chicken rice, chinese fried rice with chicken

Whenever there are left overs of rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken in my fridge, I make chicken fried rice. Its easy to make by stir-frying onions, few vegetables which you have and the shredded chicken. Its goes well with the Veg Manchurian gravy.

Ingredients

1.5 cups rice -soaked
½ pound cooked chicken breast- shredded
2 tsp garlic- finely chopped
2 tsp ginger- finely chopped
½ medium sized onion- thinly sliced
1/2 carrot- thinly sliced/grated
1-2 cups cabbage- thinly chopped
1 stem celery- sliced (optional)
3 stems spring onions- chopped
1/2 tsp- chili flakes
1 tsp -rice wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
2-3 tsp- olive /gingerly/sesame oil

Directions

Wash and soak the rice in enough water for 15-30 minutes and drain.
Boil water, add rice and little salt and little oil.
Cook the rice for 7-10 minutes and take care not to overcook the rice. Each grain of rice should be separate.
When rice is done, drain using a large sieve and allow the excess water to drain for 10-15 mins.
Spread the rice on a plate and allow it to cool down for 10-15 mins so that the rice stays separated.
Pour some olive oil on the rice so that rice does not stick when it is getting cooled.
Heat sesame/olive oil in a large pan and add the chopped ginger and garlic with the chili flakes.
After stirring for a min add the onions, celery.
When the onions get transparent, add carrots and stir for a min.
Now add the cabbage, vinegar, salt and pepper and make sure you do not overcook the vegetables.
Add the shredded chicken and the cooled rice and stir fry for 3-5 mins on medium flame.
Serve it on the plate and add the spring onions on the top.
You can add soya sauce or chili sauce acc to your taste.

Tips:

1.You can use raw chicken breast pieces-marinated chicken with soya sauce and salt and pepper and pan fry it ,2 mins on each side(Breast pieces with cook faster than thigh meats).Once it cools, shred it and add it to the rice.

2. You can also use day old refrigerated rice which was not over cooked.

Benefits of skinless chicken breast

Chicken is a very good source of lean, high quality protein. Protein is an essential nutrient for growth and development and also plays an important role in assisting overweight and obese people in losing weight fast.
Chicken is not only a very good source of niacin, but is also a good source of vitamin B6]. This particular mix of B-complex vitamins makes chicken a helpful food in supporting energy metabolism throughout the body.
Chicken is a very good source of the cancer-protective B vitamin, niacin.
Chicken meat is a good source of phosphorus, which is a very essential mineral for the body. Phosphorus maintains the health of teeth and bones, and also ensures healthy functioning of the kidneys, liver and the central nervous system.