Panda Categorical Fried Rice – CopyKat Recipes

18 de January de 2024

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Bask in a mouthwatering Chinese language aspect dish by making ready Panda Categorical Fried Rice from scratch in your kitchen. This delectable rice dish is vegetarian-friendly and customizable if you wish to embrace meat.

Whichever approach you modify it, it’s positive to please your palate. Impress your family members with culinary experience utilizing this copycat recipe from the well-known fast-food restaurant chain.

overhead view of homemade copycat Panda Express fried rice.

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What makes Panda Categorical Fried Rice distinctive?

There’s nothing fairly just like the consolation of a steaming bowl of fried rice with tender greens and a satisfying taste. With this recipe, you’ll be able to obtain a dish that matches your favourite quick meals indulgence – the fried rice served at Panda Categorical.

You would possibly surprise, “What’s in Panda Categorical Fried Rice that makes it so scrumptious?”

The Panda Categorical rice is distinguished by utilizing sesame oil, blended greens, and fluffy eggs, making a signature dish. It’s a nice aspect dish that may elevate any Asian-inspired meal to new heights, and the method of creating it’s each fast and fulfilling.

Since this home made model solely makes use of components accessible at any grocery store, you can also make this dish anytime.

Why that is the copycat Panda Categorical Fried Rice recipe it is best to attempt

In case you are searching for a lighter fried rice dish, that is the recipe it is best to attempt.

You received’t discover soy sauce on this recipe. Utilizing a combination of water and vegetable broth, you can also make fried rice Panda Categorical type that’s tremendous flavorful with out including a ton of additional seasonings or sodium.

Panda Categorical fried rice components

To make the fried rice Panda Categorical serves, you’ll want:

Lengthy Grain Rice – leftover rice is finest
Water
Vegetable Broth
Salt
Eggs
Frozen Peas and Carrots
Inexperienced Onions
Vegetable Oil
Sesame Oil

The precise portions are within the printable recipe card beneath.

Don’t skip the sesame oil. Shopping for a complete bottle of toasted sesame oil for half a teaspoon could appear to be a waste, however it’s a vital flavoring for this dish that you’ll miss in case you go away it out.

Panda Express fried rice ingredients on a tray.

Methods to make Panda Categorical Fried Rice with egg

To cook dinner the rice:

Measure the rice right into a medium stockpot.
Cowl the rice with chilly water and swirl the pot round a number of occasions. Rigorously pour off the water. Repeat till the water is evident.
Add the water and vegetable broth to the washed rice and stir within the salt.

Warmth over excessive till the water begins to boil. Instantly scale back the warmth to low and canopy the pot.
Cook dinner the rice on low for 20 minutes. Take away the pot from the warmth and let it sit lined for an additional 10 minutes.
Uncover and use a fork to fluff up the rice. This step will let the steam escape and stop the rice from dropping its form.
Unfold the rice thinly on a baking sheet and let it cool to room temperature.
Switch to a bowl and canopy with a tea towel—place within the fridge for 4 to eight hours.

To make the fried rice:

Preheat a big pan or giant wok. The wok’s measurement and form make stir-frying simpler however pointless. Simply guarantee your skillet is giant sufficient so that you received’t overcrowd the pan.
Add vegetable oil to the pan.
In a bowl, whisk the eggs till they’re frothy.
Calmly scramble the eggs within the sizzling oil, take away the cooked eggs, and put them on paper towels to empty.

scrambled eggs for fried rice in a skillet.

Look forward to the pan to return to temperature, then add the frozen greens. Stir for 30 or 40 seconds to thaw, then add the rice, breaking up clumps together with your fingers.
Shake the pan and stir vigorously for about two minutes.
Add the scrambled eggs, the inexperienced onions, and further pre-cooked protein to the rice combination within the pan.
Proceed stirring till the eggs are warmed by, and serve instantly.

homemade Panda Express fried rice and chopsticks on a plate.

Ideas for making fried rice at residence

Make certain to put together the whole lot earlier than you begin cooking. This explicit dish might be made shortly, so it’s a good suggestion to cut the inexperienced onions, calmly beat the eggs, and measure the veggies earlier than you begin cooking. Doing so will assist you to keep organized and keep away from any pointless panic.
Make certain the pan is giant sufficient, and it has sufficient oil. Don’t overlook, you might be frying, in spite of everything! With out sufficient warmth or oil, you received’t get the precise textures or flavors, and the meals would possibly stick.
Guarantee any additional greens you add are the identical measurement because the peas and carrots. In any other case, you’ll find yourself with some undercooked veggies and a few which can be overdone.

