With just a few simple ingredients, you can make delicious hibachi-style fried rice at home! It’s quick, easy, and tastes just like what you get at a Japanese steakhouse.
1. Heat the wok
This easy fried rice is just like the kind you get at hibachi steakhouses. It’s made on a Blackstone or any other flat top griddle and only takes 30 minutes to make! You only need one pan, high heat and a few key ingredients.
The first thing you need to do is cook and cool the rice. This will help it to stand up to the high heat of stir frying and prevent it from becoming mushy. While the rice is cooling, you can prepare the rest of the ingredients. This is a good time to marinate the chicken, chop the carrots and mince the garlic. You will also want to measure out the soy sauce and sesame oil.
In a large skillet or wok, pour in 2 tablespoons of the cooking oil and heat on medium-high. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add in the onions and saute until soft and translucent. Add in the minced garlic and stir fry for about 30 seconds.
Remove the mixture from the heat and set aside in a small bowl. In the same wok or skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Toasted sesame oil is preferred, but regular works just as well. You can use salted or unsalted butter, just be sure to add the salt to the recipe if using salted. Then, in batches, stir and toss the rice over the hot griddle until it becomes a golden brown with a tight skin over each grain.
2. Add the rice
Hibachi fried rice is a delicious way to enjoy leftovers, but it can also be made on demand. All you need is a few simple ingredients and a few quick and easy steps to whip up this delicious meal at home. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or lunch and it tastes just like the kind you get at a Japanese steakhouse!
Start by adding vegetable oil and sesame oil to a large pan or wok. Heat over medium high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Add the chopped onions and saute them until they begin to soften. Then, stir in the garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds.
Next, add the cooked rice and stir to evenly coat everything with the onion mixture and garlic. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring and breaking up any clumps of rice. You can also add some frozen peas, if you want, to make it a little heartier and more filling.
Note: It’s best to use rice that has been cooled down for this recipe, because it holds up better to the high heat of hibachi cooking. You can also replace the white rice with brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice, if you prefer.
This hibachi fried rice is the perfect accompaniment to teriyaki chicken or you could even make a full-on Japanese steakhouse-style dinner at home! Just serve it on a plate with some homemade yum yum sauce and you’ll have a meal that everyone will love!
3. Add the onions
If you’ve been to a hibachi steakhouse, you’ve probably seen the chef making the rice right in front of you on a large griddle with yum yum sauce and eggs. It’s a fun experience, but you can make it at home without the built in entertainment! This easy fried rice recipe is quick and tasty. It’s great with chicken, steak, shrimp or a combination of all three! Add some frozen peas or carrots for extra color and flavor. You can even replace the white rice with brown rice, quinoa or couscous for a healthier version of this classic dish.
Cooked and chilled rice works best for this recipe, as it holds up well to high heat and will not get mushy. It also makes it easier to stir fry all of the ingredients in a small amount of oil. Using toasted sesame oil instead of regular will give it more flavor as well!
Heat a wok or a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the sesame oil and vegetable oil (hibachi cooking oil blend or canola, cottonseed or peanut oil will work) and the onions. Fry the onions for 30 seconds before adding the garlic. Cook the garlic for 30 more seconds before adding the rice. Stir the rice to coat it in the oil and seasonings. Turn up the heat to medium-high and stir fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add the garlic
After chopping the garlic, add it to the oil in your wok or large skillet. Let the oil start to sizzle and turn a golden color. This is the best way to cook fried rice because it allows the garlic to get a little bit crispy, which really enhances its flavor.
Stir in the cold rice and make sure it gets well coated with the sauce. Then cook for a few minutes to heat it up and break up any clumps of rice. At this point, you can mix in any vegetables you want. Frozen peas and carrots are a classic, but edamame is also delicious! You could also try using frozen spinach, or any other vegetable you have on hand.
When making hibachi fried rice, it’s important to use a large pan with a lot of surface area. It’s also important to use a high heat. This is because if you cook the rice and vegetables too slowly, they will steam instead of being stir-fried.
Hibachi chefs typically have a special blend of cooking oils they use for their food. These usually include a combination of canola, cottonseed, and peanut oil. They also use a special seasoning that adds extra flavor to their dishes. It’s called shichimi togarashi and you can find it at most Asian markets or online. It’s made with 7 different spices and is great for adding depth to dishes.
5. Add the eggs
When you go to a hibachi restaurant, the chef cooks the fried rice right in front of you on a large griddle with yum yum sauce. There are always a few eggs that get cooked on top too. It is a very easy thing to do at home. This recipe is quick and easy and you can add whatever vegetables you want to it. This is the perfect dish to make for a family meal or dinner party.
If you do not have a hibachi grill, you can make this fried rice in a skillet or large wok over high heat. The key is to use high heat so everything cooks quickly and the rice gets a little charred on the edges. It is important to make sure that you do not overcook the rice or it will be mushy and unpleasant.
Once the rice has cooled, spread it out on a cookie sheet and refrigerate it for an hour. This will help to harden the grains and make it more clump resistant. It will also help the fried rice keep its shape better when you stir it.
You can serve this fried rice right away, but it is even better the next day. You can store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days or you can freeze it for later. It will reheat well in the microwave, but it is recommended that you reheat the fried rice on low and stir it several times during reheating to ensure that the temperature is evenly distributed.
6. Add the sauce
While you may not have the acrobatic griddle skills of a hibachi chef, you can still enjoy irresistible fried rice at home with this recipe. Simply use day old rice (not cooked that same day) and a few other ingredients to make this easy, yet authentic, dish. You can serve it as a side to teriyaki chicken or complete a full-on hibachi dinner at home by pairing this rice with hibachi steak and mushrooms, or shrimp and broccoli.
Toasted sesame oil is a must, as it brings in tons of flavor to this dish. You can also add a little bit of brown sugar to the sauce, if desired. The sweetness pairs nicely with the savory flavors in this dish.
If you’re adding meat to your fried rice, I recommend using chicken thighs or strip steak for maximum tenderness. This type of meat has more fat marbling, which helps it stay juicy and tender when browned over high heat.
Finally, don’t forget to season the fried rice with some white pepper. This is a common cooking spice that has a spicy-sour flavor and is often used in Japanese cuisine. You can find white pepper at any supermarket or at most Asian grocery stores. Just a pinch is enough to give this recipe that final punch of flavor. This fried rice will keep well in the refrigerator. Just be sure to spread it out in an airtight container, or a plastic storage bag, and press out as much of the air as possible.
