Ham Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (1)

I recently updated this post from April 2014 with a new video!

I love making fried rice at home. Growing up, my mom and my sister would make fried rice for us. I wanted to come up with a version that rivals take out and I did! It's an easy fried rice recipe that uses leftover ham and I know you'll love it! Check out the video!

Last Friday, I started getting a series of texts from Curtis while he was at work. I want ham for Easter dinner. I responded with no, we should have turkey breast like we do every year. Because before Italy last year, I hadn't eaten pork in over 15 years.

I resisted getting a ham because I hadn't had ham in a long time and because there's only the two of us. A little bit later, I looked at the calendar and saw that Sunday was going to be April 20th and then counted the years. April 20, 1999 is the day Curtis and I started dating…it's been 15 years!! That's when I texted back, okay go ahead and pick up that ham.

He responded by saying, why are you agreeing to ham? And why are you being so nice? Haha I wasn't going to tell him because then he would think he would have to get me a gift but I told him why.

Later that night, he came home with a nine pound ham for the two of us. He insisted that's the smallest one they had. Oh boy. On Sunday, we cut it up before we even baked the portion we would eat for dinner and froze it. We are going to have ham for a very longggg time.

This ham or pork fried rice we had was the second of three meals we have had with the leftovers from Sunday's dinner…we haven't even touched what we froze yet. I have to give credit to Curtis, this was fried rice using the leftover ham was Curtis' idea. I say he made me do it!

I have been trying to perfect my own fried rice recipe for a while now and I have to say this is the best fried rice I have ever made…you'll have to keep reading to see what the secret ingredient is!

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (2)

I didn't make the rice the day before like you should so in the morning, I made the rice in my rice cooker. As soon as it was finished, I poured the rice onto a baking dish and spread it out. I flipped over and mixed the rice a couple of times, let it cool and let it sit out for a while– maybe 30 minutes. Then covered it and stuck it in the fridge until I was ready to make fried rice!

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (3)Ham Fried Rice Recipe (4)Ham Fried Rice Recipe (5)Ham Fried Rice Recipe (6)Ham Fried Rice Recipe (7)

You have to make the eggs first for fried rice. I always feel like I'm making an omelet. (I love using OXO's omelet turner when I'm making eggs.)

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (8)

Cut it up.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (9)

Then, make the rice. After adding the rice, mix in the soy sauce and the sesame oil really good. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes on medium high.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (10)

Add the ham, peas and corn. You can add carrots, broccoli, whatever you want.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (11)

There's the secret ingredient…butter. 2 Tablespoons of butter heaven. There's a Japanese hibachi grill place I used to go to a lot when I worked across the street from them and I would watch them put butter in the fried rice…near the end. I had to try it and it makes this fried rice so good. Curtis would argue it's the ham that makes it so good.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (12)

Now, add the eggs and sliced green onions.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (13)

And you're done. Seriously…amazing. The ham still has the sugary cinnamony glaze which adds a nice sweetness sometimes. The soy sauce is a must have for fried rice and the butter…yes please. Makes great leftovers too!

As long as you have the rice made ahead of time, it doesn't take that long to put this dish together!

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (14)

PS Curtis absolutely loved this fried rice recipe…we will be making this again and again! Hope you enjoy it with your family if you try it!

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (15) Recipe

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (16)

Print Pin

Secret Ingredient Ham Fried Rice Recipe

Day old rice, rice that's cooked the day before and refrigerated overnight makes the best fried rice. If it's freshly made, you may get mushy results. There are ways around it if you want to make fried rice the same day you make the rice. Omit ham or sub with crispy fried tofu to make this dish vegetarian or feel free to sub with shrimp or chicken!

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4 to 6

Ingredients

  • 3 cups uncooked Jasmine rice, cooked (preferably the day before)
  • 3 Tablespoons grape seed oil
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 cup diced cooked ham
  • 3/4 cup frozen corn
  • 1/3 cup frozen peas
  • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 green onions, sliced thin

Instructions

  • Cook rice. If you didn't make it the day before. As soon as it's done, lay it out on a 9x13 baking dish or a baking sheet. Allow to cool. Mix and spread out several times. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 to 60 minutes.

  • Add 1 tablespoon of grape seed oil into a wok or a large skillet, heat on medium for at least 3 minutes. Swirl the oil to cover the pan. Pour in beaten eggs and allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes and flip and cook for another minute. Remove from skillet and allow to cool. Cut into strips and then into smaller pieces, set aside.

  • Add 2 Tablespoons of grape seed oil to the wok and add the rice and cook for 2 minutes. Add soy sauce and sesame oil and mix the rice thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium high and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until rice is completely heated through, be sure to mix occasionally so the rice does not burn.

  • Add ham, corn and peas and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, mixing occasionally. Lower heat and add butter, allow to melt, and mix thoroughly. Add eggs and green onions and stir gently. Season with salt & pepper. Serve immediately.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (17)

Did you make my Secret Ingredient Ham Fried Rice Recipe?Did you take a photo of it? Did you know you can upload your photo along with your rating and comments below? I’d love for you to share with me & others because you’re awesome. And because I’d love to see how it came out for you! If you share on social, be sure to use the hashtag #thelittlekitchenrecipes and tag me @TheLittleKitchn because I don’t want to miss it! Yay!!

