Shrimp Fried Rice with Fresh Herbs

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and probably many more times): Stir-fries are some of the most healthful, delicious, and easiest dishes you can prepare. Quick-cooking, little fat, fresh ingredients, tons of flavor—that’s stir-fry.

This is an easy way to use leftover rice, or cook it and cool it, then serve four people a slightly spicy, very floral, deliciously simple seafood dish that’s light and satisfying. Fresh herbs make all the difference. Add them at the end to enjoy their best flavors.

Note: If you buy peeled, deveined shrimp, chances are the vein has been removed from only the topside of the shrimp. Retailers seem to neglect the vein running on the curved underside. That one can be removed the same as the top: Run a small knife blade along it and remove.

However, for stir-fries, I like to split the shrimp lengthwise to make smaller pieces, and that makes removing the bottom vein even easier. Check it out:

Medium Shrimp

Deveined Topside

Split Shrimp

Vein on the Underside

Underside Vein Removed from Split Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp peanut oil
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 Thai chiles, chopped
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup very thin 1-inch red bell pepper strips
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2-1/2 cups cold, cooked rice
• 3/4 lb medium shrimp (21-24 count), peeled, deveined, sliced lengthwise in half
• 1/3 cup small cilantro leaves with tender stems
• 1/3 cup very thinly sliced basil
• 1/3 cup very thinly sliced scallions
• 1/4 cup very thinly sliced mint
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

1st Ingredients for Stir-Fry

Herbs and Scallions

Preparation

1. Heat a large, deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add the peanut oil. Add the garlic, chiles, shallot, ginger, bell pepper, and curry powder and stir-fry 1 minute.
2. Add the shrimp and stir-fry 2 minutes.
3. Push the ingredients to 1 side of the pan and slowly pour the whisked eggs into the other side. When the eggs begin to set, stir gently to scramble and combine with the other ingredients.
4. Add the rice, pressing toward the bottom of the pan, and cook undisturbed 4 minutes.
5. Stir in the cilantro, basil, scallions, and mint and season with salt and pepper.

Garlic Mixture Beginning to Cook 

Shrimp Added 

Eggs Added 

Scramble the Eggs 

Rice Added

Herbs Added

Divide among 4 shallow bowls and serve right away.

Shrimp Fried Rice with Fresh Herbs