Curry Chicken Fried Rice
Add this flavorful fried rice to your roster of quick weeknight dishes: Pieces of juicy chicken thighs, richer and more forgiving than breasts, are sautéed with sweet red onion and fragrant curry powder then mixed with leftover, fridge-cold rice for a meal ready in less than half an hour. (It’s also almost worth making for the smell alone.) While so many fried rice dishes involve a significant amount of chopping, this one opts for frozen vegetables, cutting back on prep time. To maximize flavor, mild curry powder is cooked in oil to bloom toward the start of the recipe, but if you’re craving heat, reach for a spicier blend.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 3 persons
Ingredients
- ¼cup canola or another neutral-tasting oil
- ½cup diced red onion
- 1 ½tablespoons mild curry powder
- Salt and pepper
- 1pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces (see Tip)
- 1 ½cups frozen mixed vegetables (such as carrots, green beans, corn and peas)
- 10 ½cups cooked rice, such as jasmine or basmati (preferably cold)
- ⅓cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced scallions, for serving
- Fried eggs (optional), for serving
Instructions
Step 1
In a nonstick pan on medium-high, heat oil then add red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.Step 2
Add the curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt and the chicken thighs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through with no signs of pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the frozen vegetables and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, 1 minute.Step 3
Stir in the rice, making sure to flatten any clumps of rice to ensure the rice gets evenly covered with the oil and spices. Cook until the rice is heated through, about 4 minutes. Adjust for seasoning, then stir in the cilantro.Step 4
Serve hot, topped with scallions and fried eggs (if using).