Description
This Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice recipe is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. It combines seasoned shrimp, fragrant aromatics, and leftover brown rice, all stir-fried together with eggs, soy sauce, and spicy seasonings for a balanced, spicy, and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Seasoning
- 1 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Fresh black pepper (to taste)
Aromatics and Rice
- ½ medium onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (diced)
- 5 medium scallions (chopped, whites and greens separated)
- 3 cups leftover cooked brown rice
Eggs
- 2 large egg whites (beaten)
- 1 large whole egg (beaten)
Oils and Sauces
- Oil spray (for cooking eggs)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
- 4 teaspoons soy sauce (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Asian fish sauce (or more soy sauce as substitute)
Instructions
- Season Shrimp: In a bowl, toss the peeled and deveined shrimp with chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly coated.
- Cook Eggs: Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat and spray lightly with oil. Pour in the beaten egg whites and cook, stirring, until just set. Remove from the pan. Repeat the process with the whole beaten egg. Set both cooked eggs aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Increase the heat to high and add sesame oil to the wok. Sauté the chopped onions, scallion whites, diced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the seasoned shrimp to the wok and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink and opaque, indicating they are fully cooked.
- Add Rice: Stir in the leftover cooked brown rice, spreading it out to allow the bottom to brown slightly for 2 to 3 minutes. Then mix in the cooked eggs, soy sauce, and Asian fish sauce. Stir everything together well and cook for an additional 2 minutes to combine flavors.
- Serve: Finally, stir in the chopped scallion greens and remove the wok from heat. Serve the spicy shrimp fried rice immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use leftover rice that is slightly dry for the best texture; fresh rice can make the dish mushy.
- Adjust cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- Fish sauce adds umami depth but can be substituted with extra soy sauce for a milder flavor.
- Cooking eggs separately ensures they are evenly cooked and don’t overcook in the final stir-fry.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
