Welcome back to campus, Jays! For myself and many others, one of the most difficult aspects of transitioning into the new semester is missing a nice, home-cooked meal or being unable to get takeout from my favorite hometown restaurants. So, here’s a recipe for fried rice that you can make right in your campus housing, with just a microwave.
You’ll need water, rice, sesame oil, soy sauce, frozen vegetables and one or two eggs. You’ll also need two microwave-safe bowls.
Start by adding a cup of water, half a cup of rice, a tablespoon of soy sauce and a teaspoon of sesame oil into a bowl. Mix it thoroughly, then microwave it for about eight minutes. When microwaving, keep the bowl tightly covered to ensure the rice is properly steamed. If the rice still isn’t fully cooked, microwave it for another one to two minutes. Be careful when removing the bowl—it will likely be very hot.
Next, in a separate bowl cook your frozen vegetables. I recommend using mixed vegetables, to include all the flavors of carrots, peas, corn and green beans. Steam them for approximately four to five minutes, then mix half a cup into the rice.
Crack two eggs into the empty bowl and beat them using a fork or whisk. Microwave them for about 90 seconds. If you choose to use a bowl with a deeper shape, you may have to microwave the eggs for slightly longer, between two to three minutes. Once the eggs are cooked, break them into small pieces and mix them into the rice.
When trying this recipe myself, I used a bit too much water and had to drain the rice. I also didn’t properly cover my bowl and took it out early out of fear of overcooking it, and it came out slightly undercooked and as a result seemed very dry.
Despite my mistakes, the flavor from the soy sauce and sesame oil was subtle and good, but I would recommend adding some salt and pepper to taste to tie everything together. Additionally, you can add other ingredients to dress it up, like chopped scallions or extra spices.
If you intend to use a communal microwave, such as in the lobby of a residence hall, be sure to clean it out thoroughly when finished.
Though it still may not be a proper replacement for your usual favorites, this recipe is worth a try.
