Easy prawn or shrimp fried rice made with cooked rice stir-fried with prawns or shrimp, eggs, and vegetables. It is seasoned with salt, pepper, and Chinese sauces. Make this quick and easy one-pan meal within 30 minutes. Here's how to make this restaurant-worthy recipe with step-by-step photos and a quick video tutorial.
This prawn (or shrimp) fried rice recipe is a fantastic way to transform leftover rice into a delicious and satisfying meal. Simply toss your leftover rice with succulent prawns or shrimp, colorful vegetables, fluffy eggs, and flavorful sauces. Similar to egg fried rice or vegetable fried rice, this restaurant-style prawn fried rice comes together in just minutes, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.
Homemade fried rice is always healthier than takeout. Also, the addition of eggs, meat, and veggies makes it a complete meal. See my other popular prawn recipes Prawn Ghee Roast, Rava Fried Prawns, Prawn Pepper Fry, Prawn Biryani, and Kolambi Rassa (Prawn Curry).
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Fried rice is one of the most popular dishes in Indian Chinese cuisine, enjoyed for its versatility and flavorful combination of textures. Shrimp or Prawn fried rice is a popular variation that takes this dish to a whole new level. You can serve it with Gobi Manchurian, Chicken Manchurian, Dragon Chicken, or Chili Chicken.
This fried rice recipe skips the wine, but don't worry! We're using a classic Chinese oyster sauce that infuses the fried rice with deep, complex flavors, just like you'd find in many authentic Chinese dishes. I have used the vegetarian oyster sauce.
About Prawn Fried Rice
This fried rice with prawn or shrimp is a one pan/pot recipe. Everything is made in a single pan so less mess and easy to clean up. This recipe is easy to customize. The best thing about making fried rice is that there is no particular recipe. Also, you can adjust the sauces and spices as per your taste.
For meal prep - You can cut the veggies ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for a week. Also, you can cook the rice in advance, and let it cool down completely. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for 2 days.
Prawn Fried Rice Ingredients and Swaps
- Prawns - You can use medium or large size prawns for this fried rice recipe. I have used fresh medium-sized prawns, peeled them, and deveined them. You can also use frozen prawns. But thaw it properly and use it.
- Cooked Rice - You can use white rice or brown rice for this recipe. For making fried rice, it is better to use day-old rice. If you are using fresh rice, spread it over a big plate or tray. Let it cool down completely. Keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. And then use it. Do not use freshly cooked rice.
- Eggs (optional) - You can make this recipe without eggs too.
- Vegetables - I have used bell peppers, carrots, peas, and corn here. You can use any vegetables. I have used fresh peas. Cook them before adding to fried rice recipe. Bring the water to a boil, then add the peas and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Drain the peas well in a colander and use them. You can also use frozen peas and corn. Defrost them and use them directly.
- Onion, Ginger, and Garlic
- Sauces - Oyster sauce, Soy sauce, and Sriracha (optional). I have used vegetarian oyster sauce here. You can skip it if it is not available.
- Vinegar - Substitute with lemon juice.
- Flavoring - Black pepper powder and salt.
- Oil - You can use any vegetable oil that does not have a strong aroma.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make Prawn Fried Rice (Step-by-step photos)
In a small mixing bowl, add eggs, salt, and pepper. Whisk it to combine. Set it aside. In a pan, heat 2 teaspoon of oil over medium heat. Add prawns and season them with salt and pepper. Stir-fry and cook for 3-4 minutes until the prawns are cooked. Timing depends on the size of the prawns. Remove to a plate.
To the same pan, add 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the egg mixture and make scrambled eggs. Remove to the same plate.
In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add ginger, garlic, onion, bell pepper, and carrot. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes. Add peas and corn and stir fry for a minute. Next, add cooked prawns, and scrambled eggs back to the pan. Add cooked rice, soy sauce, sriracha, oyster sauce, vinegar, black pepper powder, and salt.
Combine everything. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes. Taste and add more sauce or spice as per your liking. Finally, add spring onion greens, give it a quick stir, and remove from heat. Prawn fried rice is ready to serve.
5 Tips to Make Best Prawn Fried Rice
Tip #1 - Cleaning and Cooking Prawns
- Cleaning the prawns – Rinse the prawns in water. Check out for spoiled prawns (discolored or slimy). Prawns should always be white or grey in color. De-shell & de-vein it.
- Cooking prawns - Do not overcook prawns. If overcooked it may turn hard (chewy or rubbery).
Tip #2 - Cooking Perfect Rice is The Key
- This recipe works best with a day-old cooked rice or any rice that has been cooked and cooled completely.
- If you're using freshly cooked rice, it's important to let it cool down before using it. This prevents the rice from becoming mushy in the fried rice. To cool fresh rice quickly, you can spread it out on a baking sheet in a single layer. This allows the rice to release excess heat and cool more evenly. Then place the cooked rice in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. This ensures the rice is completely chilled before using it in your shrimp-fried rice recipe.
