Golden Fried Rice with Cajun Shrimp is an appetizer incorporated into a main course creating a fusion delight featuring fried rice in egg yolk, tender shrimp coated with homemade Cajun seasoning and fried with panko. Simple weeknight meal that will keep you coming back for more!
Cajun shrimp and golden fried rice are a culinary match made in heaven. The Cajun cuisine originated from the French Acadians who settled in the southern United States, particularly in Louisiana. At its core, a blend of spices known as the Cajun seasoning is used in Cajun and Creole cuisine, incorporated into dishes like jambalaya, grilled meats, dips and sauces and even sprinkled on popcorn.
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What is Golden Fried Rice?
Golden fried rice is a classic Asian creation which attests for simplicity in cooking due to its few ingredients. The magic lies in the transformation of cold, leftover rice into aromatic flavors and bold textures.
In the past year, golden fried rice has really hit the internet where many people tried out their own recipe variations. Golden Fried Rice or its Chinese name, “Huang Jing Chao Fan”, basically comes from fried rice made from egg yolk mixed with the leftover rice. Each grain of rice is coated yellow before cooking it on a hot wok with sesame oil. Very few ingredients like garlic, green onions and seasoning are used to make this Asian comfort food. It is one of those dishes that really looks simple to make, but it can be messed up in so many ways.
But as you know we always try recipes with a fusion of cultures here, and what better way to eat Chinese fried rice than with a crunch of Cajun Panko Fried Shrimp. This fried rice recipe was quick and easy to make as it included mostly basic ingredients found at home.
After a few trial and errors, I finally perfected this gem of a dish where I incorporated crispy fried Cajun shrimp into leftover fried rice with eggs and a hint of chili oil. Although it sounds just like a regular shrimp fried rice dish, the homemade Cajun seasoning elevates your regular fried rice experience with a kick of spice.
Keep scrolling to find out how I prepared this quick weeknight meal with some tips from the mistakes I made.
Ingredients
Herbs and Spices: salt, white pepper powder
Liquids: sesame oil, chili oil, vegetable oil for deep frying
Regular ingredients: shrimp, eggs, rice flour, panko bread crumbs, Jasmine rice, garlic, spring onions
Specialty ingredients: cajun seasoning
See recipe card for quantities.
Walk through the Recipe
Let’s prepare our Golden Fried Rice with Cajun Shrimp.
We start off by mixing shrimp with Cajun seasoning, egg whites, rice flour and salt.
We then dry coat the shrimps in panko bread crumbs and deep fry for a couple of minutes or until golden and crispy.
In a bowl, we mix egg yolks with leftover cold Jasmine rice to coat each grain of rice.
Let’s prepare the fried rice by frying the remaining egg whites in sesame oil and set aside. In the same wok, we saute garlic and spring onion whites.
We then add in the egg yolk rice and give it a quick toss to mix the ingredients and reduce moisture from the rice.
We add salt and white pepper powder for seasoning and give it another toss.
It's finally time to create the fusion dish. We mix the spring onion greens and crispy cajun shrimp with the golden fried rice.
We now move the fried rice to a serving bowl/plate and garnish with spring onions and top it off with a spoon of chili oil.
Substitutions
You can replace some of the ingredients in the recipe, to suit what you have at home, or if you don't find them in the store
- Panko bread crumbs: regular bread crumbs, all-purpose flour
- Rice flour: corn starch, potato starch
- Shrimp: chicken, tofu
- Jasmine rice: long-grain white rice
Tips
- Don't overcrowd the pan: It's essential not to overcrowd the pan or wok. Cook in batches if working in large quantities. It also allows even cooking and prevents the rice from becoming mushy. Using a spatula or wok spatula helps keep the rice separate.
- Use leftover cold rice: Cook rice on the previous day and store it in the refrigerator. Cold rice grains are firmer and less likely to clump together during stir-frying.
- Egg yolk from shrimp batter: Since we only use egg whites for the shrimp batter, use the remaining yolks in the leftover rice.
- High Heat: Use a large, heavy-bottomed pan or wok and cook over high heat for quick and even cooking. It also helps to achieve the desired "wok hei" or smoky flavor.
- Shrimp batter before frying: Cajun seasoning might have little salt so adjust the salt accordingly while preparing the batter for frying the shrimp.
- Fry in Batches: Do not overcrowd the frying pan. Fry the shrimp in small batches to ensure they cook evenly and dry on a paper towel to remove excess oil
FAQs
Yes, you can air-fry crispy prawns for a healthier alternative. Simply coat the prawns with a light layer of oil, place them in the air fryer basket, and cook at the recommended temperature until they are crispy and cooked through.
Yes, you can make a vegetarian version by using tofu or tempeh as a protein source instead of shrimp. Remember to season the tofu/tempeh with Cajun seasoning for added flavor.
You can store the leftover fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat it in a pan or microwave until hot before serving.
It is preferable to use leftover rice as it's firmer and less likely to become mushy during stir-frying. However, you can use freshly cooked rice if you allow it to cool and dry out a bit before using.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Tender Beef Karahi Recipe
- Jerk Shrimp Pasta (Rasta Pasta Recipe)
- Mushroom Pappardelle
- Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl
Fusion Recipes
Try out some of our specialty recipes:
- Jerk Chicken Quesadilla
- Sumac Fries
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts Recipe (Indian style)
- Easy Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls
Recipe
Golden Fried Rice with Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 500 grams grams shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 egg whites
- 2 tablespoon rice flour
- Panko bread crums
- salt to taste
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
For the rice
- 2 cups cooked leftover Jasmine rice
- 2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 eggs
- 1 bunch spring onions
- ½ teaspoon white pepper powder
- 2 teaspoon chili oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, Mix cleaned shrimp with Cajun seasoning, egg whites, rice flour and salt to taste. Cajun seasoning might have salt so adjust accordingly. All little water if required
- Heat three inches of oil in a saucepan, Add the panko breadcrumbs to a separate plate. With one hand lift each prawn and place it in the panko bread crumbs and use your other hand to coat the prawns. Gently place the prawns in the oil and deep fry for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Set aside
- In a bowl, add four egg yolks to leftover cold rice and mix well. Finely slice spring onions and separate the whites from the greens
- In a hot wok with sesame oil, add the remaining egg whites, once cooked, push it to the side of the wok and sauté minced garlic and spring onions whites in some more oil. Add the egg yolk rice and give it a quick toss. Add salt to taste and white pepper for seasoning
- Add in the spring onion greens and crispy fried shrimps. Give the wok another toss before moving it to a serving bowl/plate. Sprinkle some spring onions for garnish and add a spoon of chili oil for extra kick
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