Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links,
at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (1)

My family makes a version of this fried rice recipe every week as it’s one of our favorite meals! It’s also really easy to make and use any left over rice or veggies you have before grocery day. So, with my love and devotion to fried rice, I decided to make a new post for this vegetarian version of my very popular recipe for Healthy Fried Rice with Shrimp. Here it is with a few slight changes from the original and no shrimp for our vegetarian friends!

It’s addictively perfect in every way and so versatile for lots of different seasons, occasions and meals. I hope you love this fried rice recipe and it can become a weekly staple in your home just like it has in mine.

Fried Rice Recipe

This healthy fried rice recipe is not only delicious and simple! It’s also vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free.

Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (2)

More Healthy Dinner Options:

There are so many great dinner recipes on my blog, if you’re interested! Here are just a few that you might want to check out.

  1. Pesto Pasta Recipe (Gluten Free + Dairy Free Option).
  2. Easy Thai Curry Recipe (Gluten Free + Vegan).
  3. Healthy Stir Fry Orange Chicken (Gluten Free + Dairy Free).
  4. Fish Tacos with Tzatziki Sauce (Paleo + Gluten Free + Dairy Free).
Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (3)

Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients:

Coconut oil: This is the oil we’re using to fry the rice and veggies. It has a really delicious, sweet flavor the makes this rice taste so good. You can also use butter, ghee or avocado oil but those will all change the flavor of the finished dish quite a bit.

Eggs: I love having scrambled eggs in my fried rice. If you don’t just skip that step and leave them out.

Sea salt: Of course, sea salt is so important to bring all the flavors out perfectly. Feel free to adjust the amount of sea salt to your preferred level.

Garlic: Fresh garlic adds so much flavor and it’s packed with nutrients.

Onion: A yellow onion is what I used for this fried rice but, you could always substitute a shallot or leek, instead.

Carrots: Chopped carrots add a nice, crunchy texture to the rice that I like. But, you can replace the carrots with green peas or corn if you like.

Green onion: It’s nice to add in a rainbow of different colors for a larger range of nutrients and it’s beautiful as well.

Cooked rice: I like to use white jasmine rice but you can use short or long grain if you like, as well as brown rice.

Coconut aminos: This sauce tastes very similar to soy sauce and can be used interchangeably. You can also substitute tamari for a gluten free soy sauce for non soy-free option.

Honey: This ingredient brings a little sweetness that’s so tasty. Another option could be coconut sugar or cane sugar instead.

Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (4)

Fried Rice Recipe Tips:

This fried rice is fairly adaptable according to what you prefer and what you have on hand. Simply use any rice you enjoy or even cooked quinoa if you want.

I kept this recipe vegetarian but, feel free to add any protein you choose along side or on top of the rice.

This is the perfect recipe to make when you have any leftover rice from 1-2 days before! I love to make extra rice so I can have leftovers for the next day and it makes this meal even faster.

To make this recipe vegan, leave out the step with the scrambled eggs and substitute coconut sugar for honey.

If you don’t have coconut aminos, you can use tamari if you don’t need the recipe to be soy-free. You can also use organic soy sauce if you don’t need the recipe to be gluten free or soy free.

If you want to lower the sugar in this recipe, you can adjust the amount of honey in this recipe or leave it out, if you prefer.

Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (5)

Keyword: fried rice recipe

Author: Adrianne from Bananasaboutlife.com

Serves: 5

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil (to grease your pan)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 Tablespoons coconut oil (or sub avocado oil or butter)
  • 3-4 cloves garlic (finely minced)
  • 1/2 yellow onion (diced)
  • 2 medium carrots (diced)
  • 3 green onion with chives (thinly sliced)
  • 4 cups cooked rice (I use jasmine rice but any kind works)
  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos (sub tamari or organic soy sauce)
  • 1 Tablespoon honey (or coconut sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