Upload a PhotoHam Fried Rice Recipe (19) Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (21)

Disclosure: There's an affiliate link in this post.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What gives Chinese fried rice its taste? ›

Signature flavor

There are many ways to do this, like using olive oil, canola oil or even butter to fry your rice for a great base. To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish.

How to make a stir fry with ham? ›

directions
  1. In large wok, heat oil over medium high heat.
  2. Add celery, onion, and green pepper; stir-fry 2 minutes or until crisp-tender.
  3. Add ham, garlic powder and pepper; stir fry 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Add rice and soy sauce; stir fry 3-4 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
  5. Serve with additional soy sauce, if desired.

Should I fry rice in oil or butter? ›

Butter Makes Your Fried Rice Taste Richer But Also Increases Fat Content. Since cooking with butter infuses food with a richer flavor and texture in general, you might find that frying leftover rice in oil leaves it bland in comparison.

What can I add to fried rice for more Flavour? ›

Aside from using a fragrant rice choice, there are many ways to add incredible flavor to your dish, and that's where aromatics come into play. Cooking oil is a great place to infuse flavor with spices, ginger, red pepper flakes, onions or garlic like in this Garlicy Vegetable Fried Rice recipe.

Is it OK to fry cooked ham? ›

Definitely! Leftover cooked ham slices can be a great option for frying. The already cooked ham will just require minimal cooking time to crisp up the edges and warm through. Frying leftover ham slices can be a quick and delicious way to repurpose them into a new meal.

Why boil ham before cooking? ›

Depending on how the ham was cured, it will most probably be necessary to soak the ham for 24 hours before baking it. This step isn't necessary when boiling a ham as the boiling process automatically removes any excess salt, but it is a foolish errand to bake a salt cured ham without soaking..

Can I fry ready to eat ham? ›

A fully cooked ham can be kept in a fridge, eaten cold over several days, (ham slices in a salad, ham sandwiches, etc). I have also fried ham slices as part of a typical British fry-up!

What is the difference between fried rice and Chinese fried rice? ›

The usage of rice

But in Chinese rice, it is suggested to use leftover cooked rice to avoid the rice from being sticky. In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.

Is Chinese fried rice junk food? ›

Fried rice is not a nutritionally balanced meal on its own, and you should enjoy it in moderation as part of a varied and balanced diet. Adding a variety of vegetables, lean protein sources, and whole grains can help to improve the nutritional value of fried rice.

What is the best rice for fried rice? ›

The fine, long grains of jasmine rice with its delicate flavour are perfect for fried rice. Precook the rice at least 30 minutes, but preferably one day, before making fried rice and keep it uncovered in the fridge.

Do you pre cook rice for fried rice? ›

A typical recipe for cooking long-grain white rice uses a 1-to-1.5 ratio, which means you would add 1 cup of rice to 1 1/2 cups of water. You'll frequently find fried rice recipes calling for cold cooked, previously chilled, or leftover cooked rice.

Do you need to boil rice before frying it? ›

Just an aside, but when you're making fried rice you really need to put a step in the middle - 1) cook the rice (don't boil it, really - it should steep, covered, in near-boiling water), 2) Put the rice in the fridge overnight, 3) Fry the rice. If you fry freshly cooked rice you end up with a mess.

Can you use basmati rice for fried rice? ›

Rice: Use any long grain or medium grain thin rice. Any rice labelled as long grain, basmati or jasmine work well to make fried rice. Avoid using short fat grains as they have more starch content and likely to turn sticky after cooking. Sona masuri rice also works well.

What makes Chinese food taste Chinese? ›

When it comes to taste, Chinese cuisine incorporates sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and bitter elements. Many ingredients help to achieve this. For instance, vinegar can add to the dish's sourness, while soy sauce can be used to add a hint of sweetness and more saltiness.

What gives Chinese food Flavour? ›

A blend of cinnamon, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, fennel and star anise, these five spices give the sour, bitter, pungent, sweet and salty flavors found in Chinese cooking. This spice works extremely well with meats and in marinades.

What gives fried rice umami flavor? ›

Cue the symphony of soy sauce, fish sauce, and sesame oil for the ultimate umami crescendo. Garnish with green onion greens and sesame seeds for a crunchy finale.

What makes Chinese food so flavorful? ›

Ginger, garlic, and chili form a flavorful base for many Asian dishes and are absolutely essential in Chinese cuisine. Most stir-fries and other dishes start with garlic and ginger — some will also use chili, though that depends on the level of spice and is usually added later.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Stevie Stamm

Last Updated:

Views: 5848

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Stevie Stamm

Birthday: 1996-06-22

Address: Apt. 419 4200 Sipes Estate, East Delmerview, WY 05617

Phone: +342332224300

Job: Future Advertising Analyst

Hobby: Leather crafting, Puzzles, Leather crafting, scrapbook, Urban exploration, Cabaret, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is Stevie Stamm, I am a colorful, sparkling, splendid, vast, open, hilarious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.