Chinese
Prawn and Garlic Fried Rice
A quick and easy fried rice using leftover rice, garlic, and fresh prawns.
About this recipe
Prawn and Garlic Fried Rice is a chinese lunch for 2 that is a fast, high-heat stir-fry — have everything chopped before the wok gets hot. It’s built around prawn and egg, and it takes about 25 min total but only ~15 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 3 cups (preferably day-old) Cooked rice
- 2 Egg
- 3 cloves, minced Garlic
- 2 stalks, chopped Spring onion
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 2 tbsp Cooking oil
- To taste Salt
- To taste Black pepper
- 150g Prawns, peeled and deveined buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
If rice is not day-old, spread it out on a plate and microwave for 2-3 minutes to dry it slightly.
~3 min
- 2
Heat 1 tbsp cooking oil in a pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add mincedMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → garlic and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
~1 min
- 3
Add prawns and stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → until they turn pink and are cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove prawns and set aside.
~3 min
- 4
Add the remaining 1 tbsp cooking oil to the pan. Add the cooked rice and break up any clumps. Stir-fryStir-fry.Cook small pieces fast over high heat while constantly moving them.Glossary → for 3-4 minutes until heated through.
~4 min
- 5
Push rice to one side of the pan. Crack the eggs into the empty space and scramble them. Once cooked, mix them into the rice.
~2 min
- 6
Add the cooked prawns back into the pan. Stir in soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well.
~2 min
- 7
Stir in most of the chopped spring onions. Serve hot, garnished with the remaining spring onions.
~1 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Prawns
- sliced fish, squid, or chicken; firm tofu for a veg version.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
- Spring onion
- thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish.
- Soy sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
- Sesame oil
- use sparingly — a tiny bit of tahini, or just skip it; it’s a finishing flavour.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Keep the white and green parts separate — whites go in early with the aromatics, greens at the end. How to chop spring onions →
- Rinse the rice until the water runs (mostly) clear for fluffier, less gummy grains. How to wash & cook rice →
- Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 15 min.
Storage & leftovers
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Frequently asked
How long does Prawn and Garlic Fried Rice take to make? +
About 25 min from start to finish, but only roughly 15 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: rice cooker, microwave. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Prawns → sliced fish, squid, or chicken; firm tofu for a veg version; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push; Spring onion → thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Prawn and Garlic Fried Rice ahead of time? +
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
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