American Fried Rice ข้าวผัดอเมริกัน

American Fried Rice.

This is our version of 'Chicken Tikka Masala'. I don't think Americans, those who have not been to or have connections with Thailand, will have heard of it. Like chicken tikka masala, there are a few stories of how the dish came about. 

1. The dish was made for the American servicemen stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam and the Cold War. The ingredients used were, what the Thais thought would be, more palatable than our hot and spicy cuisine. Apparently it was extremely popular with the homesick men (and women?)

2. A restaurant prepared a brunch buffet for a plane load of American tourists, the flight was cancelled and the leftover food was concocted into this fried rice.

3. This version is understandably unpopular with Thais, Malaysia claims it had invented the American Fried Rice.

Whatever the real story is, the one thing we seem to agree on is that, "American Fried Rice" was not Born In the USA.

In a large wok, on medium heat, fry

-100g chopped carrots,

-1 chopped onion,

-salt/pepper.

Cook, stirring until the onions are cooked through, add

-2tbsp tomato ketchup,

-500g cooked rice,

-100g raisins.

Cook, stirring until the rice has turned slightly pink from the ketchup.

Add 

-100g peas,

-100g sweet corn.

Season with soy sauce.

The fried rice itself is completely vegetarian.

American fried rice is normally served with,

-fried egg,

-chicken drumstick,

-sausage,

-ham.