Sardines Fried Rice

Name: Sardines Fried Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 small onion ((peeled and chopped)); 1 clove garlic ((minced)); 1 can sardines (in hot sauce (3.75oz/106g) ); 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables ((150g)); 3 cups cooked white rice ((preferably kept overnight)); 2 tbsp soy sauce; Salt (and pepper to taste)

Dorm Cooking, Main Dish, Rice & Grain, Southeast Asian

Prepare this tasty Sardines Fried Rice using convenient canned sardines and frozen mixed vegetables. Big on taste with minimum prep work.

Culinary history changed forever when someone long ago in China introduced rice to wok! The humble steamed rice, tossed with seasoning (normally soy sauce) and oil, seared with the intense heat from the frying pan, transforms into a dish worthy of kings. There was even an episode of Iron Chef where the Japanese chef completed the rout of his challenger by frying rice with a dash of shrimp paste that won the judges over with its flavor.

Fried Rice – A Complete Meal

While our post today is certainly not set in a competitive cook-off, fried rice on the menu is very much something to look forward to. To start with, fried rice is simply delicious. Secondly, it is a complete meal in itself which makes it perfect for lunch. Finally, it is quick and easy to prepare. Coupled with a bowl of clear soup, it is comfort food for our family. No wonder that as Ro-Taro gets ready to head out to college this fall, he has requested for mom to teach him how to prepare fried rice. It’s like the old saying about teaching a man to fish. With a twist we can say that “teach a child to fry rice and he will learn to feast for a lifetime”.

The Basics

Cooking fried rice in a home setting is a piece of cake with the available utensils and ingredients. Almost any fresh or leftover meat and vegetables can be thrown in. The rice will taste good so long as the pan is hot and the grains of rice are separated and fluffy. In a dormitory setting, the challenge is with a limited budget, appliances, utensils, ingredients, and time. The dorm room may be equipped with a mini fridge, 3-cup mini rice-cooker, a deep fry pan, spatula, knife, simple plates and silverware, and a tote to transport these to the dorm kitchen. Basic ingredients include rice, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and dried spices.

Ingredients in Small Quantities

Next is to check out the grocery store for suitable ingredients in small quantities. Small cans of sardines are great as they have a long shelf life and can be easily stored in the room. An entire can is perfect for a meal with no need to mess around with leftovers. A one-pound bag of frozen mixed vegetables can be stored in the freezer compartment of the mini fridge. Onions may be purchased singly or substituted with onion powder. Garlic may be omitted altogether.

Most days Ro-Taro will be eating at the campus cafeteria. When he feels the pangs of homesickness, he can always check out mom’s blog. 😉 In fact, I have created a Dorm Cooking tab, a sub-category of Lifestyle in the drop-down menus above for Ro-Taro’s easy reference. There will be more fried rice and simple meal recipes complete with shopping guide in the days to come.

Tools Used in Making This Sardines Fried Rice

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T-fal Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Anti-Warp Base Glass Lid Cookware, 12-Inch
Le Creuset of America Craft Series Medium Spatula – Marseille

For more tools and products used in my kitchen, please check out Roti n Rice’s Amazon Page.