Kimchi Fried Rice Classic (Printable)

A flavorful Korean dish blending tangy kimchi, spicy chili paste, and savory veggies in a satisfying meal.

# What you'll need:

→ Rice

01 - 2 cups cooked short-grain rice (preferably day-old)

→ Vegetables & Kimchi

02 - 1 cup napa cabbage kimchi, chopped
03 - 2 tablespoons kimchi juice
04 - ½ cup yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - ½ cup carrot, diced
06 - 2 green onions, sliced (white and green parts separated)

→ Sauce & Seasonings

07 - 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)
08 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
09 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
10 - ½ teaspoon sugar
11 - ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Oil & Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
13 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
14 - 2 fried eggs (optional, for topping)

# Method:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, diced carrot, and white parts of green onion. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly softened.
02 - Add chopped kimchi to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and edges begin to caramelize.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, kimchi juice, sugar, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring to evenly coat the vegetables.
04 - Add the cooked rice, breaking up any clumps. Toss and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes until rice is heated through and fully coated.
05 - Drizzle toasted sesame oil over the fried rice and add the green parts of the green onion. Stir well to combine.
06 - In a separate pan, heat the remaining vegetable oil and fry eggs to desired doneness.
07 - Divide the fried rice into bowls, topping each with a fried egg and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in under 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinner that tastes like you actually tried.
  • Kimchi and gochujang do all the flavor heavy-lifting, so you can't really mess this up.
  • One pan, minimal prep, and enough heat to shake off any mood.
02 -
  • Day-old rice is non-negotiable—freshly cooked rice will turn into a sticky, clumpy mess no matter how hard you stir.
  • Don't skip the gochujang blooming step; it softens and integrates rather than tasting like a raw paste scattered through the rice.
  • The green onion whites go in early to cook, while the greens go in at the very end so they stay bright and fresh.
03 -
  • Keep your heat high and your movements quick once the rice goes in—it should sound like it's singing in the pan, not steaming softly.
  • Taste as you go; gochujang brands vary, so adjust the amount to your heat preference before the rice goes in.
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