We all have those days where all you can do for dinner is park it on the couch and order your favorite Chinese feast, knowing full well it's way more than you can eat and likely all fried. It's delicious at the time, but 20 minutes later, your insides feel a little greased and it takes Herculean effort just to get up to put the lefties in the fridge. A friend of mine sent this recipe for sheet pan fried rice to me, and I knew I had to try it. I don't typically dabble in order-in staples, but this is a much healthier version of a delivery go-to, plus it's super quick, it almost seems too good to be true. When I thought about shows I've watched, a lot of them have good Chinese takeout moments, but I thought I'd assign this one to one of my favorite characters in recent memory. At the end of the first season of Jessica Jones (on Netflix), she tricks the season's villain, Kilgrave, into eating drugged Chinese food so she can take over her situation. It's such a badass move, and since Women's History Month is coming to a close, I thought it was appropriate to dedicate a dish to her.
The whole dish takes less than 30 minutes to make, and it's easy to adapt for a single serving or a side for 4.
Sheet Pan Fried Rice
inspired by Jessica Jones season 1, episode 8
makes 1 serving
3 tbsp spicy mayo (or mix sriracha with mayo and a little water)
1/2 tbsp canola oil
1 8oz pouch of microwavable rice
1/2 cup frozen vegetable mix, thawed
1 tsp minced garlic, about one clove
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1-2 eggs
salt to taste
sriracha to taste
Preheat oven with broiler on and rack in the center of the oven. Once hot, heat a sheet pan in the oven for about 5 minutes. Add oil and rice to pan, stir to coat and break up any clumps. Spread rice into an even layer and broil until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. Stir every 3-4 minutes while it broils. Once the rice is ready, add vegetable mix, garlic, salt, soy sauce and sesame oil. Toss to coat. Spread rice into an even layer again and form indentations with the back of a spoon to crack the egg(s). Broil 4-5 minutes, until the eggs are set. Drizzle with spicy mayo and sriracha and enjoy!
recipe adapted from Well Done.
[made while watching Parks and Rec (season 4).]
As they said in the musical Chicago, he had it coming.