Shrimp Fried Rice {My Favorite Meal}

We don't eat seafood very often thanks to its pricetag, but I occasionally splurge on a bag of frozen shrimp and this is what I make with it.  It's so simple, but so good. The sesame oil really makes a difference. As a bonus, I've included a variation using chicken and peas, which is probably more realistic for most of us, and still quite good.

Shrimp Fried Rice  recipe by Mark Bittman in Parents magazine

2 T peanut or other neutral oil
one bunch scallions (green onions), chopped
3-4 cups cooked brown rice, refrigerated for a few hours
1/2 pound chopped shrimp
2 T soy sauce
1 T dark sesame oil

Cook green onions in hot oil 5-7 minutes until they soften. Add rcie, crumbling with hands as you place it in the skillet. Cook, stirring and breaking up rice lumps until rice begins to brown, about 10 minutes. Add shrimp and cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp turns pink and is cooked through. Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil, add salt and pepper if needed.


Chicken and Peas Fried Rice

2 T peanut oil
3-4 cups cooked brown rice
1 cup cooked chopped chicken
1 cup frozen peas
2 T soy sauce
1 T sesame oil

Follow recipe as above, adding the rice to the oil as soon as it's hot and adding chicken and peas once rice begins to brown.