Tip #3 - Prep is key
- Have your rice cooked and chilled, veggies chopped, and sauces measured out beforehand. This way, you can focus on creating delicious and flavorful fried rice without stopping for chopping or measuring.
Tip #4 - High Heat
- High heat is the key to getting that restaurant-style fried rice with perfectly cooked, separate grains and a burst of flavor in every bite. It takes your fried rice from "ok" to "amazing!" High heat sears the rice grains fast, creating a nice, slightly browned, and crispy texture. Low heat would just steam the rice, making it soggy.
- High heat cooks vegetables quickly, which helps retain their vibrant color, crisp texture, and some nutrients that can be lost with prolonged cooking. It also helps bring out their natural sweetness and to add depth of flavor to fried rice.
Tip #5 - Quick Stir-frying
- Keep the vegetables, rice, and other ingredients moving in the pan to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
Recipe FAQs
If you are going to consume it within 2 days, then you can refrigerate it. Let it cool down completely. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. Make sure the leftover was not kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
For longer shelf life, freeze it.
The best method to reheat the fried rice is on the stovetop. Add little oil to the pan. Transfer the fried rice and stir-fry it over medium-high heat until it is piping hot.
You can also reheat it in a microwave.
Reheat fried rice only once. Do not reheat the rice again and again. Once you reheat the rice, consume it; do not store it again in the refrigerator.
Yes, it is safe to reheat rice, if you stored the rice properly. Make sure to reheat until it is piping hot.
Also, take care not to reheat the rice more than once.
What to serve with fried rice?
- Chicken 65 Gravy
- Skillet Chicken Fajitas
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Chicken Majestic
- Creamy Corn Salad
- Greek Yogurt Coleslaw
Recipe Card
Prawn Fried Rice Recipe (Shrimp Fried Rice)
Equipment
- Deep bottom pan
Ingredients
For scrambled eggs
- 2 eggs
- salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
To cook prawns
- 150 grams prawn or shrimp peeled and deviened
- salt and pepper to taste
To make fried rice
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon ginger finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon garlic finely chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 carrot peeled and finely chopped
- ½ cup fresh peas boiled. (or use frozen)
- ¼ cup fresh corn boiled. (or use frozen)
- 3 cups of cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha optional
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce skip if not available
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
- salt to taste
- 2-3 tablespoon finely chopped spring onion greens
Instructions
How to make Prawn/Shrimp Fried Rice
- In a small mixing bowl, add eggs, salt and pepper. Whisk it to combine. Set it aside.
- In a pan, heat 2 teaspoon of oil over medium heat.
- Add prawns and season it with salt and pepper. Stir-fry and cook for 3-4 minutes until the prawns are cooked. Timing depends on the size of prawns. Remove to a plate.
- To the same pan, add 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat. Add the egg mixture and make scrambled eggs. Remove to the same plate.
- In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoon oil over medium high heat.
- Add ginger, garlic, onion, bell pepper and carrot. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes.
- Add peas and corn and stir fry for a minute.
- Next, add cooked prawns, and scrambled eggs back to the pan.
- Add cooked rice, soy sauce, sriracha, oyster sauce, vinegar, black pepper powder and salt.
- Combine everything. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Taste and add more sauce or spice as per your liking.
- Finally add spring onion greens, give it a quick stir and remove from heat.
- Prawn fried rice is ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- Cleaning the prawns – Rinse the prawns in water. Check out for spoiled prawns (discolored or slimy). Prawns should always be white or grey in color. De-shell & de-vein it.
- Cooking rice - Use day-old cooked rice or cold rice. If you are using fresh rice, let it cool down completely. Keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. You can use it.
- Cooking prawns - Do not overcook prawns. If overcooked it may turn hard (chewy or rubbery).
- Cook fried rice always on high heat. Keep all the ingredients handy. Cooking on high heat makes the rice and veggies crisp.
- You can add any vegetable of your choice.
- Finely chop the veggies so that they cook faster on high heat.
- Do not cook the veggies completely. There should be a slight crunch in them.
- You can use chicken instead of prawns to make chicken fried rice.
- If you are using fresh peas, cook them before you add them to fried rice. Cook it in boiling water for 10-15 minutes or until cooked. Drain and set it aside.
- To make spicy prawn fried rice, add some chopped green chilies.
- Once you finished cooking, add 1-2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil over it and toss, for that authentic Chinese flavor.
- Skip Sriracha, if you do not have. Or you can add any chili-garlic sauce.
- Do not let the fried rice stay at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Better to refrigerate the leftovers.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Preeti
I’ve cooked this prawn fried rice countless times, and it never fails to impress with its delicious flavors. It’s quick, comforting, and so flavorful that you’ll want to keep making it again and again.