Singapore Fried Rice
Singapore Fried Rice is a Fusion Chinese rice dish popular in the Chinese takeaways and fast food places in many Countries. It is flavor-packed, delicious and is great to make when you are simply bored with your regular Classic Fried Rice. This Singapore fried rice can be made to a vegetarian, vegan or meat-based meal depending on your choice. In this post I share the vegetarian version with stepwise pictures. I also include tips and notes to make the eggetarian (Lacto-ovo-vegetarian), meat based and seafood versions.
I am sure a lot of you may be excited to know more about this dish.
Singapore Fried Rice
Singapore Fried Rice is a Chinese fried rice variation made with rice, vegetables, soya sauce, curry powder, spices like ginger, garlic and chilli. The vegetarian version is sometimes made with tofu and the non-vegetarian with shrimp, eggs or chicken. Curry powder is the main ingredient that imparts a distinct curry like flavor to the Singapore fried rice.
The origin of this Singapore fried rice is not known and as the name says it is not even something that evolved or is made in Singapore. After living in Singapore for almost 16 years, I am still unable to trace this anywhere in the country.
Singapore is said to be a Asian food paradise and the local cuisine hails from everywhere across the world. The Local Singapore food is a mix & fusion of all cuisines that emerge into more interesting and delicious dishes. You will most commonly find Indian, Chinese and Malay foods all over the country.
The country being a popular tourist and business destination may have inspired some genius to invent this Singapore fried rice which is a fusion of the Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisines.
While I researched about the dish for years, I understand that this is made with different kinds of curry powders ranging from Madras curry powder, British curry powder to Malay Curry powder.
This Recipe
This recipe will help you make healthy, nutritious and filling meal that is also fragrant. To add some protein, you may also use paneer/tofu or eggs. If you are a meat eater, you can also add some chicken or shrimps.
This dish is also served as a street food in India. Since no curry powder is made or used there, chefs often use garam masala and coriander powder as a replacement to it. But I can say a good fragrant curry powder is the key here that can transform your dish from average to flavorful.
I have tried this dish with various kinds of spice powders including the Pav bhaji masala but that tasted something similar to Tawa pulao. The Malay meat curry powder (with star anise, but no meat in it), Indian Sambar Powder and Misal Masala worked well for me.
How to Make Singapore Fried Rice (Stepwise photos)
Cook Rice
1.Add 1 cup basmati or jasmine rice to a large pot and rinse well a few times. Drain the water completely. Pour 2 cups of water and add a few drops of oil (optional). Bring the water to a rolling boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook on a low heat until al dente (cooked fully but not mushy). Drain any excess water to a colander and add back the rice to the same pot.
Rice is a little moist at the bottom. Using a spoon, turn the rice from the bottom to the top. Cover the hot rice and place aside for 5 to 6 mins. Later fluff with a fork.
Preparation
2. While the rice cooks, Prepare the veggies. You will need:
- ⅓ cup carrots (1 medium carrot, chopped finely)
- 3 sprigs spring onions (separate the greens and whites)
- ⅓ cup green beans (or French beans, 8 to 10 chopped finely)
- ⅓ cup Bell peppers (chopped, any color)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (5 to 6 medium cloves, fine chopped)
- ¾ to 1 tablespoon ginger (1 inch, peeled fine chopped)
- 1 green chilli chopped (optional)
3. You won’t have time to look around for the ingredients. So you need to set aside everything before you begin to stir fry the dish. To a small plate add:
- 1 star anise (optional for flavor, skip if using Malay curry powder)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chilli powder (Kashmiri or paprika)
- 1 ½ teaspoon curry powder (or sambar powder or ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala)
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon crushed black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to your taste)
- 1 to 2 dried red chillies
4. Pour 1 tablespoon soya sauce, ¾ to 1 tablespoon red chilli sauce, 1 to 1½ tablespoon ketchup, ½ teaspoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) and ½ teaspoon sugar to a small bowl. Set this aside.
5. Dice your paneer or extra firm pressed tofu and set aside. To use eggs, chicken or shrimp, refer notes section in the recipe card.
Fry Paneer or Tofu
6. To a wok, add 1 tablespoon oil and heat it. When the oil is hot enough, add the paneer/ tofu.
7. Let fry until golden and crisp on a medium high heat, then turn them to the other side and fry again until crisp. Remove to a plate.
8. Pour another tablespoon oil to the hot wok. Add the star anise, dried red chilies, spring onion whites and green chilies.
9. Let them fry until you begin to smell the ginger garlic.
10. Add all the chopped veggies and half of the salt. Begin to stir fry on a high heat until tender.
11. Reduce the flame to lowest and stir in turmeric, red chilli powder, coriander powder, curry powder and the rest of the salt.
