Sichuan or Szechuan Fried Rice Recipe

Sichuan or Szechuan Fried Rice Recipe

This Chinese style Sichuan  fried rice is spicy(you may adjust the spiciness as per your preference ),flavourful and if you want a variation from your regular fried rice then this is a must try dish :-).

Preparation Time - 20 min ( Cooking Rice timing is separate )
Cooking Time - 20 min

Ingredients:-

1. Rice( Basmati or Jasmine ){I used 1 cup uncooked Basmati Rice },please refer below under preparation for details on cooking Rice.
2. 1/2 cup chopped Red Onion or any Onion.
3. 1/3 rd cup chopped ( Carrots +French Beans + Red Capsicum + Celery ) and green Peas about 1/4th cup
4. 1/2 teaspoon Sichuan Peppercorns ( this is highly recommended which gives this dish that unique flavour but if you do not get them at all then use regular black peppercorns  )
5. 2 tablespoon Chinese Dark Soy Sauce + 1/2 Tablespoon Rice vinegar or White Vinegar
6. 4-5 Dry Red Chilies with seeds removed (medium hot)soaked in hot water
7. 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic
8.1 and 1/2 teaspoon crushed Ginger
9.1/2 teaspoon Sugar
10 .1-2 Fresh Chili chopped
11. Cooking oil (peanut /sunflower/vegetable oil ) + little Sesame(Til) Oil for added flavour (optional)
12. Salt as per your taste.


Preparation:-

1. 1 cup uncooked Basmati Rice ( wash it several times ) then soak for 1/2 an hour,drain the water and then cook the Basmati Rice with enough water,when done drain off the water.Do not overcook the Rice or else it will turn mushy. Previous day cooked rice works best or cook the rice before hand at least  6 hours before so that when you add the rice to prepare the Fried Rice it does not become mushy.
2. Grind the Sichuan peppercorns.
3. Chop all the vegetables.
4. Chop the Chili and garlic and crush or mince the  ginger
5. Soak the dry red chili(seeds removed) in hot water and then make a garlic and chili paste.

Cooking:-

1.Take a deep bottom flat utensil and add heat about a tablespoon of cooking oil and first add the chopped carrot and beans followed by the celery and capsicum and green peas ,stir fry with little salt. Keep the fried vegetables aside.

2. Next add around 2 -3 tablespoon of cooking oil and a teaspoon of sesame oil for added flavour and let it warm up.Then add the chopped onion until it just starts turning brown and at that point add the chili garlic paste which is prepared with around less than 1/4th cup water.

3. Cook til oil seeps out and then add the crushed ginger and 1/2 teaspoon sugar.Give it a mix and fry for around 30 seconds.After this add the Sauce and vinegar mixture (as mentioned in point 5 under ingredient list ) mix and cook for a minute.

4. Switch off the flame (to prevent the rice from overcooking and turning mushy ) and add the cooked Basmati rice,salt and gently mix everything coating the rice properly with the mixture.

5.Next add the fried mixed vegetables and black pepper powder and mix.

6. Lastly just switch on the flame and let the flavours incorporate into the rice and the Rice gets a fried texture.It won't take much time.

7. Your delicious Szechuan or Sichuan Fried Rice is ready to be served,garnish with chopped fresh chili for that heat.

Pictures:-