  1. If you don’t already have cooked rice, cook it now according to the package instructions. Using 2 cups of dry rice will yield over 4 cups of cooked rice, with a little bit left over.
  2. Place a large fry pan over medium heat.
  3. To scramble your eggs, crack them into a small bowl and whisk them until the whites and yolks have combined. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to your pan and spread into a thin layer over the entire bottom, then add your whisked eggs. Sprinkle salt over the top and use a turner to stir the eggs until they’re cooked through to your liking. Then, transfer them to a plate and move them to the side.
  4. To your hot pan, add 3 tablespoons coconut oil, garlic, onion and carrots. Allow these to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and then add in your green onion.
  5. When the carrots are soft or cooked to your liking, add your cooked rice and stir until it’s well combined with the veggies. Fry in the pan, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes so the flavors have time to cook together.
  6. Turn off the heat and add in your scrambled eggs, as well as the coconut aminos, honey and sea salt. Stir until all the ingredients are mixed together. Serve with your choice of protein.
Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (6)

More Healthy Recipes:

If you would like to try out even more healthy recipes, feel free to take a look at these ones.

  1. Honey Lime Chicken Marinade (Gluten Free + Dairy Free).
  2. Healthy Baked Crispy Potatoes (Gluten Free + Vegan).
  3. Vegan “Sushi” Rolls with Sesame Ginger Sauce (Gluten Free).
Thank You For Visiting

This post is a recipe for healthy fried rice which is vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free. If you enjoyed this post and recipe, feel free to check out the other recipes on my website. I’m so grateful for any support you may give me and my new business through comments, sharing recipes or just visiting this website. Thank you for visiting and I hope the rest of your day is amazing!

Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (7)

Print Pin

Fried Rice

This fried rice is so flavorful and addicting! It's as enjoyable as your favorite restaurant version but made with whole food ingredients at home! Made gluten free, dairy free, soy free and can be easily adapted. Enjoy!

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine Chinese

Keyword Fried rice, Fried rice recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Author Adrianne

Ingredients

Scrambled Eggs

  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 4 eggs
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Fried Rice

  • 3 Tablespoons coconut oil or sub avocado oil or butter
  • 3-4 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 2 medium carrots diced
  • 3 green onion with chives thinly sliced
  • 4 cups cooked rice I use jasmine rice but any kind works
  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos sub tamari or organic soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon honey or coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • If you don’t already have cooked rice, cook it now according to the package instructions. Using 2 cups of dry rice will yield over 4 cups of cooked rice, with a little bit left over.

  • Place a large fry pan over medium heat.

  • To scramble your eggs, crack them into a small bowl and whisk until the whites and yolks have combined. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to your pan and spread into a thin layer over the entire bottom, then add your whisked eggs. Sprinkle salt over the top and use a turner to stir the eggs until they’re cooked through to your liking. Then, transfer them to a plate and move them to the side.

  • To your hot pan, add 3 tablespoons coconut oil, garlic, onion and carrots. Allow these to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and then add in your green onion.

  • When the carrots are soft or cooked to your liking, add your cooked rice and stir until it’s well combined with the veggies. Fry in the pan, stirring occasionally, for 5-10 minutes so the flavors have time to cook together.

  • Turn off the heat and add in your scrambled eggs, as well as the coconut aminos, honey and sea salt. Stir until all the ingredients are mixed together. Serve with your choice of protein.

Fried Rice Recipe (Vegetarian + Gluten Free + Dairy Free) - Bananas about Life (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooked rice for fried rice? ›

The fine, long grains of jasmine rice with its delicate flavour are perfect for fried rice.

Is fried rice good or bad for you? ›

Fried rice is not a nutritionally balanced meal on its own, and you should enjoy it in moderation as part of a varied and balanced diet. Adding a variety of vegetables, lean protein sources, and whole grains can help to improve the nutritional value of fried rice.

What vegetables go well with fried rice? ›

Stir-fried vegetables: This is a classic side dish that goes well with fried rice. You can use any type of vegetables that you like, but some good options include broccoli, carrots, snap peas, and onions.

