Chinese Ham and Egg Fried Rice
Stir-fried rice with diced ham, scrambled eggs, peas, and scallions. Rinsed medium-grain rice is coated in peanut oil and tossed with soft-cooked eggs, creating separate, fluffy grains. Quick and satisfying, this one-pan meal comes together in minutes once rice is prepared.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups cold cooked medium or short grain rice
- 4 ounces honey or maple ham, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 5 ounces honey or maple ham, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- ½ cup frozen peas, defrostedcorn1:1
similar texture and sweetness
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3 tablespoons peanut oil
- 4 tablespoons peanut oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 scallions, sliced crosswise, 1 cup
Instructions
- 1
Rinse raw rice in fine mesh colander under cold water, swishing to release starches, until water runs mostly clear
- 2
Cook rice according to package directions and cool before using
- 3
Heat wok or heavy skillet over high heat until hot
- 4
Add peanut oil and tilt to coat pan
- 5
Pour in beaten eggs, let cook briefly, then push to side and tilt pan to cook uncooked egg, cooking until soft-cooked
- 6
Transfer eggs to dish and set aside
- 7
Add additional peanut oil to skillet
- 8
When hot, add cold rice and stir-fry, stirring to coat and separate grains until hot
- 9
Add salt, ham, and defrosted peas and toss for about 30 seconds
- 10
Return eggs to skillet and break apart with spatula
- 11
Add scallions and toss until eggs are hot
Tips
Rinsing rice before cooking removes excess starch and ensures separate, fluffy grains when stir-fried
Cold cooked rice works best; warm rice can clump during stir-frying
High heat throughout prevents rice from steaming and keeps texture light
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat in wok or skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until hot, about 2-3 minutes.
Cook and cool rice up to 1 day ahead. Dice ham and slice scallions ahead. Assemble and fry just before serving for best texture.
Serve immediately in bowls while hot. Pairs with soy sauce or hot sauce on the side.
Common Mistakes
Skip rinsing rice to avoid clumpy, starchy texture in finished dish
Use warm rice to avoid steaming instead of stir-frying
Overwork eggs to avoid dry, rubbery texture in final dish
Cook over low or medium heat to avoid dry, separated rice
Substitutions
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
similar flavor profile
diced to same size