: 3 cups

- Fresh shrimp: 10–12 medium-sized, peeled and deveined

- Crab sticks: 3 sticks, diced

- Green chili pepper: 1, diced

- Red chili pepper: 1, diced

- Eggs: 2, separated into yolks and whites

- Salt: 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)

- Cooking sauce: 1 teaspoon

- White pepper: a pinch

- Cooking oil: 3–4 tablespoons

- Cooked black sesame: 1 teaspoon, for garnish

- Chopped green onions: 2 tablespoons, for garnish

Having everything ready ensures smooth cooking and a more enjoyable experience.

How To Make It

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp

1. Remove shrimp heads, shells, and veins. Keep the heads and shells aside—they'll be used for making flavorful shrimp oil.

2. Chop the shrimp into small pieces for even cooking.

3. Mix the chopped shrimp with 1 teaspoon of cooking sauce and a pinch of white pepper.

4. Let them marinate for 10 minutes to absorb flavor.

Shrimp is quick to cook, so pre-marination ensures it stays juicy and flavorful.

Step 2: Prepare Other Ingredients

1. Dice the crab sticks into small cubes.

2. Dice green and red chili peppers to add color and a mild kick.

3. Separate eggs into yolks and whites.

4. Mix the egg yolks with the 3 cups of leftover rice. This helps each grain coat evenly and gives a soft, slightly sticky texture.

5. Set the egg whites aside; they will be lightly cooked later to add fluffiness and texture contrast.

Step 3: Make Shrimp Oil

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan over low heat.

2. Add the shrimp heads and shells. Fry gently until the oil becomes golden and aromatic.

3. Strain the oil into a small bowl. Discard the shells and heads—they've done their job!

4. Shrimp oil gives the fried rice a rich, savory aroma that makes it taste like it came from a restaurant.

Step 4: Cook Shrimp and Egg Whites

1. Add 1 tablespoon of shrimp oil into the pan.

2. Stir-fry the marinated shrimp until pink, about 2–3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

3. In the same pan, lightly stir-fry the egg whites for 1–2 minutes until just fluffy. Remove and set aside.

Cooking shrimp and egg whites separately ensures they maintain a perfect texture and don't overcook.

Step 5: Fry the Rice

1. Add 1–2 tablespoons of shrimp oil to the pan.

2. Add the rice mixed with egg yolks. Stir-fry over medium heat for 3–5 minutes until grains are separate and slightly golden.

3. Add diced crab sticks and cook for 2 minutes, allowing them to absorb flavors.

Stirring constantly ensures the rice doesn't stick and cooks evenly.

Step 6: Combine All Ingredients

1. Return cooked shrimp and egg whites to the pan.

2. Add diced green and red chili peppers.

3. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of white pepper.

4. Stir gently but thoroughly so every grain and ingredient is evenly coated.

At this stage, we can also taste and adjust seasoning, making sure the balance of saltiness and spiciness suits our preferences.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

1. Sprinkle chopped green onions over the fried rice for color and freshness.

2. For presentation, sprinkle 1 teaspoon cooked black sesame in the serving bowl.

3. Scoop the fried rice into the bowl, press lightly, then flip onto a plate for a restaurant-style look.

The flipping step isn't required for taste but makes the dish look impressive and festive.

Enjoy Every Bite!

Lykkers, our seafood fried rice is ready! Every bite combines tender shrimp, flavorful crab sticks, fluffy rice, and a hint of sesame and green onion. This dish is quick, easy, and a perfect way to make leftover rice shine. By following each step carefully, we can create a restaurant-style dish in just 20 minutes.

Let's enjoy the meal together and celebrate cooking at home!

SEAFOOD FRIED RICE

Video by Kikifoodies