Fried Rice Alton Brown Food

FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Put the mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with boiling water and soak until re-hydrated, about 20 minutes. Drain, squeeze dry, and cut mushrooms in quarters. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil in a well-seasoned wok or large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat the pan. Pour in the eggs, swirl the pan so the egg forms a large thin pancake. (Lift the edge of the egg to allow any uncooked egg to run to the center.) As soon as the egg has set, turn it out of the pan onto a cutting board. Cool, cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and heat the remaining peanut oil over high heat. Add the scallions and carrots and stir-fry for 1 1/2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, garlic, chile, and ginger, stir-fry for 1 minute more. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil and rice and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the meat, peas, and reserved egg, cook, stirring until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.

THE BEST PORK FRIED RICE

Steps:

• Whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin, Shaoxing wine, honey, sesame oil and garlic in a medium bowl until combined. Reserve 1/2 cup of the soy marinade for the rice.
• Cut the pork into 2-inch strips about 1/4-inch thick and toss in the soy marinade until completely coated. Let sit uncovered at room temperature for 30 minutes to let the marinade penetrate. Drain through a mesh strainer, discard the marinade and return the pork to the bowl.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat until the oil shimmers and tiny wisps of smoke are visible. Cook the pork, tossing often, until browned but not charred, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in the same skillet over high heat. Cook the onions, tossing often, until translucent and just tender, about 2 minutes. Add 1/3 cup of the reserved marinade and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has almost completely evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the onions to the large bowl.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in the same skillet over high heat. Cook the snow peas and bean sprouts, tossing often, until bright green but lightly browned in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer to the large bowl.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in the same skillet over high heat. Add the beaten eggs and stir vigorously for 10 seconds (no, really, 10 seconds). Transfer to the large bowl and break the egg up into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in the same skillet over high heat. Add the rice, patting it down into an even layer and breaking up any clumps, and let sit undisturbed for 1 minute to fry. Then vigorously toss, breaking up any clumps, until the grains dry out, separate and start to crisp and lightly brown, about 3 minutes.
• Add the pork, vegetables and egg to the rice and vigorously toss (or stir) until completely combined and the ingredients are evenly distributed into the rice. Season with the remaining soy marinade if necessary, adding 1 tablespoon at a time and tossing well to combine.
• Top the fried rice with the scallions and basil before serving.

PAN-FRIED SMELTS

Steps:

• Rinse the smelts thoroughly and pat dry. Place the bread crumbs, salt and pepper into a large resealable bag and shake to combine. Place the lemon juice into a shallow dish. Dip the smelts into the juice and then place in the bag with the dry mixture and shake until the fish are well coated. You can coat 2 to 3 fish at a time, depending on their size.
• Place enough peanut oil into a 12-inch cast iron skillet just to cover the bottom of the pan. Place over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the smelts to the pan, 4 to 5 at a time, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side until lightly browned and cooked through.

PERFECT RICE IN A RUSH

Steps:

• Pour the water into an electric kettle. Place the butter into a medium saucepan and set over high heat. Gently jiggle until the bubbling ceases and the butter just begins to brown. Flip on the electric kettle. Add the rice and salt to the saucepan and stir constantly until the kettle clicks off or the rice begins to brown, whichever comes first. Carefully add the water to the pan, stir and cover with a lid. Decrease the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, let stand for 5 minutes, and uncover. Fluff with a fork and serve.

KIMCHI

Steps:

• Place the cabbage in a large bowl, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons (17 grams) of the salt, and toss to coat. After 15 minutes, massage and squeeze the cabbage until it begins to release liquid. Set aside for another 15 minutes, then massage again and set aside for another 15 minutes.
• Place the daikon in a medium bowl and season with the granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Set aside for 15 minutes.
• Whisk the gochugaru, water, brown sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a third medium bowl to form a coarse paste.
• To make the kimchi flavor paste, use either a mini-food processor, mortar and pestle, or immersion blender and a jar to puree the pear, onion, 10 grams (about 1/6) of the ginger, 6 grams (about 1/4) of the garlic, and the salted shrimp until smooth. Add this to the gochugaru mixture and stir to combine.
• Squeeze as much liquid as you can from the daikon without breaking the pieces and add to the cabbage, along with the scallions, the remaining ginger and garlic, and the kimchi paste.
• Position a gallon-size zip-top bag inside a pitcher or some other vessel that will allow it to be held open for loading. Wearing disposable gloves, mix the kimchi paste into the cabbage mixture with your hands, being sure to thoroughly coat the cabbage with the paste (see Cook's Note).
• Transfer the mixture to the plastic bag, then ditch the gloves and seal the bag, working out as much air as possible. The lactic acid bacteria that will magically transform the humble ingredients into kimchee prefer anaerobic environments.
• Place the sealed bag flat on a sheet pan or large baking dish and leave at room temperature until the mixture has bubbled enough to inflate the bag, at least 24 hours, but possibly up to 3 days. Transfer the kimchi and its liquid into two wide-mouthed quart-size glass jars with lids and refrigerate. Consume immediately for very fresh kimchi, or leave it for a month for a kimchi that's deeply flavored, well-rounded, and slightly effervescent.
• Refrigerated, kimchi will basically never go bad and will actually improve in flavor for months after going into the jar. Cooking will mellow its flavors, so if it gets too funky for you, it's time to make kimchi fried rice.

CHINESE FRIED BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Prepare rice according to directions and drain.
• Heat oil in large skillet.
• Add onion, saute a few minutes (5) and add eggs. Scramble.
• Stir in shrimp and rest of ingredients.
• Heat through.
• Enjoy!

ALTON BROWN'S BAKED BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF.
• Boil the water and add the butter and salt. Stir to dissolve salt and melt butter.
• Place the rice in an 8" casserole dish. Pour the boiling water mixture over the rice and stir.
• Cover with foil and bake on the middle rack for 1 hour.
• Fluff with fork and serve.
• This rice also refrigerates and reheats fairly well, but it's best freshly made.

FRIED BROWN RICE

Steps:

• Spray a deep skillet or wok with cooking spray (I used some garlic oil) and heat on medium.
• Beat eggs lightly, pour into pan, and cook without stirring until they are almost dry.
• Remove to a plate and set aside.
• Heat oil in same pan over medium high heat and add the onions and carrots and cook, stirring from time to time, for about 2 minutes.
• Ad mushrooms and garlic and cook and stir for 2 more minutes.
• Add the sherry, soy sauce, and cooked rice. Continue to cook, stirring from time to time, for about 3 minutes.
• Add green onions, peas and sesame oil.
• Cut the eggs into thin ribbon strips, add to pan, and toss well to mix all ingredients.
• Serve at once with extra soy sauce if desired.