XO fried rice recipe by Kylie Kwong (2024)

"Everyone loves fried rice. Growing up, we'd have it twice a week, and even devoured it cold," says Kylie Kwong. "XO sauce takes it to another level."

Jul 26, 2017 2:00pm

By Kylie Kwong

  • 25 mins preparation
  • 35 mins cooking plus soaking
  • Serves 4
  • XO fried rice recipe by Kylie Kwong (1)

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"Everyone loves fried rice. Growing up, we'd have it twice a week, and even devoured it cold," says Kylie Kwong. "XO sauce takes it to another level, and although making it is an involved process, it's well worth the effort. It's a versatile fridge stand-by, too - try it on fried or poached eggs or tossed through stir-fried noodles. I think of it like having money in the bank. My advice is to bring it to room temperature before using it as a condiment to best appreciate its complex flavour. Begin this recipe a day ahead to soak the prawns and scallops for the XO sauce."

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp malt vinegar
  • ½ tsp white sugar
  • ½ tsp sesame oil
  • 45 ml peanut oil
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 small Spanish onion, finely chopped
  • 25 gm ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 750 gm steamed rice (4 cups)
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 160 gm bean sprouts (2 cups)

XO sauce

  • 25 gm dried prawns (see note)
  • 40 gm dried scallops (see note)
  • 120 ml Shaoxing wine
  • 5 long red chillies, coarsely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large red shallot, coarsely chopped
  • 180 ml peanut oil (¾ cup)
  • 2 small dried red chillies
  • 25 gm smoked bacon, rind removed, fat left on, finely diced
  • 1½ tsp light soy sauce
  • ½ tsp brown sugar

Method

Main

  • 1

    For XO sauce, soak prawns and scallops in separate bowls overnight in 60ml (¼ cup) Shaoxing each. Drain, reserving liquid, and blitz prawns and scallops in a food processor. Process red chillies, garlic and shallot in a food processor until finely chopped. Heat oil in a wok until shimmering, then add dried chillies and fry, turning halfway, until blistered and slightly
    blackened (1 minute). Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Reduce heat to medium, add bacon and the shallot mixture and fry gently, stirring often, to cook out the flavours (2-3 minutes). Add prawn and scallop mixture and fry, stirring frequently to prevent sauce catching on the base, until oil begins to separate out (4-5 minutes). Add reserved soaking liquid, stir gently for 2-3 minutes to cook out the alcohol, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce darkens (10-12 minutes). Add soy sauce, sugar and dried chillies and cook, stirring occasionally, until well combined (1-2 minutes). Transfer to a sterilised jar, cool and refrigerate until required. Makes about 350ml. XO sauce will keep for a month – the flavours will intensify over time.

  • 2

    Combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, 60gm XO sauce and 1 tsp sea salt flakes in a bowl.

  • 3

    Heat 2 tbsp peanut oil in a hot wok until surface shimmers, then add egg and cook without stirring until beginning to set. Fold egg onto itself and cook for 30 seconds, then repeat folding until almost set. Drain on paper towels.

  • 4

    Add remaining oil to wok, then add onion and ginger and stir-fry until softened (30 seconds to 1 minute). Add Shaoxing and cook for 30 seconds, then add XO sauce mixture and stir-fry for a minute. Add rice and stir to evenly coat grains in sauce, then cook without stirring until a light golden crust forms on the base (2-3 minutes). Add spring onion and reserved omelette and stir-fry for a minute, breaking up mixture. Remove from heat, quickly toss in bean sprouts and serve.

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XO fried rice recipe by Kylie Kwong (2024)

FAQs

What gives Chinese fried rice its Flavour? ›

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.

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

Thai fried rice is made with Thai jasmine rice, while Chinese fried rice is made with regular long grain white rice, or a blend of white rice. The other difference is that Thai fried rice is often seasoned with fish sauce, oyster sauce, and/or soy sauce. Chinese fried rice are not seasoned with fish sauce.

What makes Chinese fried rice Brown? ›

5) Use high heat: This will help fry and brown the rice and veggies well, and will also help prevent the rice from steaming in the pan instead of frying.

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

The mirin will not only deglaze the pan, picking up the savory bits left by the chicken, but it will also impart a gentle, sweet undertone to the pan-fried vegetables. Of course, you can always add mirin directly to the rice as you're frying the rice. This would be akin to adding salt, soy sauce, or MSG.

What oil do restaurants use for fried rice? ›

Sesame oil.

I do not recommend omitting or substituting the sesame oil in this recipe. It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish.

Why does Thai fried rice taste so good? ›

Thai Fried Rice gets its unique flavor from the fish sauce, soy sauce, and chili peppers, and the jasmine rice is a must. They also added tomatoes to their rice which gives it a subtle hint of sweetness.

What is the difference between fried rice and Yung Chow fried rice? ›

The difference between Yangzhou fried rice and ordinary fried rice is that Yangzhou style invariably includes a combination of proteins. Rather than using a single protein like shrimp or pork or chicken as the dominant ingredient in fried rice, Yangzhou uses a variety.

Do Chinese restaurants put MSG in fried rice? ›

Some restaurants add MSG to a number of popular dishes, including fried rice.

What is fried rice syndrome? ›

Fried rice syndrome is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which is present in these types of starchy foods prior to cooking. Bacillus cereus is a heat-resistant bacteria, so even recooking foods that have not been appropriately refrigerated can result in food poisoning.

Do Chinese people put soy sauce in fried rice? ›

The traditional Chinese soy sauce fried rice uses a variety between light soy sauce and dark soy sauce. But it is quite hard to find outside China. We need to combine light soy sauce and dark soy sauce to achieve both taste and color goals.

What's the best soy sauce for fried rice? ›

Dark Soy Sauce

When cooking fried rice, you'll want to use a darker soy sauce for sweeter caramel notes and to add that beautiful bronzed colour to your dish. A simple Chinese dark soy sauce will suffice.

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 spice gives Chinese food its flavor? ›

Ginger: Ginger is a root that offers many Chinese cuisines a hot, spicy flavour. It is frequently used to season marinades, stir-fries, and soups. Ginger is also thought to aid in digestion and reduce motion sickness.

Why does Chinese food rice taste so good? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

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.

References

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