Billionaire Fried Rice

Ingredient Tips for Billionaire Fried Rice

• EGGS – Instead of the traditional method of using whole eggs, this recipe only uses egg whites!
• DRIED SCALLOPS – The recipe calls for the use of dried scallops, which are then rehydrated until they’re soft and pliable. You’ll see the packaging included in the photo above. This is the main protein in the dish, so I can’t suggest a sub 🙁
• GAI LAN (or CHINESE BROCCOLI) – This dish utilizes only the stems of gai lan, which are cut into discs. I buy mine from 99 Ranch (a Chinese grocery chain) – if you are not able to find gai lan in stores, you can use the stems of broccoli instead (do not use the heads)!
• WHITE PEPPER – I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)
• MSG – As always, this is optional 🙂

Recipe Tips for Billionaire Fried Rice

REHYDRATE YOUR SCALLOPS

• You’ll need to rehydrate the dried scallops, as they’ll feel almost rock hard straight out of the packaging. Place them in a bowl of water and let them rehydrate overnight. You’ll know they’re ready when they are soft and pliable, to the point that you can tear them by hand. Drain the water and pat the scallops dry to get rid of excess moisture before shredding into thin strands.

RICE

• Do not use freshly steamed rice! The rice should be at least one day old to avoid having too much moisture; too much moisture in the rice will make your fried rice soggy and mushy.

CRUMBLE YOUR OLD RICE

• I like to crumble my rice (I’ve found that dried out rice gets clumpy) – this helps each rice grain get cooked and coated in all of the delicious flavors!

Cooking With a Wok (Alternatives)

By now, you know that I LOVE cooking with my carbon steel wok! It is my #1 most recommended kitchen tool, as I believe it is perfect for high-heat cooking and results in restaurant quality Chinese food!

If it is your first time cooking with a wok, make sure to read my “How To Season a Wok” post. There is a video included that shows exactly how to season your brand new wok and how to maintain it so it lasts for years.

If you cannot or do not want to use a wok, you can use a large pan, cast iron, or even a dutch oven.

My KEY TIP would be to avoid crowding your pan – crowding can lead to your Billionaire Fried Rice not cooking thoroughly and becoming mushy. If you think your dish will be crowded, use a larger pan, cast iron, or dutch oven, OR cook in batches.