Shiitake Shrimp Fried Rice (香菇虾仁炒饭)

Shiitake Shrimp Fried Rice uses the Chinese dried mushrooms native to East Asia and cultivated in Japan and China. Shiitake mushroom, or Chinese dried mushrooms, is a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine and other types of Asian cuisine.

The Chinese dried mushroom is called Xiang Gu (香菇) in Mandarin, which translates to ‘fragrant mushroom’. The dried black mushrooms are very fragrant. Therefore, Shiitake Shrimp Fried Rice has the robust earthy flavour of the mushrooms with a velvety and meaty texture. 

Fried rice is a dish that stir-fries cooked rice and other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, seafood, or meat. It is often eaten by itself or as an accompaniment to another dish. The fried rice was one type of the dishes I had eaten so often during my childhood, but it is still my favourate food today. Other than the must-have ingredient rice, everything else in a fried rice recipe is replaceable. 

Main ingredients

The main ingredients are rice, shiitake mushroom, shrimp, and other essential ingredients for a fried rice meal.

• Rice: Chinese-style medium-grain rice, Thai-style fragrant jasmine rice, and basmati rice are the regular rice for the fried rice. I tried making fried rice with parboiled rice, but the result was not satisfactory. I use 1:1 for basmati rice and water to make the cooked rice for this recipe.
• Shiitake mushrooms: Choose dried mushrooms with thick meaty caps and an intense aroma with earthy notes. The thick caps give the mushrooms a more substantial bite. If possible, select mushrooms from a loose pile where it is easier to verify the quality of the mushrooms. Pick those with short and skinny stems. Since the stems are too tough to eat and are usually discarded, pick those mushrooms with short and thin stems. 
• Shrimp: The pre-cooked cocktail shrimps are a quick and easy solution for this recipe. If I only have prawns, then I will cut them into small sizes. It is easy to stir fry when all ingredients are in small sizes. 
• Other common ingredients: I always use some essential ingredients in a fried rice dish. Eggs, peas, carrots, and soy sauce are the other ingredients for this recipe. For a complete list of ingredients, please see the below recipe.

How to make Shiitake Shrimp Fried Rice (香菇虾仁炒饭)

Preparation

The dried shiitake mushrooms need to be rehydrated before cooking. I soak them in warm water for one hour. Use a plate or other small weight to help keep the mushrooms fully submerged while soaking. And once the mushrooms are fully soaked, thoroughly clean shiitakes. Then, discard the stems since they are chewy and tough. Finally, cut them into quarters. The small-sized mushrooms help to reduce the cooking time and increase the mushroom flavour.

I also cut carrots into small cubes and whisk eggs until the liquid is smooth. If I use cold leftover rice, I have to break up the clumps as best as possible. For the freshly cooked rice, I use a fork to fluff it.

Sir-fry all ingredients step by step

The cooking takes several steps. First, cook the mushrooms and carrots. When they are just done, move them to a plate. Then cook shrimp and egg. When they are just done, also place them on a plate.

Afterward, add rice to the wok and coat it with soy sauce. You should not add too much soy sauce, as otherwise, the rice will get mushy. Stir fry quickly to let the sauce coat the rice evenly.

The last step is to mix everything in the wok well. Add more salt if required and pepper to taste. 

Tips for the recipe

Cook the rice in vegetable, chicken, seafood, or beef broth to boost the depth of flavour.

The fried rice tastes better when the cooked rice has distinct grains, each with a slightly chewy fried exterior and a tender texture.

Did you make the recipe?

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