This Schezwan Fried Rice is an easy and flavorful Asian-style recipe. With minimal ingredients, enjoy Asian takeouts effortlessly in the comfort of your home with the crisp veggies and the spicy store-bought sauce.
This spicy Schezwan fried rice is one of our family's favorite dishes, reminding us of sizzling woks in Chinese restaurants.
Whenever my family asks for a Chinese-themed dinner, I can first think of spicy fried rice and this Hibachi Soup.
This recipe is easy and quick to make and does not require long-listed ingredients. All you need is store-bought Schezwan sauce. Simply saute garlic and vegetables and add rice and sauce. Mix and serve(with Spicy Edamame or this Mushroom Pepper Fry). And how easy is this right?
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️It's a comfort food with a spicy twist.
⭐️It is budget-friendly and restaurant-quality at home.
⭐️It is quick and easy to make without much effort.
Ingredients
- Garlic: I highly recommend using freshly minced garlic for rich, classic Szechuan-flavored fried rice.
- Veggies: For today's recipe, I used the popular Chinese takeout combination of cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms. Choose your favorite vegetables. You can also opt for frozen mixed veggies to cut down half of the prepping time.
- Sauce: I used store-bought Szechuan sauce for convenience since I wanted to make this Szechuan fried rice recipe most suitable for busy weeknight dinners.
- Cooked rice: I used long-grain rice for this dish. Feel free to use brown, jasmine, or sushi rice. Chill the cooked rice in the refrigerator for best results.
- Green Onions: Optional; you can add or skip them depending on availability.
How To Make Schezwan Fried Rice
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan and add minced garlic, cabbage, carrots, and mushrooms.
- Flash-fry on high heat, stirring continuously for a couple of minutes until the vegetables slightly change color. Add Schezwan sauce and cooked rice. Stir gently until everything is well combined, and serve.
♨️How To Adjust The Heat Level
Schezwan sauce is the key ingredient that brings heat to this recipe.
If you prefer milder heat, reduce the Schezwan sauce and adjust the seasoning with soy sauce to balance the flavors.
For extra spice, increase the Schezwan sauce and stir in red pepper flakes to enhance the heat.
The Leftovers
Store leftover Schezwan fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.
To thaw frozen fried rice, place it in the refrigerator overnight or quickly defrost it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
For reheating, gently microwave(my preferred method) the Schezuan rice in short intervals of 30 seconds, covering it with a lid or damp paper towel(to prevent the dish from drying out) by stirring in between for even heating.
Alternatively, sprinkle some water, add vegetables, and toss it in a hot pan for a fresh, flavorful touch.
Pro Tips For Best Results
For the best textures, chill the rice in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before using it(I usually prefer using leftover refrigerated rice from the previous day's cooking). When stir-fried, chilled rice holds its shape better and gives a slightly crispy, crunchy texture.
For the vegetables, cook them on high heat until they are 70-80% cooked. That way, the veggies are crisp and have a slight bite.
FAQ
Szechuan is a province in southwestern China, and its cuisine is known for its spicy, bold, flavorful food. This Szechuan fried rice is a hot and spicy main dish made with the influence of Szechuan cuisine(thanks to the store-bought sauce).
I chose long-grain rice—it's convenient and can hold its shape after frying it with vegetables. You can also opt for any rice that allows flavors to meld, like jasmine, brown, or basmati rice.
Yes, you can add proteins like chicken, tofu, shrimp, beef, or pork to this Szechuan fried rice. Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces, cook it separately, and toss it into the dish along with the veggies.
More Asian-Style Recipes To Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.
📖 Recipe
Schezwan Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoon garlic minced
- ¼ cup cabbage julienne cut/ thinly sliced
- ¼ cup carrot julienne-cut/ thinly sliced
- ¼ cup mushroom julienne-cut/ thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoon Szechuan sauce or as required
- 2 cups rice cooked/preferrably chilled
- ¼ cup scallion thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a pan add vegetable oil, followed by a 2 tablespoon of minced garlic.
- Add all the thinly sliced cabbage, carrot, and mushroom.
- Flash fry them in high heat, by stirring it continuously.
- Saute for a couple of minutes or until the vegetables slightly changes its color.
- Add szechuan sauce and cooked rice.
- Stir them gently until the sauce, vegetables, and rice combine well with each other.
- And Enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the heat level by increasing or reducing the Schezwan sauce. For extra spice, add red pepper flakes. You can also add proteins like chicken, tofu, or shrimp for variety.
- Use chilled, leftover rice for the best results. When stir-fried, it holds its shape better and gives a crispy, crunchy texture. Cook vegetables on high heat until 70-80% done for a crisp bite.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Microwave in 30-second intervals with a damp paper towel to prevent drying. Or sprinkle some water, toss with veggies, and stir-fry on high heat for a fresh taste.
Anjali says
This tasted just like my favorite Chinese restaurant's fried rice! It was super flavorful and a great side dish for our dinner tonight.
Gianne says
The combination of spicy Schezwan sauce with the flavorful rice and veggies was perfect. It's definitely going to be a regular dish in my rotation. So delicious!
Hetaher says
So delicious and comes together in a snap! This was a hit at our dinner table, thank you!