Beef Fried Rice
Inspired by New York Times Cooking, made for your kitchen! This weeknight favorite has savory ground beef, crisp veggies, and fluffy rice. Everything comes together in one pan for a fast, satisfying meal.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Special equipment: Large pan or wok
Ingredients
4 tablespoons neutral oil, plus more if needed
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
12 ounces skirt or sirloin beef, sliced ¼-inch-thick then cut into bite-size pieces (about 1 inch)
Salt and pepper
½ cup finely chopped yellow onion
½ cup finely chopped carrot
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
4 cups day-old cooked rice (preferably jasmine)
3 large eggs, beaten
½ cup frozen peas
¼ cup sliced scallions, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Directions
In a medium bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the oil, 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce and the cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Add beef, season with salt and pepper, and toss to evenly coat. Let stand for 15 minutes, or even 30 minutes if time allows.
In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high. Add half of the beef and cook, stirring occasionally, just until browned, about 2 minutes. Using tongs, transfer beef to a plate and repeat with the remaining beef. You should have at least 2 tablespoons of fat remaining in the skillet (amount will vary depending on the beef); if necessary, add more oil to reach 2 tablespoons.
Add onion and carrot to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds.
Add rice, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until well incorporated and warmed through, 2 minutes.
Push the rice to one side of the skillet and add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the empty side. Add eggs and stir until scrambled, then mix the eggs into the rice mixture. Add beef (and any accumulated juices), peas, scallions, sesame oil and the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and cook, stirring until mixture is well blended, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide fried rice among bowls and top with more scallions. Serve warm.
