Growing up in San Francisco, the only time my family went out for a picnic or barbecue is during the summer time. We would always grill meat, but what I actually looked forward to at these barbecues were the sides. In Chinese families, it is not uncommon to see platters of fried rice or chow mein at the family barbecue. They’re easy to transport, not temperature sensitive (i.e., they’ll still taste great at room temperature), and go well with anything off the grill. This red curry fried rice with olives is inspired by those fried rice platters we have at our family picnics. I use an amazing red sauce made of red curry paste, olive brine, soy sauce, and brown sugar to flavor the fried rice. (By olive brine, I mean the brine that you see when you open a can of California Ripe Olives.) Overall the red curry fried rice is light and bright with a pleasantly sweet flavor. To contrast the sweetness of the sauce, I added sliced California Green Ripe Olives. Because I didn’t add meat to the fried rice, I wanted something to stand out in the dish. I know it’s not often that you see olives in a fried rice recipe. However, the California Green Ripe Olives give a great savory punch in this dish. It also adds a nice earthy green color to the fried rice. When purchasing the olives, make sure to check the label and use California Green Ripe Olives in this recipe. Although the olives are brined, they are not overly salty. As a result, the olives will complement the flavors of the red curry fried rice rather than overwhelm it. This red curry fried rice is a great vegetarian side dish that you can take to any picnic or cookout. There are a number of vegetables and spices to prepare, but the cooking process is very straightforward.
WHY YOU USE DAY-OLD RICE FOR FRIED RICE RECIPES
Fried rice is usually a dish that you make to repurpose the leftover cooked rice from the day before. You want to avoid freshly cooked rice because it is still moist and steamy. If you stir fry rice that is still hot, you’ll notice that the rice gets mushy in texture. However, if you forgot to prep the rice ahead, here is a little trick that I use. I spread a layer freshly cooked rice onto large baking sheets and let the rice air out for about 1 to 2 hours, the longer the better. The grains of rice will dry out during this process. (Check out my post here on how to cook jasmine rice.)
LOOKING FOR MORE FRIED RICE RECIPES?
The Easiest Egg Fried RicePineapple Fried RiceKimchi Fried RiceYellow Curry Fried Rice with Potatoes30-Minute Shrimp & Egg Fried Rice
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by California Ripe Olives. You can visit their website for more information or follow them on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter.
