Southern Fried Rice

This recipe was featured in my newsletter dated August 31, 2007.

Southern Fried Rice
by Chip Desormeaux

All over the South, it's not uncommon at all to have a couple of fried eggs served over some creamy grits. Couple slices of bacon, a biscuit maybe, and a hot cup of coffee, and you're all set!

While we love grits in Louisiana just as much as anywhere else in the South, we probably love our rice just a little bit more! In the Lafayette area one of our biggest farm crops is rice.

Click to view larger image.

Growing up we never had a name for this dish but my kids and I call it Southern Fried Rice.

4 eggs
2-4 tbs. oil or bacon fat (anything but butter)
salt & pepper to taste
2 c. leftover rice (white, brown, seasoned, whatever)
2-3 sprigs of green onions, chopped finely
Cajun seasoning or seasoned salt

Crack your eggs and separate them into small ramekins or custard dishes, two per serving. Allow them to come to room temperature while you heat up your pan.

Heat the oil in a small skillet just until smoking. Gently pour two eggs into the oil and fry to your liking. Set them aside while you fry the next batch. Season the eggs with salt and pepper and set aside. Leave any remaining oil in the pan for the next step.

With the pan on high heat, add in the rice all at once. Season to your liking, keeping in mind the rice is probably already salted. Stir around until the rice is warmed through and some of the grains have browned. (Don't try this with freshly cooked rice because it sticks immediately. It has to be refrigerator-cold.)

With the heat off, now, add in your green onions and stir to combine.

Divide the rice between two plates and top with the eggs. Garnish with more chopped green onions.

We cut the eggs up and stir to combine the soft egg white with the rice-which is why this tastes so good!

As a variation, I've done this with Spanish rice, I've used boudin stuffing, whatever I've had on hand. It all tastes good! I particularly enjoy adding in cooked breakfast sausage to the rice. Regular onions instead of green onions works all right but it's not quite the same.

And don't forget your coffee and a newspaper!

Serves two.

Back to Top

Southern Fried Rice Recipe