Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe

We’ve all had those days when we crave something quick and satisfyingly delicious and Chinese shrimp fried rice always comes to mind. It’s one of those fool-proof recipes that never fails to impress, whether that’s for yourself, your family, or friends. With the combination of succulent shrimp, lightly seasoned rice, a medley of vegetables, and the signature Chinese flavors of soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and sesame oil, it’s guaranteed to hit the spot every time! Best of all, everything comes together in just 30 minutes!

Why you’ll love this recipe

This Chinese shrimp fried rice isn’t just delicious, it’s versatile and easily customizable based on what you have available. Whether you want to swap the shrimp for chicken or toss extra vegetables into the mix, the possibilities are truly endless. It’s also a great way to easily transform your leftover rice into something delicious and magical. Next time you’re craving shrimp fried rice, save some money and make it at home – and even better! I’m pretty confident you’ll never order shrimp fried rice ever again hehe.

How to prepare Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice

To get started on this easy and delicious 30-minute Chinese shrimp fried rice recipe, just follow the steps below!

Step 1: Marinate the shrimp

In a small mixing bowl, combine shrimp, salt, white pepper, and sesame oil. Toss to mix well then set aside for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the sauce

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and white pepper. Mix well then set aside.

Step 3: Scramble the eggs

In a large pan or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Pour in the whisked eggs and immediately scramble. When the eggs are about 80% done, remove from the pan/wok and set aside.

Step 4: Cook the shrimp

In the same pan or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the shrimp and cook each side for 1 minute. Remove then set aside.

Step 5: Stir-fry the aromatics

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and carrots and cook for about 1 minute. Toss in the garlic then stir fry for another minute.

Step 6: Add the rice & sauce

Add the rice. Using a spatula, break up the rice then mix everything together well. Pour the sauce over the rice then immediately stir to coat the rice evenly.

Step 7: Assemble the fried rice

Toss in the scallions, shrimp, and egg and mix well. Serve and enjoy!

Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice Ingredients & Substitutions

Cooked rice – Ideally, you’d want to use cold day-old rice for best results. I recommend long-grain rice like Jasmine rice however, short-grain and medium-grain rice would work too.

Onion – the onions add a subtle sweetness to the dish.

Carrot – feel free to swap the carrots with any other vegetable you like. I just always happen to have carrots in my fridge so that’s why I added it.

Garlic – garlic enhances the flavors of fried rice thanks to its garlicky taste. Feel free to add more, but not less!

Eggs – in my opinion, eggs are essential for fried rice however, you can skip this if you’d prefer.

Neutral oil – any neutral-tasting oil would work for this recipe including corn, canola, vegetable, grapeseed, sunflower seed, peanut, etc. I used avocado oil.

Scallions – the scallions are added at the end for freshness and garnish.

Shrimp Marinade

Jumbo shrimp – any sized shrimp would work for this recipe. Just make sure that they’re peeled and deveined!

Salt – a touch of salt is used to add flavor and season the shrimp.

White pepper – white pepper adds a subtle floral pepperiness to the shrimp. You can swap this with ground black pepper.

Sesame oil – the sesame oil adds nuttiness to the marinade. It also helps the salt and white pepper adhere to the shrimp.

Sauce

Soy sauce – soy sauce is the main flavoring agent for the fried rice. My favorite brand is Pearl River Bridge Light Soy Sauce.

Dark soy sauce – dark soy sauce is primarily used to add color to the fried rice. This can be substituted with regular soy sauce. I like using the Pearl River Bridge brand.

Shaoxing wine – or also known as ‘Hua Tiao’, is a Chinese cooking wine. It’s the secret ingredient to making this taste just like take-out! You can find this at your local Asian supermarket or on Amazon.

Sesame oil – the sesame oil adds nuttiness, boldness, and richness to the sauce.

White pepper – the white pepper adds a subtle floral spice. This can be substituted with ground black pepper.

Cooking Tips for Chinese Shrimp Fried Rice

• For best results, use cold day-old rice. It’s typically drier compared to freshly cooked rice and will prevent the fried rice from turning mushy. If you don’t have any day-old rice prepared, spread freshly cooked rice on a tray or plate and place it in the fridge for a couple of hours. This will help dry out the rice.
• It’s important to cook the eggs, shrimp, and vegetables separately so you have more control over the cooking time. Eggs and shrimp tend to overcook easily so you want to cook them separately and then return them to the fried rice.
• The secret to making this taste exactly like take-out is the Shaoxing wine, which is a Chinese cooking wine. A little goes a long way but it makes all the difference! If you don’t have Shaoxing wine, you can just skip it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use freshly cooked rice instead of cold day-old rice?

Yes, technically you can, however, you’ll need to prep the freshly cooked rice so that it’s ready to use. Cold day-old rice is typically drier than freshly cooked rice so you’ll need to dry out the fresh rice before cooking with it. To do so, spread the fresh rice on a tray or plate then place it in the fridge for a few hours. During this time, it will harden and dry up, which makes it ideal for cooking!

Can I add other vegetables or proteins to the fried rice?

Yes, of course! Feel free to use or swap the vegetables or proteins in the dish. This recipe is extremely versatile – it’s a great ‘fridge clean out meal’. Instead of shrimp, you could use chicken, pork, beef, squid, scallops, or even skip the meat if you wanted to make it vegetarian-friendly. For the vegetables, you can use anything you like or have on hand including peas, celery, bean sprouts, and more!

What type of rice is ideal for fried rice?

While there is no right or wrong rice to use for fried rice, long-grain rice like jasmine rice is commonly used for fried rice recipes because it’s not as starchy as short-grain and medium-grain rice meaning, it doesn’t clump together. While medium-grain rice can be a good substitute, I recommend avoiding short-grain rice as it has the highest starch content and can be too sticky.

What makes this a Chinese-style fried rice and how does it compare to other fried rice variations?

You might find that there are many variations of ‘shrimp fried rice’ and one version is not necessarily better than the other. However, what makes this recipe distinctly Chinese is the use of traditional Chinese ingredients which include soy sauce, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine. These are pantry staples in Chinese cooking and the use of these condiments is what makes this a Chinese-style recipe.

Can I make this Chinese shrimp fried rice in advance?

I think this dish tastes best enjoyed fresh however, you can certainly make this in advance! It’s a great meal-prep recipe because the textures and flavors aren’t compromised when reheated.

How can I store Chinese shrimp fried rice?

This fried rice should be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge. It should last up to 2 to 3 days. To reheat, run it through the microwave or quickly stir fry it in a pan over the stovetop.

Looking for more easy and delicious Chinese-inspired recipes?

1. Air Fryer Char Siu – Char siu or Chinese BBQ Pork, but make it easy! This air fryer char siu recipe is for all my lazy folks out there who want restaurant-quality char siu without having to put in extra time and effort. It’s sweet, savory, tender, and juicy!
2. Preserved Duck Egg Congee – Cozy up to a bowl of this easy 30-minute shortcut congee recipe! It’s comforting, homey, and the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ meal!
3. Lap Cheong Fried Rice – Treat yourself to a quick and tasty Cantonese-style fried rice with a classic ingredient – Chinese sausage or ‘lap cheong’. I’m a firm believer that Chinese sausages make everything better, especially fried rice!
4. Shrimp Pan Fried Noodle – If you’re a fan of textures and flavors, this noodle dish is the one for you! The delightful crunch from the crispy pan-fried noodles followed by the velvety sauce and tender shrimp is incredibly hard to resist.
5. Chinese Steamed Fish with Ginger and Spring Onion – 15 minutes is all you need for a healthy, nourishing, and delicious main! Perfect for an easy weeknight meal.