Recipe variations

You possibly can add virtually any protein to this dish to make it a essential dish. Hen, beef, shrimp, and tofu are all glorious additions. Simply you’ll want to minimize the protein into bite-sized items and pre-cook it.

You too can substitute or add to the veggies. Corn, inexperienced beans, zucchini, broccoli, and bell pepper are fashionable ones.

Methods to serve fried rice

Panda Categorical Fried Rice is finest served sizzling as a aspect dish. You possibly can garnish it with thinly sliced inexperienced onions if desired. Serve it with some common or low-sodium soy sauce for seasoning it on the desk.

What to serve fried rice with

Strive serving this Panda Categorical recipe with different Asian dishes, like:

Methods to retailer fried rice

You possibly can retailer fried rice leftovers within the fridge or freezer.

Let any leftover Panda Categorical Fried Rice cool, put it in an hermetic container, after which place it instantly into the fridge.

You possibly can freeze it for longer storage. Unfold the rice onto a baking sheet in a skinny layer and freeze for an hour or two. As soon as frozen, place the rice right into a freezer bag and retailer it within the freezer.

How lengthy does fried rice final?

You possibly can maintain fried rice within the fridge for as much as three days and within the freezer for as much as three months.

Methods to reheat fried rice

One of the simplest ways to reheat frozen or thawed fried rice is in a pan over medium-high warmth. Add some vegetable oil and cook dinner till sizzling.

In case you are in a rush, you need to use the microwave. Put the rice in a microwave-safe bowl and sprinkle some water on the fried rice. Cowl it and microwave it on HIGH for 2 minutes. Stir the fried rice, return it to the microwave, and cook dinner for an additional minute or two till sizzling.

copycat Panda Express fried rice on a plate.

Continuously requested questions on fried rice

What’s fried rice?

Fried rice is an Asian dish that includes sauteing rice over excessive warmth. In addition to the rice, the components for every fried rice dish differ however generally embrace greens, meat, fish, and eggs.

Is fried rice wholesome?

Consuming fried rice every day is unhealthy due to the white rice and oil. Though you’ll be able to substitute white rice with extra nutritious brown rice, you’ll be able to’t considerably scale back the oil you employ.

What’s the finest rice to make use of for fried rice?

Chinese language medium-grain rice or Jasmine rice are two of the perfect kinds of rice to make use of on this recipe.

Methods to dry out rice for fried rice?

If you happen to didn’t put together rice forward of time, attempt quick-drying the rice earlier than cooking:

Unfold a skinny layer of cooked rice onto two or three baking sheets.
Put the trays uncovered within the freezer for 20 minutes.

Why is my fried rice mushy?

Mushy fried rice is a typical downside. Fortunately, there are a number of methods you’ll be able to stop it.

At all times use chilly rice. Letting the rice chill within the fridge for 4 to eight hours is good. Cowl the rice with a tea towel so it doesn’t dry out totally.
Don’t overcrowd your pan and cook dinner over excessive warmth. An excessive amount of meals can decrease the temperature and trigger the Panda Categorical rice components to steam as a substitute of sauteing.
Rinse the dry rice till the runoff water is evident earlier than cooking. Doing this may assist remove extra floor starch that may make your fried rice mushy.

What to do with leftover fried rice?

Listed here are two distinctive methods you need to use up any additional fried rice.

Use as a filling for an omelet. A number of spoons of chilly fried rice, a contemporary slice of inexperienced onions, and slightly chili sauce inside an omelet is a good way to begin the day.
Make a crispy rice pancake with fried rice, flour, and eggs. Combine one tablespoon of flour and one egg in a giant bowl for every cup of fried rice. Add the chilly fried rice to the combination and stir—type half-inch thick pancakes together with your arms. Cook dinner the rice pancakes over medium warmth till crispy on the underside, flipping midway by cooking. Eat them on their very own or serve them as a aspect dish.

closeup of homemade Panda Express fried rice.

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