Fried rice is Japanese people's favorite dish. It goes beyond Chinese cuisine and becomes one of the most popular dishes at home as well as in restaurants in Japan. Other Chinese rice dishes are also familiar to Japanese people.
Japanese fried rice is made using short-grain rice, while Chinese fried rice uses long-grain rice like Jasmine rice. This means that Chinese fried rice has a firmer and drier texture than Japanese fried rice, which tends to be chewy and slightly sticky.
Fried rice is thought to have originated in the city of Yangzhou in the eastern Jiangsu province of China, northwest of Shanghai.
The Japanese version of this dish uses a short-grain variety, which is a common sushi roll ingredient. The short-grain variety tastes slightly stickier and chewier. On the other hand, the Chinese version uses a long-grain variety, so you get a firmer bite without the glutinous taste of its Japanese counterpart.
The usage of rice
But in Chinese rice, it is suggested to use leftover cooked rice to avoid the rice from being sticky. In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.
Boiled rice is generally lower in calories, fat, and sodium than fried rice. In terms of taste and texture, fried rice and boiled rice can also differ.
The basic elements of Chinese fried rice include rice, meat and vegetables, soy sauce and garlic. A number of fried rice recipes have been developed in China, such as Yangzhou and Sichuan fried rice. Leftover cooked rice among the Cantonese is commonly made into fried rice, prepared with chopped vegetables and meat.
More recently, an increase in people living alone and in families where both parents are working has led to a change in eating habits. Traditional Japanese family meals with rice take time to prepare, but simple meals with bread or noodles can be prepared very quickly.
Food and drink made from rice play an important symbolic role in the traditions and culture of Japan. For example, in Japanese Shinto religion, rice and sake (Japanese alcohol made with rice) are commonly used as ceremonial offerings to the Shinto gods and ancestors.
It Has A Higher Amylose Content. Japanese rice also has a higher amylose content than other types of rice. Amylose is a type of starch that gives the rice its sticky texture. A high amylose content makes Japanese rice more sticky and chewy than other types of rice.
Yangzhou fried rice is said to be the prototypical fried rice for Chinese takeaway menus all over the world. Originating from the Jiangsu Province in China all the way back in the Sui Dynasty (589 – 618 AD), this variant is defined by the generous helpings of both scrambled egg and shrimp.
As many of you know, rice is a Korean staple food. Most Koreans would eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So it's not uncommon to see people making some quick fried rice from early morning for breakfast.
There are three main ingredients of fried rice: eggs, vegetables and meat. Scrambled throughout the rice, eggs bring savory flavor and protein to your meal.
Since rice cultivation originated in southeastern Asia, where it is the basis of the daily diet, it is not surprising that so many nations of that continent have their own version of fried rice: China —of course—, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka...
A similar pattern is observed in Indonesia, where rice porridge or fried rice and egg (nasi goreng) are common breakfast choices22. Common accompaniments include kecap (soy sauce), kerupak udang (shrimp chips) and abon (dried shredded beef).
Fried rice can be very unhealthy dish given that it is a very carb and fat heavy dish from the rice and heavy oil usage, and not enough protein content -- an average restaurant serving of fried rice is about 800 calories. However, it's easy to make a healthier version of fried rice by portioning ingredients mindfully.
Not finishing one's meal is not considered impolite in Japan, but rather is taken as a signal to the host that one wishes to be served another helping. Conversely, finishing one's meal completely, especially the rice, indicates that one is satisfied and therefore does not wish to be served any more.
The most widely consumed rice in Japan is a cultivar of Japonica rice, a short-grain rice with a firm texture. Compared to its long-grain counterparts such as jasmine and basmati, Japonica rice is characterized by its plump shape and sticky texture that makes it easy to pick up with chopsticks.
Have you even wondered why Asian countries have eaten white rice for thousands of years, not brown? Because brown rice is full of phytates and lectins, which bind to vitamins and minerals and prevent them from being absorbed. Phytates are anti-nutrients found in grains and legumes.
Despite the Japanese people having some of the longest working hours in the world, they still manage to be thin and have low rates of obesity. The key is that they walk a lot. A 2008 study showed that the Japanese people walked an average of 18,000 steps per day while Americans only walked half that.
Dining Etiquette. The Japanese eat three meals a day, and they have some meal conventions that are similar to Western practices. At many Japanese hotels, breakfast is a sizeable affair, with a focus on savory dishes, soup and (of course!)
Therefore they end up getting complete nutrition in the form of completely unadulterated food. The traditional Japanese diet consists of minimally processed and seasoned foods, with a focus on seafood, soy food, fruits and vegetables, rice or noodles, tempura, and natural tea as a beverage.
Regardless of how popular it might be in other countries, in China fried rice is not an everyday home-cooked food. It is an odd dish, out of sorts with the classic way of eating. The vast majority of rice is consumed as a staple (fan), a base for vegetables and meat (cai).
Let's look at these five McDonald's menu items to start with. Crispy chicken patties drenched in sweet soy-based sauce, served with fresh lettuce leaves for some crunch, on a bed of rice. Chicken Patty Rice in McDonald's China is a simple yet flavorful dish that you cannot miss on your trip to China.
While using a spoon to eat fried rice is common, many people, especially in Asian countries, use chopsticks as it has several key benefits. Using chopsticks when eating fried rice is a cultural practice that enhances the experience.