Something Easy – Fried Rice

Caribbean cuisine like the people is influenced by African, Amerindian, Indian, Chinese, British, Spanish, French and Dutch cuisine. So I figured I would start with something simple. Fried rice! There are many variations of this dish. You can add chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, vegetable etc. I usually make mine with vegetables and serve it with a baked meat dish.

Ingredients

3 – 4 tablespoons canola/olive oil

2 cloves crushed garlic

1 small onion chopped

2 cups Mixed vegetables (I use frozen mixed vegetables from the grocery store – carrots, green beans, corn) but you can chop your own fresh vegetables if you choose (usually, carrots, green, yellow and red pepper, celery, peas, sweet corn, bora beans etc.)

3 cups rice – cooked (left over rice works perfectly)

2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon season salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat oil in large pan

Add garlic and chopped onion and sauté for 2 minutes

Add the vegetables to onion and garlic mixture and let cook for 2 minutes

Add season salt and pepper to taste

Add cooked rice and soy sauce to pan and stir fry mixture for 3 – 5 minutes

Taste rice for seasoning and add salt if necessary

Serve hot with your choice of beef, poultry or fish or on its own

A great complement to this dish is fried plantain (recipe to follow)

Vegetable Fried Rice (sorry for the poor picture quality)