This fried rice recipe and I go WAYYY back. This was one of my first recipes on Live Healthy with Lexi, and I was making it long before that. It’s a family favorite, super easy to make, and a healthy meal too.
so, what are coconut aminos?
This is my most commonly asked question on my blog. What are coconut aminos? Well, coconut aminos are a soy-free alternative to soy sauce. They have about 75% less sodium than regular soy sauce. They are made with the fermented sap of coconut palm, but they do not taste like coconuts.
Truthfully, they taste very similar to soy sauce, but they’re gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free. As well paleo and whole 30 compliant. Coconut aminos are one of my favorite things to cook with to give a delicious, Asian-inspired teriyaki taste flavor with clean ingredients.
For more recipes using coconut aminos, click here.
where can I buy coconut aminos?
You should be able to buy coconut aminos at most grocery stores. Oftentimes they are tucked away in a specified ‘health food’ section, or they may be with international items like soy sauce. In my hometown in Central Illinois, I’ve found them at stores like County Market, Harvest Market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes. And of course, Amazon!
There are also many products called “Liquid Aminos” that will work in replace of coconut aminos as well, but they are not made with just coconut. They do contain some soy, and have slightly higher sodium content but are still a good alternative to soy sauce.
options for making fried rice:
Cauliflower Rice: Depending on who I make this for, I go back and forth between using regular white rice and cauliflower rice. Both are delicious, and I promise you don’t even get a hint of cauliflower taste with the cauliflower rice in this recipe.
Chicken: Another great option is to leave out the chicken, and serve with as a side along with another dish like orange chicken or broccoli & beef! Or leave out the chicken for a vegetarian option.
tips for adding chicken to fried rice:
I think the easiest way to make this is by using a rotisserie chicken, but you can also use any chicken you have at home.
Tip #1: When taking a rotisserie chicken off the bone, it’s much easier when the chicken is still warm. When you purchase it hot from the store, take it off the bone right when you get home as it’s still warm. Once it sits in the fridge and gets cold, it’s much harder to take the chicken off the bone, meaning you often get less meat from it.
Tip #2: Re-purpose your leftover chicken. There has been many times where I have leftover plain grilled chicken that I don’t know what to do with. Chop it up and add it to your fried rice! Easy and no waste!
Tip #3: When making shredded chicken in the crockpot, use mixing beaters to shred the chicken instead of two forks. It’s so quick and much easier.
easy fried rice
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 cup dry white rice (can substitute cauliflower rice)
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken
- 2-3 eggs
- 1 small bag frozen peas and carrots
- 1/2 cup coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- For Rice: I like to cook my white rice ahead of time for easy assembly. You can use a rice cooker, boil it on the stove to package instructions, or even buy pre-cooked rice.
- Start by adding toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and frozen vegetables to a skillet on medium-high heat. Cook until the frozen peas & carrots have de-thawed.
- Next, add in the eggs and scramble in with the mixed vegetables. Lower the heat if needed to ensure that the eggs do not burn.
- Add in the chicken of your choice along with the rice. Give the ingredients a good mix.
- Once everything is well incorporated, add in the coconut aminos and ground ginger. Let the rice sit on the stove for 5 minutes or so, stirring frequently so it only gets slightly crispy.
- Top with green onions, crushed peanuts, red cabbage, or sriracha! Enjoy 🙂
For Cauliflower Rice
- For cauliflower rice instructions, follow the same instructions, but add the frozen riced cauliflower in with the frozen peas & carrots with the first step.