Is Trader Joe's fried rice gluten free? ›

This product has 1 ingredient with gluten and 4 ingredients that may have gluten. Which diet do you follow? Follow more than one?

What makes fried rice taste better? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

What is fried rice syndrome? ›

Fried rice syndrome is food poisoning caused by a bacterium known as Bacillus cereus (B. cereus). This microscopic germ likes to live on starchy foods like rice and pasta, but it can set up shop on nearly any food. All this bacterium needs is the right combination of time and improper temperature.

Is Chinese restaurant fried rice unhealthy? ›

Typical side dishes like fried rice, lo mein noodles, crab rangoon, and egg rolls are high in calories — and fat. Healthier choices include steamed brown rice, sautéed or steamed vegetables, spring rolls, or soups like egg drop soup or hot and sour soup.

Is Chinese chicken fried rice bad for you? ›

It depends. Many fried rice recipes (especially chicken fried rice from takeout chains) have a large amount of fat, sugar, and salt. However, this recipe makes healthy swaps, like brown rice and minimal cooking oil, and packs in the protein and veggies, to make healthy chicken fried rice possible.

What is the best side dish for fried rice? ›

The best side dishes to serve with fried rice are chicken meatballs, chicken tikka masala, turmeric chicken, glazed salmon, Mongolian beef, beef curry, butter chicken, chicken adobo, Korean beef, roast beef, Chinese dumplings, fried egg, Thai coconut soup, chickpea, and potato curry, roasted asparagus, fish fingers, ...

Which country invented fried rice? ›

History. The earliest record of fried rice is in the Sui dynasty (589–618 AD) in China.

What do Chinese eat with rice? ›

In China, rice is usually served steamed and plain, although it may also be flavored with ingredients such as garlic, ginger, or soy sauce. Rice is typically eaten with a variety of dishes, including meat, vegetables, and soups.

Can celiacs eat fried rice? ›

Yes, usually Chinese fried rice has gluten in it. The gluten is found in soy sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce. What is this? Traditional soy sauce is naturally gluten free since it is made from fermented soy.

Why isn't fried rice gluten free? ›

Rice itself is gluten-free. However soy sauce which is ubiquitous in most fried rice dishes, is usually made with wheat, which contains gluten. The process of making the soy sauce breaks down the gluten, but the components are still there.

What Chinese rice is gluten free? ›

Even Asian or sticky rice, also called “glutinous rice,” is gluten-free, despite its name. In this case, the “glutinous” term refers to the sticky nature of the rice and not the gluten protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

Is pre cooked rice good for fried rice? ›

You could make fried rice from freshly cooked rice, but it's not likely going to have the right texture because it will be too moist. Leftover rice is ideal because it's drier and therefore, cooks great right in your skillet along with the other ingredients.

Is it OK to use cooked rice for fried rice? ›

Fresh-cooked: So long as you spread the rice out on a plate or tray while it's still hot and give it a few minutes to allow some surface moisture to evaporate, you can make excellent fried rice with fresh rice. Day-old rice: Day-old rice tends to clump, so you'll need to break it up by hand before stir-frying.

What kind of rice do most Chinese restaurants use? ›

In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice. If you love rice unconditionally, you should definitely try out Fried Rice varieties (available in veg & no-veg) from Hong's Kitchen.

Why use old cooked rice for fried rice? ›

Using old rice for fried rice is actually preferred by many cooks and chefs, as the rice tends to be drier and less sticky, which makes it easier to fry and results in a better texture. In fact, in many Asian cultures, leftover rice is often intentionally stored for a day or two before using it to make fried rice.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5939

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dean Jakubowski Ret

Birthday: 1996-05-10

Address: Apt. 425 4346 Santiago Islands, Shariside, AK 38830-1874

Phone: +96313309894162

Job: Legacy Sales Designer

Hobby: Baseball, Wood carving, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Lacemaking, Parkour, Drawing

Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.