Simplest Fried Rice

The easiest fried rice dish, very fast, very easy, and very good. It’s also an excellent way to use leftover rice.

1/4 cup peanut or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn

2 medium bell peppers, preferably 1 red and 1 yellow, cored, seeded, and cut into strips

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 to 4 cups cooked white or brown long-grain rice (start with about 11/2 cups raw), chilled for at least a few hours

2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste

1 tablespoon dark sesame oil

• Put the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the peppers, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, and raise the heat to high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the rice, separating it with your hands as you do so. Cook, stirring and breaking up the rice lumps, until the rice is hot and begins to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil, taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve.
  Simplest Fried Rice with Onion.
  • Substitute 2 cups thinly sliced onion for the peppers or use half peppers and half onion, but cook the onion on their own for a few minutes first.
  Simplest Fried Rice with Frozen Vegetables.
  • Substitute a mixture of peas and carrots or peas, carrots, and corn for the bell peppers. You can even use frozen bell pepper strips if you like and probably never notice.
• MAKES: 4 servings
• TIME: 20 minutes with cooked rice