If I say that these are ridiculously easy vegetable fried rice, I am not kidding. This recipe of Indian vegetable fried rice is a perfect clean out the fridge recipe. There are so many of my recipes that are born out of necessity. Necessity to use up whatever I have on hand. I am telling you all that I have a problem. The problem of not letting anything go bad. This problem is made more complicated by buying a lot of fresh produce in the first place.
If you follow me on Facebook and Instagram, I post our dinner pictures there quite often. If you do not follow me, I would say why you do not. Go here for Facebook and here for Instagram. Anywho, few evenings ago, I posted this picture of our “katori lunch”. We take out all the katoris (Hindi for bowls) from the refrigerator and plan the whole meal around the katoris. I usually have leftover rice in the fridge. You see I am the only true rice lover in our family. The other three members of the kitchen docs family enjoy roti better than rice. I normally make a batch of rice (use this method or this) one evening to last me all week. About a fourth cup of cooked rice with my daal (recipes here and here) satisfies my craving. I am a carb lover for sure!
Recipe run down:
The real reason I love this Indian vegetable fried rice is because it’s a quick, easy meal. We are happy to sit down with a bowl of this dish, accompanied with some homemade yogurt, call it dinner done. It has veggies, grains and if you want to make it even more filling, then go ahead and add some eggs. You can use whatever veggies you like. Onions, carrots, and tomatoes are must haves. What makes this vegetable-fried rice “Indian”? It is all in the spices – first, we start with ginger and garlic and then the addition of garam masala, a big squeeze of lime, and cilantro pretty much seals the deal. Here is a handy dandy printable for you:
Indian Vegetable Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 green chili chopped
- 1 medium red onion sliced
- 1 carrot diced
- 1 cup (packed) baby spinach
- 1 cob of corn kernels cut off with a sharp knife See notes
- 1 zucchini cut into four lengthwise and sliced
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- 4 cups leftover cooked white rice
- 1 teaspoon toasted cumin powder See notes
- 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 10 sprigs cilantro leaves stripped and chopped
- ½ lime juiced
Instructions
- Set a heavy bottomed skillet (cast iron or non stick) on medium high heat and add the oil.
- Once the oil is nice and shiny add cumin seeds and wit for them to splutter.
- Add in ginger, garlic and green chili (see notes).
- Add onions, carrots, corn and zucchini and saute for about 2-3 minutes.
- Mix in spinach and cook till spinach is wilted and the moisture evaporates, another 3 minutes.
- Now add the tomatoes and cook for another minute.
- Add rice, break up any large clumps of rice and add all the seasonings. Mix well and heat until the rice and nice and hot, about 2 minutes.
- Add chopped cilantro and lime juice. Mix, check and adjust salt if needed.
- Serve hot!
Notes
Simple isn't it? So next time you have some leftover rice and some veggies in the freezer, gice this a try, will you? If not, what are some of your favorite dishes to make with leftovers?
Love - Vaishali.
Tools used:
Jessica Joachim says
This Indian Fried Rice looks absolutely delicious! I am a sucker for Indian food, and this looks like something that I would really love!
Amber Myers says
Oh yum, this sounds incredible. I just love fried rice. I'll have to give this version a try sometime.
Sarah Bailey says
Now this sounds like an absolutely delicious idea for a way to make rice - the perfect side dish to a meal or a way just to enjoy rice on its own.
Joanna says
It does sound like a very filling and healthy recipe. I like that it's so easy to make and that you can add whatever vegetables you have in the house.
Evelyn Hernandez says
Looks perfect for Meatless Monday or any day where I dont feel like having meat.
Denise R Caldwell says
Your clean-out-the-frig rice recipe with spice tips is a keeper! Love it! I will be trying it very soon!
Shira Nan says
It sort of like fried rice from malaysia too so I totally can relate to itm ok best of luck dear
Nancy_ycnan says
Wonderful sharing! Thank you very much for this amazing article. What a good post I am rice lover
Sarah says
This looks delicious!
Krish says
I love your presentations and the recipe...more so I can relate to what you write...most of us indian families are so used to "katori" lunch and fried rice dinners....
God bless you
Healthy Medilife says
Indian foods are always delicious !
Vegetable fried rice looking very delicious , I like it