Natira (Leftover) Fried Rice

Here is an easy meal to make in 30 mins or less. The components are Rice, Meat and Veggies.

Rice – The best rice for fried rice is day old rice. Cold rice will work if it was made in the morning, but it must be cold.
Meat – You can use chicken, pork or steak, but chicken and pork taste the best.
Veggies – Veggies are what you have in the fridge. I use what is cooked but raw celery and frozen onions are a tasty addition.

The Story:
Many a night I have come home after work to be staring at an empty stove with 5 or 6 hungry people longingly looking at me. Immediately I would go to the fridge and pull out any leftovers, from those humble beginnings this meal started. During the pandemic this Natira Fried Rice is a weekly staple. It has become a comfort meal.

There is no MSG, no added Salt, just the explosion of flavor from each ingredient culminating prior to the empty bowl. Leaving the satisfaction of heightened senses and a full stomach.

This is a Healthy and Tasty meal. While cooking each ingredient a tantalizing aroma will be produced, which is the beginning of making a great meal. Each smell wafts through the air calling familiar memories. As new scents are added the complexity and anticipation builds.

The benefits of this meal are:
1) Easy to make,
2) Using precooked foods reduces time.
3) A good use of small portions from former meals.

This meal will serve 4 people, increase amounts when feeding more guests.

Skill Level:
Easy

Time to Complete:
30 minutes +-

Tools:
Large Fry Pan,
Large Metal Spatula,
Vegetable Knife,
Cutting Surface and
Teaspoon.

Ingredients:
Rice - 3+/- cups cooked,
Meat - 3-5 pieces,
Veggies - 1/2 cup,
Chopped Onions - 1/3 cup,
Minced Garlic - 2-4 teaspoons,
Celery - 1 stock,
Pine Nuts - 1/3 cup,
Toasted Sesame Oil - 1/4 cup and
Water as needed (not shown).

Not everyone has Minced Garlic, Pine Nuts or Sesame Oil. Substitute with what you have. I will add substitutions as needed.

Let’s go make a Natira Fried Rice.

Prepare any uncooked veggies.

If you are using uncooked or frozen veggies, this is the time they can be "steamed" while you are cutting and searing the meat. In this step you will be "cooking" those veggies that need more time to heat. Some vegetables do not require much time to cook. Onions are often overcooked and loose their flavor because they are added too soon into the cooking process. For this meal I didn't have any leftover veggies so I cut up and "steamed" some peppers.

1) Cut the veggies into small pieces.
2) Place into dish with small amount of water in microwave.
3) Heat for 1 - 2 min depending on amount and type of veggies.

Next step Meat

Here you are searing the meat. The burner is set at Medium / High heat. After you cut your meat into cubed pieces sear the pieces for a couple of mins until the aroma permeates the kitchen. When meat is heated move the meat from the center of the pan to the edges. The meat has already been cooked and has the previous meal's flavor. No need to add more spices.

1) Cut meat into cubes.
2) Set to Medium / High heat.
3) Sear meat 3 mins.
4) Move meat to pan edges.

Next step Vegetables

In this step you are adding the veggies to the seared meat. Most veggies need more time to heat add the cooked or "steamed veggies". Cook for a couple of mins until the aroma permeates the kitchen. When veggies are heated move the veggies from the center of the pan to the edges. Keep the heat on Medium / High. This is not the time to add the onions, onions do not require as much cooking time.

1) Add 1/2 cup of veggies.
2) Keep Medium / High heat.
3) Heat veggies for 2 mins.
4) Move veggies to pan edges.

Next step Pine Nuts

Pine nuts have a nice aroma and flavor when cooked. Cook for a couple of mins until the aroma permeates the kitchen. When nuts are heated move the nuts from the center of the pan to the edges. Keep the heat on Medium / High. Pine Nuts or any substitution will add a texture to the meal.

Substitution: Peanut, Cashews or exclude this step.

1) Add 1/3 cup of Pine Nuts or your substitute.
2) Keep at Medium / High heat.
3) Heat nuts for 2-3 mins.
4) Move nuts to pan edges.

Next step Garlic

Garlic has a pungent flavor so here is a good time for it. If you have minced garlic then here is the time. Set heat on Low / Medium. When garlic is heated move the garlic from the center of the pan to the edges. Garlic does not need much time to cook and will loose it flavor when heated too much. Cook for a couple of mins until the aroma permeates the kitchen.

Substitution: Fresh Garlic or powdered Garlic.

Fresh Garlic should be chopped then added. Powdered Garlic is just added into the center of the pan.

1) Add 2-4 teaspoons of Garlic.
2) Set at Low / Medium heat.
3) Heat Garlic for 2 mins (until the pan become brownish).
4) Move Garlic to pan edges.

Next step Onions

Here is where you add the Onions. Turn heat down to Low. These onions become brown from the residue of the garlic. Cook for a couple of mins until the aroma permeates the kitchen. When onions are heated move the onions from the center of the pan to the edges. If you use fresh onions chop them and cook until they become translucent.

1) Add 1/3 cup of Onions.
2) Turn heat down to Low.
3) Heat Onions for 2 mins.
4) Move Onions to pan edges.

Next step Sesame Oil

Add oil at this time to flavor the rice, as well as preventing the rice from sticking to pan. Keep heat on Low. Sesame Oil really adds a good flavor to a fried rice. Heat the oil for a couple of mins until the oil has waves and the aroma permeates the kitchen.

Substitution: Canola Oil, Peanut Oil or Vegetable Oil. In that order, Olive Oil does not leave a good flavor in a fried rice.

1) Add 2 teaspoons of Sesame Oil.
2) Keep heat on Low.
3) Heat oil for 2 mins.

Next step Rice

Add the 3 cups of Rice. If you want to you can add more Sesame Oil. Mix the Oil and Rice, when the rice is covered with oil then mix everything together. Flip the fried rice to prevent sticking to pan, serve hot. If the fried rice does stick to pan add a small amount of water to loosen the fried rice from the pan.

1) Add 3 cups of Rice.
2) Keep heat on Low.
3) Stir the Rice and oil.
4) Mix all ingredients and heat for 3 - 5 mins.
5) Flip the fried rice to prevent sticking to pan.
6) Serve hot and enjoy your Natira Fried Rice.

Next step Observation & Summary

Observations
Doesn't that look marvelous. This is a Healthy and Tasty meal. While cooking each ingredient a tantalizing aroma will be produced, which is the beginning of making a great meal. Each smell wafts through the air calling familiar memories. As new scents are added the complexity and anticipation builds.

The benefits of this meal are:
1) Easy to make,
2) Using precooked foods reduces time.
3) A good use of small portions from former meals.

Summary
The family is always satisfied after they eat my Natira Fried Rice.

I am satisfied with the results.