Weeknight Recipe: Kimchi Fried Rice with Extra Greens Recipes From The Kitchn

I don't think I'll ever get tired of one-bowl meals. Give me a bowl, a spoon, and a comforting mix of grains, vegetables and protein, and I'm set. Kimchi fried rice satisfies all those requirements and even includes the underappreciated "pickle" food group but I always like to add a couple handfuls of shredded greens to the mix for a boost of color and nutrition. Funky, a little spicy, and studded with soft bits of scrambled egg and pops of bright kimchi, it's a quick one-bowl lunch or dinner I could eat anytime.

Kimchi fried rice makes the most of ingredients that don't look terribly promising on their own. Kimchi that is too old and funky to eat straight from the jar is perfectly tasty when cooked, and leftover rice is actually better than freshly-made when making fried rice, thanks to its drier, firmer texture. Add a few pantry staples, a couple eggs and the chopped green vegetable of your choice, and dinner is on the table in under 30 minutes.

Of course, the variations on kimchi fried rice are endless and deeply personal. Some people swear by the addition of bacon, others always fry their eggs and serve them on top of the rice; all of these are good. My personal version reflects my love of leafy green vegetables and ongoing quest to add them to whatever dish will have them. It's also not a terribly spicy rendition, so feel free to add more gochujang if you're craving a rice that brings on the heat.

And while a well-seasoned wok will make cooking easier, any heavy-bottomed skillet will work. The rice might stick a little, but resist the urge to use a nonstick pan, which can't handle the high heat of stir-frying. (A large, well-seasoned cast iron skillet is a better choice.)

Kimchi Fried Rice with Extra Greens

Makes 2 servings

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup kimchi, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon gochujang (or more, if you like it spicier)
2 cups cooked white or brown rice, preferably leftover
2 cups thinly sliced greens (baby bok choy, spinach, chard, etc.)
4 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
1-2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over high heat. Add the kimchi and gochujang and stir-fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until hot and fragrant. Add the rice and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, until hot. Add the greens, green onions and 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and stir-fry until greens are wilted. Taste and add more soy sauce or salt if needed.

Push the rice over to one side of the pan and pour in the egg. Scramble into soft curds and mix into the rice. Drizzle each serving with about 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil and serve immediately.

Variations:
Cook 1 or 2 pieces of bacon in the pan and use the bacon fat to fry the kimchi, crumbling the cooked bacon into the rice.
Instead of scrambling the egg, serve it poached or fried on top of the rice.
Add crumbled toasted nori and sesame seeds instead of the sesame oil.

Additional Notes
This fried rice is an excellent way to use kimchi that is past its prime.
You can use freshly-cooked rice, but the the finished dish will be a little mushier than if you use day-old rice.

Related: How to Make Fried Rice

(Images: Anjali Prasertong)

---

Korean Rice Bowl with Steak, Asparagus, and Fried Egg Recipe ... Read helpful reviews of the recipe for Korean Rice Bowl with Steak, Asparagus, and Fried Egg, submitted by Epicurious.com members Jamaican Vegetable Fried Rice Recipes ifood.tv Enjoy special collection of trusted jamaican vegetable fried rice recipes submitted, reviewed and rated by ifood.tv community. Meet people trying jamaican vegetable ... Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe : : Recipes : Food Network 1 hr 5 min; 1 ripe pineapple, for serving rice (optional); 4 cups cooked longgrain rice, such as jasmine, chilled; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 small onion, finely ... Fried Leftover Rice Recipes ifood.tv Enjoy special collection of trusted fried leftover rice recipes submitted, reviewed and rated by ifood.tv community. Meet people trying fried leftover rice recipes. Copy recipe restaurant News - rock chick - the shape to come http://ftp.rock-chick.biz/copy-recipe-restaurant/index.html All about Copy recipe restaurant. en-us 2007-11-17 Kimchi Fried Rice with Fried Egg Recipe : : Recipes : Food Network 40 min; 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion; 1 small garlic clove, finely minced; Coarse salt; 1/2 cup finely chopped very sour ... Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Taste of Home Recipes Chicken Fried Rice Recipe Chicken Fried Rice Recipe photo by Taste of Home. Read reviews (8) Rate recipe. Asian inspiration hits the table tonight, and it costs even ... Thai Spicy Basil Chicken Fried Rice Recipe - Allrecipes.com This is a staple of Thai cooking. Adjust the spices to your own tastes for a really great use for leftover rice!! I get the basil from a local Asian market. It has a ... Kimchi Jjigae Korean Kimchi Soup) Recipe - Food.com - 324429 What's a Cookbook? You can save and organize your favorite recipes into FREE online cookbooks. Create as many as you want! Kimchi Fried Rice - Fine Cooking Recipes, Techniques and Tips How to make Kimchi Fried Rice with 1 Tbs. canola oil

How To Freeze Cooked Brown Rice Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

Freezing cooked brown rice flat in freezer bags makes it easy to store and reheat.