12. Stir fry for a minute.
13. Pour all the sauce and 3 tablespoons water. Increase the flame and cook.
14. After 2 mins your sauces will cook and become fragrant.
15. Add the cooled rice.
16. Mix and stir fry for 1 to 2 mins until the Singapore fried rice is hot. Taste test and adjust salt and more soya sauce if required. Turn off.
17. Add the fried paneer/ tofu and spring onion greens.
Give a stir and serve Singapore Fried rice hot or warm.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Singapore Fried Rice Recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1 cup rice (uncooked basmati/ jasmine or 3 cups cooked)
- ⅓ cup carrots (chopped fine, 1 medium carrot)
- ⅓ cup green beans (or French beans chopped fine, 8 to 10)
- ⅓ cup Bell peppers (chopped, any color)
- 3 sprigs spring onions
- 1 tablespoon garlic fine chopped (5 to 6 medium cloves)
- ¾ to 1 tablespoon ginger fine chopped (1 inch, peeled)
- 1 green chilli chopped optional
- 1 dried red chilli broken optional
- 2 tablespoons oil (peanut or any cooking oil of choice)
- 1 star anise (optional for flavor)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chilli powder (low heat like Kashmiri or paprika)
- 1 ½ teaspoon curry powder (or sambar powder or ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala)
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper crushed
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Soya Sauce (organic or at least naturally brewed)
- ¾ to 1 tablespoon red chilli sauce (sweet and sour or any hot sauce)
- 1 to 1 ½ tablespoon tomato ketchup (optional)
- ½ teaspoon rice vinegar (or apple vinegar)
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
Optional (refer notes)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 125 grams paneer / extra firm pressed tofu (or 6 ounces shrimps or boneless chicken, refer notes)
- 1 to 2 eggs (refer notes)
Instructions
- Add rice to a bowl and rinse well a couple of times. Drain the water completely.
- Pour 2 cups water and a few drops of oil (optional). Bring it to a rolling boil on a high heat. Once the water begin to boil, lower the flame completely. Cover and cook until the rice is cooked to al dente (perfectly cooked but not mushy). Turn off the heat.
- Drain the excess water from the rice, if any to a colander. Add the rice back to the pot. Cover and rest for 5 to 7 mins. Later fluff up with a fork. Cool the rice aside.
- Optional – To add paneer/tofu, Chicken/shrimp, refer notes and cook them first.
- While the rice cooks, prepare the veggies. Separate the green and whites of the spring onions.
- Set aside all the spice powders and pour the required soya, red chilli sauce, ketchup, sugar and vinegar to a small bowl. Keep all these aside.
How to Make Singapore Fried Rice
- Heat oil in the wok on a medium high heat and add star anise (optional), green chilies, red chilies, spring onion whites, ginger and garlic. Fry until aromatic without burning.
- Add all the veggies and salt. Cook until the veggies are tender.
- Reduce the heat. Stir in all the spice powders – red chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, curry powder (or garam masala) and black pepper.
- Increase the heat to high. Pour all of the sauces and 3 tablespoons water. Mix well. The sauces and spices cook together and become thick under 2 mins.
- Add the rice and mix well. Taste test and adjust salt and soya if required. Fry for a minute or 2 until the rice becomes hot. Add spring onions greens and the toppings you made if any (paneer/tofu/shrimp or chicken).
- Serve Singapore fried rice hot or warm. You won't need any sides for this.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of curry powder, sauces and spices to your taste. Every brand is different in flavor and heat levels.
- To use paneer or tofu, add them to 1 tablespoon hot oil in a wok and fry until golden and crisp. Remove to a plate.
- To use shrimp or chicken, mix together shrimp or chopped chicken ( ½ inch), ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon red chilli powder, 1 teaspoon soya sauce, 1 teaspoon ketchup. Add 1 egg and mix well. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok. Add the shrimp or chicken to the hot oil, retain the leftover egg in the bowl. Cook until the chicken or shrimp is almost cooked. Pour the remaining egg all over the meat and cook until fully cooked but not overcooked. Remove to a plate and continue making the Singapore fried rice.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Singapore Fried Rice first published in January 2013. Updated and republished in June 2022.
Fan freakin tastic
Very nice
Thank you
temptingly delicious.
tempting swasthi
Hi Swasthi, love your colourful fried rice. Look really delicious. I don't mind to have 2 plates, please.:)<br /><br />Have a nice weekend, regards.
Looks great. My girls will love it.
Wow, is is truly appetizing!
swasthi, pls check your mail and let me know your feedback..
you have the most amazing list of rice recipes..want them all!!
Very colorful and flavorful fried rice!
WIsh i get a plate of this fried rice rite now even after having my dinner.Droolworthy dish.
wow….it looks so scrumptious!<br />
Yummy n colourful rice.
Quick and simple dish.. Perfect for lunch.. Very colorful too..
Yummy colorful rice,tempting