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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dishes / Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi)

    Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi)

    Posted: Aug 13, 2022 Last Modified: Aug 9, 2022 by Carmy · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Ready in less than 20 minutes, this Japanese Fried Rice, also known as Yakimeshi, is so easy to make. It only requires a few simple ingredients and makes for the perfect weeknight dinner.

    If your fridge is looking a little bare at the end of the week, then this Japanese fried rice is perfect for you. Also called yakimeshi, this fried rice uses kitchen staples and turns it into a flavourful hearty meal.

    Close up of a plate of Japanese fried rice with a black and silver spoon tucked into the rice.

    Why You’ll Love This Fried Rice Recipe

    • It comes together really quickly! The part that takes the longest is probably making sure the rice is well combined.
    • It uses a lot of pantry staples. I love making fried rice as a lot of times, it’s an easy way to empty out the fridge by using leftovers.
    • It’s a complete meal! There’s a little bit of everything in the rice so you don’t need to make any sides.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Ingredients needed to make yakimeshi.
    • oil — a neutral flavoured oil such as canola oil is great for yakimeshi.
    • ham — I usually use black forest ham but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Don’t have ham? Try bacon, shredded chicken, or ground pork instead.
    • green onions — the more the merrier, in my humble-green-onion-loving-opinion.
    • leftover cooked rice — I always use jasmine rice for fried rice but for Japanese fried rice, you’ll need short-grain Japanese rice. Chilled leftover rice is ideal as cold rice is more firm and decreases the chances of your fried rice turning out mushy. Short grain Japanese rice gives the fried rice a slightly sticky and chewy texture.
    • salt and pepper
    • soy sauce — use low sodium soy sauce.
    • Kewpie mayo — it adds some tangy sweetness to the fried rice.
    • eggs — I use two eggs.
    • peas — no need to thaw frozen peas. Just add them straight into the pan.

    How to Make Japanese Fried Rice

    Ham and green onions added to a pan.
    Cooked white rice added to a pan.
    Salt, pepper, soy sauce, and mayo added to the pan.
    • Add oil to a wok or large pan over high heat. Then add the diced ham and green onions. Stir fry for 2 minutes.
    • Add the cooked rice along with the salt, pepper, soy sauce, and mayonnaise. Toss until fully combined.
    Egg added to the middle of the pan.
    Eggs scrambled in the pan.
    • Make a well in the middle of the pan and add the eggs to the middle.
    • Scramble them well in the middle until cooked through before tossing it with the rest of the rice mixture.
    Peas added to the fried rice.
    A pan of yakimeshi fried rice.
    • Add the peas to the fried rice and mix to combine.
    • Top with more green onions if desired.
    A spoonful of yakimeshi.

    Recipe Tips and Notes

    • If you have a rice cooker, you can change the setting to make slightly “harder” rice when you cook it the night before. It’ll help the rice grains hold their shape better when you use it for yakimeshi. (Here’s a review of the rice cooker I have)
    • Feel free to swap the peas for frozen carrots, corn, onions, etc. Use what you have on hand!
    • Keep the temperature high as it helps keep the fried rice from being mushy or soggy.
    A plate of Japanese fried rice with a spoon inside.

    Make Ahead Tips

    • Meal prep: once cooled, store the cooked fried rice in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
    • Freezer: allow the fried rice to cool before transferring them into an airtight container before storing them in the freezer.
    Overhead view of a plate of Japanese fried rice with green onions on top.
    Why do I need cold rice for fried rice?

    I always use cold leftover rice that I’ve left in the fridge overnight as it has had the chance to firm up. Using cold rice makes it easier to separate when frying and decreases the chances of your fried rice turning out mushy. I’ve tried this with freshly cooked rice before, and it gets sticky and mushy quickly.

    I always make my rice the night before. If you don’t have leftover rice, you can cook the rice and then spread it out on a sheet pan so it can cool quickly in the fridge for an hour or so.

    What’s the difference between hibachi and yakimeshi?

    Hibachi fried rice and yakimeshi are pretty similar, but they use different types of rice. Yakimeshi uses short-grain Japanese rice, whereas hibachi fried rice usually uses medium-grain rice.

    How is Japanese fried rice different from Chinese fried rice?

    Just like yakimeshi vs hibachi, the difference is the rice. Chinese fried rice is usually made with long-grain rice such as jasmine rice whereas Japanese fried rice is made with short-grain rice.

    A plate of Japanese fried rice with a spoon inside.

    Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi)

    Ready in less than 20 minutes, this Japanese Fried Rice, also known as Yakimeshi is so easy to make. It only requires a few simple ingredients and makes for the perfect weeknight dinner.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    Total Time: 15 mins
    Servings: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1-2 tbsp oil
    • 4-5 slices cooked ham, diced
    • 4-5 stalks green onions, diced
    • 3 cups cooked rice, Japanese short-grain rice
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper
    • 1 tbsp soy sauce, low sodium
    • 1½ tbsp Kewpie mayo
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup frozen peas

    Instructions

    • Add oil to a wok or large pan over high heat. Then add the diced ham and green onions. Stir fry for 2 minutes.
    • Add the cooked rice along with the salt, pepper, soy sauce, and mayonnaise. Toss until fully combined.
    • Make a well in the middle of the pan and add the eggs to the middle.
    • Scramble them well in the middle until cooked through before tossing it with the rest of the rice mixture.
    • Add the peas to the fried rice and mix to combine. Top with more green onions before serving if desired.
    Tried this recipe?Did you make this recipe? I’m always so happy to hear about it! I’d love to see how it turned out. Tag me at @CarmysHungry on Instagram so I can see it! If you enjoyed the recipe, I’d really appreciate a comment with a 5 star rating! ♥

    Nutrition Per Serving

    Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 536IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg
    Author: Carmy
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Japanese

    More Fried Rice Recipes To Try

    • Sriracha Fried Rice
    • Hibachi Chicken and Fried Rice
    • Hibachi Shrimp and Fried Rice
    • Kimchi Fried Rice
    • Chinese Sausage Fried Rice (Lap Cheong Fried Rice)
    • Ketchup Fried Rice

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    Carmy is a healthy-ish living blogger based in Ontario. Here, you can find healthy-ish meal prep recipes, Instant Pot recipes, and lightened up family favourites! Follow along as she shares what she learns along the way!

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