Nutty, nourishing brown rice is a great addition to rice bowls and the perfect accompaniment to stir-fries, but its long cooking time makes it a tough sell for busy weeknight dinners. Packaged, precooked brown rice from the frozen section of the supermarket makes preparation quick and foolproof enough for last-minute meals but why pay extra when it is so simple to freeze your own portioned brown rice at home?

Freezing cooked brown rice flat in freezer bags makes it easy to store. This method also helps the rice reheat quickly straight from the freezer without thawing, which keeps it from becoming mushy. You can even use the frozen rice for fried rice; just add it to the pan frozen and it will quickly warm up.

This technique can be used with other types of rice or whole grains, and is especially useful with long-cooking grains like wheat berries and farro.

How To Freeze Cooked Brown Rice

What You Need

Ingredients
Cooked brown rice

Equipment
Rimmed sheet pan
Wooden spoon
Measuring cup (optional)
Quart-size freezer bags
Gallon-size freezer bag(s)

Instructions

1. Cool the Rice: Run the sheet pan under water and shake out the excess. (The moisture will keep the rice from sticking.) Scoop the rice onto the pan and spread out evenly. Let cool for 10 minutes, or until rice is no longer piping-hot.

2. Portion the Rice: If you want to keep a close eye on portion size, use a measuring cup to divide the rice into the desired serving size. To keep the rice from sticking, wet the cup by filling it with water and pouring it out. Fill the measuring up with rice and transfer to a quart-size freezer bag. Use your hands to spread and flatten the rice, so it forms an even layer in the bag, and seal shut, squeezing out as much air as possible. Repeat with the remaining rice, rewetting the cup if the rice starts to stick to it.

3. Freeze the Rice: Lay the filled freezer bags in flat stacks on a clean sheet pan and place in the freezer for 2 hours, or until the rice is frozen.

4. Pack for Easier Storage: Pack the frozen rice bags into one or more gallon-size freezer bags, labeled with the contents and date. Store in the freezer for up to three months.

5. Reheat the Rice: Transfer the frozen rice to a microwave-safe container, cover and heat in 1-minute increments on full power, until rice is hot. You do not need to thaw the rice before reheating.

Additional Notes:
Other Cooked Grains: This method can be used with other types of rice or other cooked whole grains.

Reuse the Bags: To save money and cut down on waste, wash and reuse the freezer bags after reheating the rice.

Want more smart tutorials for getting things done around the home?
See more How To posts
We're looking for great examples of your own household intelligence too!
Submit your own tutorials or ideas here!

Related: Quinoa, Brown Rice, & Beyond: 15 Ways to Eat Whole Grains at Every Meal

(Images: Anjali Prasertong)

---

Crockpot 102 - Slow Cooker Cooking Lessons - How to Use a Crockpot General Tips. Most crockpot recipes don't need to be stirred during cooking, especially if cooked on low heat. When you lift the lid, the crockpot loses so much heat ... Persian Food How to cook videos I have watched your cooking videos . I enjoy cooking a lot too . What you are doing is great . I wish you success and I hope you keep on showing more and more of ... How To Cook Perfect Rice Without A Rice Cooker (and store it for ... Though some people swear by rice cookers I have found them to be inconsistent and generally unreliable, especially when it comes to brown rice. My solution? Stove top. Cookus Interruptus - How to Cook Beans - Fresh Local Organic Whole ... Cookus Interruptus is a comedy cooking show dedicated to educating viewers about how to prepare high-quality fresh local organic whole foods within the context of ... How To Make Cinnamon Rolls How To Cook Like Your Grandmother I won't lie to you, doing these will take a little practice. If you've never rolled dough out into a rectangle before, it probably won't be really even. The Cook Pasta - How To Information eHow.com Don't just sit there scratching your head, find useful info on Cook Pasta on eHow. Get essential tips and learn more about everything from How to Cook Tomatoes to Add ... Recipes - How To Information eHow.com There's certainly no shortage of ways to cook this ultimate breakfast staple and they're all listed here. Boil 'em, scramble 'em, you name it. How to Use a Freezer - Freezing Tips and Information at Busy Cooks Freezing tips and information in the Basics of Cooking Lesson Series. How to Cook Tofu Like the Pros: Dry-fry and Marinate Method If you are a vegetarian, you know it well--tofu disaster, slimy tofu dishes where the tofu has disintegrated into a flavorless mush. How do restaurants do it? My ... How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn ... How to cook fluffy, tasty quinoa. You can use any kind of quinoa (white - also sold as golden - red, or black). Use water to cook it or, as I do here, chicken broth.