Fried Rice Becomes A Powerhouse Breakfast When You Give It This High-Protein Twist

Enjoying fried rice for breakfast may seem like an odd choice, but considering a classic Korean breakfast is just fried eggs over steamed rice, along with the fact that traditional fried rice also includes eggs, it's just a small step from these dishes to breakfast-style fried rice. Not to mention, rice is also surprisingly high in protein (about five grams per cup), B complex vitamins, and magnesium, making it a nutrient-dense and satiating way to start your day. For as much protein as possible, just add your favorite breakfast meat to your fried rice.

This is one of the best ways to use up leftover rice, as slightly drier leftover rice is ideal for making fried rice because it's easier to get crispy and more readily absorbs seasonings. The best part is just how easy this breakfast dish is to make. In addition to rice and eggs, all you really need are some veggies and the protein of your choice. Think of the rice as a replacement for potatoes in a classic breakfast hash, as basically any flavors or ingredients that would normally go in that dish will also work in this version.

Rendering the breakfast meat down in your pan before adding anything else is a great idea because it gives you lots of flavorful fat in which to fry your rice, eggs, and minced veggies like green bell peppers and onions. Of course, if your meat doesn't release quite enough fat, feel free to supplement it with butter, or even sesame oil as a nod to the fried rice's Asian origins.

Breaking your fast this way is also a delicious method for upgrading takeout fried rice, especially if it was a little lackluster flavor-wise. After all, there's no better way to add flavor to things than by infusing it with crumbled bacon or pork sausage, as both are salty, smoky, rife with lush fat, and flavored with beautiful seasonings like applewood smoke, sage, and fennel, respectively. They work especially well with pre-seasoned takeout fried rice because the salty umami of soy sauce blends beautifully with the fat from both meats, creating a new deeply nuanced flavor.

The biggest pitfall to watch out for with this particular breakfast is making sure your veggies are either cut small enough to cook quickly with the rice, or give them a quick saute in the pan by themselves. These two methods help ensure the rice and veggies are done at the same time, avoiding the disaster of burned rice or crunchy, undercooked vegetables. This goes both for the aforementioned traditional American breakfast veggies and classic fried rice additions like carrots and peas.

This recipe is also extremely easy to customize, allowing you to stick to more familiar American flavors, or enjoy a true fusion of American breakfast meets Asian fare. Think Italian sausage and eggs with a little oyster sauce, bacon and minced onion with peas and a drizzle of chili crisp oil, or whisk a little white miso into your eggs before pouring them into the pan.