Vegetarian fried rice is a famous Indo-Chinese stir fry dish made with rice, stir fry vegetables, and flavored with soy and chili sauce. This is a one-pot, gluten-free, vegan fried rice recipe made in the Instant Pot with no eggs. It can also be made on the stovetop.
It is a perfect weeknight meal and can be served with Asian dishes, especially veg Manchurian. This homemade Indo-Chinese style fried rice is very easy to make in an Instant Pot and is better than takeout. It is a delicious and crowd-pleaser dish for any party or potluck!
Ingredients
It is best to use long grain rice to make fried rice. I like to use basmati rice for fried rice, however, jasmine rice works well too for Indo-Chinese fried rice. Also, I have used freshly cooked rice but fried rice can be made with leftover rice too.
Other ingredients consist of vegetables such as green beans, carrots, and green onions. I have not used peas or corn but if you like, you can add those too.
Soy sauce and chili sauce add flavor to this Chinese-style veg fried rice. For the gluten-free version, you can use gluten-free soy sauce. You can adjust the spiciness by adjusting the chili sauce or even topping the fried rice with hot sriracha sauce while eating.
Instructions
To make fried rice, the veggies must be chopped fine. A food processor with an adjustable slicing blade is very handy for chopping vegetables. You can also cut them fine with a knife, I like to use the Komachi knife for chopping.
Instant Pot steps
It is very easy to make veg fried rice in the Instant Pot. The best part is you can cook both rice and vegetables together. To cook them together, it is best to soak the rice for 30 minutes before cooking.
Turn the Instant Pot on saute mode and once it is hot, add some oil. You can use regular cooking oil or even sesame oil. Once the oil is hot, add the lower white part of the green onion followed by carrots and green beans.
Saute for about a minute and add salt, sugar, black pepper, soy sauce, and vinegar and mix it well. Add the water and deglaze the pot with a spatula.
Finally, add the basmati rice (discard the soaked water) and mix for the final time. Press cancel to come out of saute mode and lock the lid with the pressure valve in the sealing position.
Select high-pressure mode by pressing the pressure button or manual button and adjust the time for 1 minute. Allow the pressure to release naturally by letting the silver pin drop naturally. Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with green onions.
Stovetop steps
Before the Instant Pot, I used to make fried rice on the stovetop. One of the good parts of cooking on the stove is that you could make instant fried rice with leftover rice. But if you do not have leftover rice, you can also make it in a matter of minutes.
In a saucepan, boil enough water, on medium heat, to cook the rice. Allow the water to come to a rolling boil and then carefully add the soaked rice. Allow the rice to cook for about 12 minutes, it should be al dente.
Drain the water and spread the rice on a plate and allow it to cool down. This ensures the rice does not get overcooked and mushy. While the rice is cooling down, stir-fry the veggies for fried rice in a wok or a frying pan.
Heat a wok on a high flame and add some oil. Once the oil is hot, add the green onion whites followed by carrots and green beans. Saute for about a minute and add salt, sugar, black pepper, soy sauce, and vinegar and mix it well.
Finally, add the basmati rice and mix gently. Cook for about a minute, turn the stove off, and garnish the vegetable fried rice with chopped green onions.
Serving suggestions
It is best to serve Chinese-style veg fried rice when it is hot. It is popularly served with vegetable Manchurian or gobi Manchurian to make a complete meal. Kungpao is another easy side dish to serve with fried rice, it is much quicker to prepare as well.
Storage
Fried rice can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. It does tend to dry so, it is best to add a little bit of water while reheating it in the microwave or on the stove. Cover the fried rice with a lid while reheating to ensure that it absorbs moisture.
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📖 Recipe
Vegetable Fried Rice | Instant Pot | Stovetop
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati rice (rinsed and soaked for 30 mins)
- 1 cup + 3 tbsp Water
- 2 tablespoon Oil
Vegetables
- 1 cup Carrot (finely chopped)
- 1 cup Green beans (finely chopped)
- ¼ cup Green onion whites (chopped)
- ¼ cup Green onion greens (chopped)
Spices and sauces
- 1 teaspoon Dark soy sauce (tamari sauce for gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper powder (optional)
Instructions
Veg fried rice in Instant Pot
- Rinse basmati rice under cold water until water runs clear.
- Soak basmati rice in enough water for 30 minutes and then discard the water.
- Turn the Instant Pot on the Saute mode in the normal setting.
- Once the Instant Pot is hot, add oil to the Instant Pot liner.
- Once oil is hot, add green onions (white part) followed by carrots and green beans
- Saute for about a minute and add salt, sugar, pepper, soy sauce and vinegar and give it a mix.
- Add water and deglaze the pot with a spatula.
- Add the soaked rice and give it a mix.
- Press cancel to come out of saute mode.
- Lock the lid and turn the Instant Pot on high-pressure mode for 1 minute with the pressure valve in the sealing position.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally.
- Open the lid and fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with green onions.
Veg fried rice on stovetop
- Rinse basmati rice under cold water until water runs clear.
- Soak basmati rice in enough water for 30 minutes.
- Boil 4 cup water in a sauce pan on high flame.
- Once the water is boiling, add rice and cover the pot with a lid and lower the heat to medium.
- Cook the rice for about 12 minutes untill al dente.
- Strain the water from the rice using a strainer.
- Transfer the rice to a plate, fluff it wait a fork and allow it to cool down.
- Heat a frying pan or a wok on high flame.
- Add oil to the wok.
- Once oil is hot, add green onions (white part) followed by carrots and green beans.
- Saute for about a minute and add salt, sugar, pepper, soy sauce and vinegar and mix well.
- Add rice and mix it with a spatula.
- Take the frying pan off of flame, garnish fried rice with green onions (green part)
Dr Sejal says
It's very quick receipe and easily explained
Waiting for new stuff
Alpa Jain says
Hi Sejal,
Thankyou for the feedback. Glad you liked it. You can subscribe to receive new recipes in your inbox.
Regards
Alpa
H N says
Hi, for cooking in the instant pot, is it pressure cook on high for ONE minute only?
Alpa Jain says
Hi
Yes, it is high pressure for one minute with NPR for basmati rice soaked for 30 minutes.
Hope this helps
Regards
Alpa