Savory Beef Fried Rice with Garlic Scapes and Perilla Leaves
Quick and Delicious Beef Fried Rice: A Perfect Lunchbox Meal for Busy Professionals
I made this fried rice for my elder son’s lunchbox. While fried rice is versatile, quick, and easy for packed lunches, I sometimes feel it lacks a personal touch. However, on busy mornings or when I’m short on side dishes, fried rice becomes a lifesaver. This time, I had leftover garlic scapes and minced beef, and thought combining them would create a simple yet sophisticated and unique flavor. As I expected, it turned out to be a visually appealing and delicious fried rice, which my son thoroughly enjoyed! This quick and easy beef fried rice, made with minimal ingredients on a busy morning, is a perfect and tasty lunchbox option. Stay healthy today! ♡
Main Ingredients
- 4 bowls of cooked rice (warm)
- 150g minced beef
- A small bunch of garlic scapes (about 50g)
- 6 fresh perilla leaves
- 3 eggs
Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- Sesame seeds (to taste)
- Scallions (white parts preferred, finely chopped)
- Salt (to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- Sesame seeds (to taste)
- Scallions (white parts preferred, finely chopped)
- Salt (to taste)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the garlic scapes and perilla leaves that will add flavor to the fried rice. Wash the garlic scapes thoroughly and chop them into 1cm pieces. Stack the perilla leaves, roll them tightly, and thinly shred them. Preparing the ingredients in advance like this significantly reduces cooking time.
Step 2
Heat a little cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the minced beef and chopped garlic scapes and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes, until the beef is browned and the garlic scapes are slightly tender. You can add a tiny pinch of salt at this stage if desired.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, crack the 3 eggs. Remove the chalazae (the white stringy bits) and gently whisk them with a fork or whisk until well combined. Having the egg mixture ready makes it convenient to add to the fried rice.
Step 4
Add the 4 bowls of warm cooked rice to the pan with the beef and garlic scapes. Use a spatula to break up any clumps of rice and stir-fry everything together. Once the rice grains are separated and slightly toasted, add 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce for seasoning. Then, add the shredded perilla leaves and chopped scallions, and quickly mix them in. Be careful not to overcook the perilla leaves, as they can lose their fragrant aroma.
Step 5
Finally, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil for a nutty aroma and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Turn the heat up to high for a brief moment and stir-fry rapidly to combine all the ingredients well. This creates a delicious beef fried rice. It’s important to stir-fry quickly to prevent the rice from clumping!
Step 6
Transfer the finished beef fried rice into your prepared lunchbox. It’s best served warm. For an extra touch, you could top it with a thin omelet or sprinkle with roasted seaweed flakes to make it an even more delightful lunchbox meal.
