Panda Specific Fried Rice – CopyKat Recipes

January 18, 2024

2

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

Whichever manner 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.

This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What makes Panda Specific 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 may obtain a dish that matches your favourite quick meals indulgence – the fried rice served at Panda Specific.

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

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

Since this do-it-yourself model solely makes use of components obtainable at any grocery store, you may make this dish anytime.

Why that is the copycat Panda Specific Fried Rice recipe it’s best to attempt

In case you are in search of a lighter fried rice dish, that is the recipe it’s best to attempt.

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

Panda Specific fried rice components

To make the fried rice Panda Specific 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 might seem to be a waste, however it’s a vital flavoring for this dish that you’ll miss should you depart it out.

Panda Express fried rice ingredients on a tray.

The way to make Panda Specific 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. Fastidiously 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 cut 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 forestall 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 gained’t overcrowd the pan.
Add vegetable oil to the pan.
In a bowl, whisk the eggs till they’re frothy.
Frivolously 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 along with your fingers.
Shake the pan and stir vigorously for about two minutes.
Add the scrambled eggs, the inexperienced onions, and additional 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 house

Be sure to put together every little thing earlier than you begin cooking. This explicit dish will 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 keep organized and keep away from any pointless panic.
Be sure the pan is giant sufficient, and it has sufficient oil. Don’t neglect, you’re frying, in any case! With out sufficient warmth or oil, you gained’t get the proper textures or flavors, and the meals would possibly stick.
Guarantee any further 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 might be overdone.

Recipe variations

You possibly can add virtually any protein to this dish to make it a major dish. Rooster, beef, shrimp, and tofu are all glorious additions. Simply remember to minimize the protein into bite-sized items and pre-cook it.

It’s also possible to substitute or add to the veggies. Corn, inexperienced beans, zucchini, broccoli, and bell pepper are common ones.

The way to serve fried rice

Panda Specific Fried Rice is finest served sizzling as a facet 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

Attempt serving this Panda Specific recipe with different Asian dishes, like:

The way to retailer fried rice

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

Let any leftover Panda Specific Fried Rice cool, put it in an hermetic container, after which place it straight 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 hold fried rice within the fridge for as much as three days and within the freezer for as much as three months.

The way to reheat fried rice

The easiest way 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 should 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 entails sauteing rice over excessive warmth. In addition to the rice, the components for every fried rice dish differ however generally embody 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 may exchange white rice with extra nutritious brown rice, you may’t considerably cut back the oil you utilize.

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

Chinese language medium-grain rice or Jasmine rice are two of the most effective sorts of rice to make use of on this recipe.

The way to dry out rice for fried rice?

When you 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 may forestall 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 Specific rice components to steam as a substitute of sauteing.
Rinse the dry rice till the runoff water is evident earlier than cooking. Doing it will assist get rid of extra floor starch that may make your fried rice mushy.

What to do with leftover fried rice?

Listed below are two distinctive methods you should use up any further 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 an effective 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—kind half-inch thick pancakes along with your palms. 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 facet dish.

closeup of homemade Panda Express fried rice.

Extra Panda Specific copycat recipes

Favourite Chinese language recipes

Try extra of my simple Chinese language recipes and the most effective quick meals recipes right here on CopyKat!