When it comes to recreating your favorite Chinese food dishes at home, the one dish that many people hesitate to make is fried rice. There's something about this traditional Chinese restaurant staple that people find overwhelming when it comes to making it at home. It doesn't have to be as difficult as some might think. Here's a look at some tips to make a great fried rice in your own kitchen.

The Rice Is Key

The rice is the most important part of making homemade fried rice, obviously. The key is to make it the day before you actually want the fried rice. Day-old rice has a better texture for making fried rice. If you can't make it the day before, try to make it as far in advance as possible and refrigerate it for a while.

The Preparation Is Important

The next stage of making fried rice involves preparing the added ingredients. If you want a vegetable fried rice, you'll just need things like white onion, peas, carrots, eggs, and sprouts. Dice each of the veggies up so that they are all roughly the same size. Then, scramble two eggs for every three cups of rice. Finally, slice a couple of scallions and have about a cup of your favorite sprouts washed and ready for the pan. If you want any kind of meat, you can add pork, beef, chicken, and even shrimp. Use small shrimp, washed and de-veined, or dice up the other meat, precooked, so it's roughly the same size as the vegetables.

You'll also want to have a couple of tablespoons of sesame oil for cooking. One or two ought to be enough to keep the pan from sticking. Two or three tablespoons of soy sauce will add flavor. You can add it gradually when the time comes so that the dish is flavored to your taste and not overwhelming.

The Cooking Is Crucial

Heat the sesame oil in a wok over medium-high heat. You can even use a large skillet if you don't have a wok. Add the onion, peas, and carrots to the pan. Cook them until they're tender, for a couple of minutes. Then, slide them away from the middle of the pan and pour the beaten egg into the pan. Cook it, scrambling, with a spatula.

Once the eggs are cooked, mix them with the veggies. If you're adding shrimp, cook it in the pan now, just until it isn't translucent anymore. Then, add the rice and the sprouts to the pan, as well as any other meat you may be adding. Add soy sauce to taste and top it with scallions.

If you're not skilled in the kitchen, don't worry. Your favorite Chinese restaurant can supply fried rice to your heart's content.