Easy Fried Rice

We often think that haute cuisine (literally, high food) is the way to go.  But such recipes can be complicated, time consuming, and expensive.  What about those times when we just want a simple, quick, and inexpensive meal?  That would be basse cuisine (low food), as the peasants would cook.  Don’t underestimate the wisdom of peasant cooking.  They know how to get maximum nutrition from whatever ingredients happen to be available.

Fried rice is not a recipe but a notion.  It is a way to utilize whatever leftovers may be in your fridge.  This is just one simple example.  Try to grasp the concept and experiment widely. It is extremely important to understand that you can vary ingredients, proportions, and spices extensively to create a broad range of nutritious and tasty dishes.

One recent night, after a late meeting, I stopped on the way home and grabbed some take-out Chinese – stir-fried broccoli and rice.  After eating a bit of both, it went into the fridge. Several days later, interested in a hearty breakfast, I concocted the following. 

Ingredients

2 Tbs. olive oil
Pinch turmeric
Hot red pepper flakes to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1-2 cups cooked rice
1 cup chopped, cooked broccoli
2 eggs

Method

In a large skillet, heat the oil with the spices.  Add the onion and sauté until reduced.  Add garlic for a moment or two but do not brown.

Place rice in skillet, stir and smash until incorporated into the sofrito, then cover and cook a few moments until moisturized.
 

Uncover, add broccoli, stir well, and heat through.

Break two eggs into the skillet, stir and mix well, and cook until just done, eggs still moist (do not overcook the eggs).

Serve with a little soy sauce and eat with chopsticks.

Yum.