Egg Fried Rice with Bacon and Spam

  

Transform Leftovers into a Feast

Leftover rice is never a problem when you have fried rice to the rescue! This simple and delicious dish transforms your leftovers into a mouthwatering meal. In this post, I'll show you how I make Homemade Egg Fried Rice with Bacon and Spam.

Fried rice is a dish of cooked rice stir-fried in a wok or frying pan and mixed with other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, seafood, or meat. It can be eaten by itself or as an accompaniment to another dish. Popular in East Asian, Southeast Asian, and certain South Asian cuisines, fried rice is also a staple national dish of Indonesia. As a homemade dish, fried rice typically utilizes ingredients left over from other dishes, leading to countless variations.

A Brief History of Fried Rice

Fried rice first developed during the Sui dynasty in China. Many varieties have since evolved, each with a specific list of ingredients. In China, common varieties include Yangzhou fried rice and Hokkien fried rice. Japanese chāhan is a Japanese Chinese dish derived from Chinese fried rice. Southeast Asia boasts dishes like Indonesian, Malaysian, and Singaporean nasi goreng and Thai khao phat. In the West, restaurants catering to vegetarians have created their own versions, including egg fried rice. Latin American countries also feature variations like Ecuadorian chaulafan, Peruvian arroz chaufa, Cuban arroz frito, and Puerto Rican arroz mamposteao.

Recipe video:

Fried rice is also a common street food in Asia and beyond. In some Asian countries, small restaurants, street vendors, and traveling hawkers specialize in serving fried rice. Indonesian cities often feature fried rice street vendors moving through the streets with food carts, stationing in busy streets or residential areas. Many Southeast Asian street food stands offer fried rice with optional garnishes and side dishes.

Recipe: Egg Fried Rice with Bacon and Spam

This egg-fried rice with bacon and Spam is one of my favorite variations to cook. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:

• 3 slices/strips of bacon
• 2 slices of Spam
• 3-4 cloves of garlic
• 2 1/2 cups of cooked long-grain rice (preferably leftover)
• Spring onion
• Ground pepper
• Optional: Sea salt or oyster sauce

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Ingredients:

• Chop the bacon and Spam into small pieces.
• Mince the garlic.
• Slice the spring onion thinly.

2. Cook the Bacon and Spam:

• Heat a large frying pan or wok over medium heat.
• Add the bacon pieces and cook until they are crispy.
• Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
• Add the Spam pieces to the pan and cook until they are browned and slightly crispy. Remove and set aside.

3. Sauté the Garlic:

• In the same pan, add the minced garlic to the remaining bacon fat and sauté until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

4. Add the Rice:

• Add the cooked rice to the pan, breaking up any clumps with a spatula.
• Stir-fry the rice with the garlic until it is heated through and slightly crispy.

5. Mix in Bacon and Spam:

• Add the cooked bacon and Spam back into the pan.
• Stir to combine.

6. Season:

• Season with ground pepper, and add sea salt or oyster sauce to taste if desired.

7. Garnish:

• Garnish with sliced spring onions and serve hot.

Enjoy this delicious, comforting egg-fried rice with bacon and Spam. It's a perfect way to turn your leftovers into a satisfying meal!