Japanese Chicken Fried Rice

Sure thing! I'd be happy to help you learn about Japanese chicken fried rice, AKA "chicken yakimeshi" (pronounced: "chick-en yah-key-may-shee").

First things first: don't be fooled by the name! Although it's called "Japanese" chicken fried rice, this dish is actually a staple of Chinese-American cuisine. It's a popular menu item at Chinese-American restaurants across the United States, and it's often included as a side dish or a main course at Japanese-American restaurants as well.

At its core, chicken fried rice is a simple dish made with cooked rice, scrambled eggs, and sautéed vegetables. In the case of chicken fried rice, diced chicken breast is added to the mix for an extra hit of protein.

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients you'll typically find in chicken fried rice:

To make chicken fried rice at home, start by cooking the rice according to the package instructions. Once the rice is cooked, spread it out on a baking sheet and refrigerate it for at least an hour (or up to overnight) to chill and dry it out.

When you're ready to make the dish, heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the diced chicken breast and cook until it's browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan, then add the diced onions and carrots. Cook until the vegetables are softened and starting to caramelize. Add the peas and cook for another minute or two, until they're warmed through.

Push the vegetables to one side of the pan, then add the beaten eggs to the other side. Scramble the eggs until they're just barely set, then mix them in with the vegetables.

Add the chilled rice to the pan, breaking up any clumps with a spatula. Stir-fry the rice with the vegetables and eggs for a few minutes, until the rice is warmed through and starting to crisp up.

Add the cooked chicken back to the pan, then pour the sauce over the top. Stir-fry everything together for another minute or two, until the sauce has been absorbed and the dish is heated through.

Serve the chicken fried rice hot, garnished with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy!