Chicken Fried Rice

This is one of the first fast food started in Chennai. Trucks parked on the street used to sell  hot and spicy chicken fried rice....My dad, my little sister and myself used to gobble these up whenever we get the chance. I never dreamt that these can be made at home nor did I think that I would be making these one day.

This is one of the first recipes that I learnt after marriage. During those days whenever someone comes home for dinner or lunch this dish will surely be on menu. Its a very simple and easy recipe. Not to mention it is a favourite dish for many people!!! Now lets get onto the recipe....

INGREDIENTS:
Chicken - 350 g
Rice - 2 cups
Water - 4 cups + for cooking chicken
Eggs - 4
Ginger - 1 tbsp (finely chopped)
Garlic - 4 cloves (finely chopped)
Green Chilli - 2 (finely chopped)
Carrot - 1 ( shredded)
Beans - 7 (shredded)
Cabbage - 1/2 cup (shredded)
Capsicum - 1/2 cup (shredded)
Spring onions - 1/2 cup (1/4 cup +1/4 cup) (finely chopped)
Pepper - 3 tsp (1 1/2 +1 1/2)
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp +1 1/2 tsp
Ghee - 1 1/2 tsp

METHOD:
1) Wash and soak rice in water for 15 minutes. Drain the soaked rice and toss them lightly in a kadai (pan) with 1 1/2 tsp ghee ( or oil ) without breaking the rice for 30 seconds. Now cook the rice in a rice cooker by adding the 4 cups water and salt. For cooking rice in pressure cooker refer NOTES.
2) After the rice is cooked, spread it on a plate to cool. Pressure cook chicken with 2 tbsp water and salt for 3 whistles ( there will be some water after pressure cooking as chicken will let out water, if you are not making any gravy you can cook the chicken to make it dry). Remove bones if there are any and shred it into pieces.
3)  Next we need to prepare scrambled eggs. In a kadai heat 1 1/2 tsp oil and add the 4 eggs along with salt and keep stirring till you get scrambled eggs.
4) Now with all the preparations done, we just have to fry everything in a kadai at HIGH flame. Heat 1 1/2 tbsp oil in a kadai, add chopped garlic and ginger and toss it. Next add chopped green chilli and toss it well. Next fry onions lightly (don't cook till soft ), followed by carrots , beans and cabbage.
5) Now toss in capsicum and add salt and 1 1/2 tsp pepper. Next add 1/4 cup spring onions and mix well.
6) Add the shredded chicken and scrambled eggs and mix well so that chicken incorporates all the flavours. Now add the cooled rice along with remaining 1 1/2 tsp pepper and salt and mix well without breaking the rice. Lastly sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup spring onions.

Yummy, hot chicken fried rice is ready!!!

Serve hot with tomato sauce or your favorite manchurian....

NOTES:
1) To cook the rice in pressure cooker, for 1 cup rice add 1 3/4 cup water. Cook for 1 whistle and then keep it in simmer for 6 - 7 minutes.
2) Frying the rice before cooking adds a nice flavor to the rice.
3) Allow the rice to cool after cooking to get nice separate grains.
4) Always cook on high flame to get a nice flavour and don't overcook the veggies.
5) Add salt carefully as it is added in various stages.

Cheers,
Sindhiya.S