Okra Fried Rice

I made this last week and it was so good that I am definitely making it as a side dish for one of the holiday meals.

The best fried rice is always the fried rice that you throw together when you are desperately hungry and want something that cooks up quickly. Having leftover cooked rice is always a big save. That is how this fried rice came about. For protein, I added in a couple of eggs but this is definitely doable without the eggs.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons oil

• 

  1 ½ cups thinly sliced okra

• 1 tablespoon finely minced ginger
• 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
• Minced hot pepper to taste
• 3 cups leftover cooked rice
• Dark soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• Thinly sliced green onions/scallions

DIRECTIONS

1. Add the oil to a pan and heat until smoking hot. Toss in the okra and let fry for at least 2 minutes before tossing to cook for an additional minute. Remove from pan and set aside.
2. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan on medium heat. Cook ginger, garlic and hot pepper until fragrant.
3. Add rice and toss to mix with the ginger-garlic-pepper. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes until heated through.
4. Add soy sauce, toss to mix; taste the rice and if salt is needed, add, along with black pepper.
5. Drizzle in sesame oil and okra. Toss to mix and let cook for 2 minutes before tossing again; serve as is or garnished with green onions/scallions.

NOTE

• To add eggs to this dish – whisk 2 eggs and lightly season; cook scrambled on gentle heat. Set aside and then add to dish at direction # 5.