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Ketchup Fried Rice

By Nik Sharma

Published on August 17, 2026

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ketchup Fried Rice

Ingredients

⅓ cup ketchup 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons unseasoned rice vinegar ½ teaspoon pepper 3 large eggs ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided1 carrot, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice2 cups shredded green cabbage ½ cup frozen peas 4 scallions, white and green parts separated and sliced thin4 garlic cloves, minced4 cups cooked basmati rice, cooled

Before You Begin

Garnish with sliced Thai chiles.

Instructions

  1. Whisk ⅓ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in small bowl; set aside.
  2. Beat 3 eggs with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt in medium bowl. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add eggs and cook, stirring constantly, until soft curds form and very little liquid egg remains, about 30 seconds. Transfer to large plate.
  3. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in now-empty wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1 carrot, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups shredded cabbage and cook, stirring frequently, until tender and bright green, about 2 minutes. Stir in ½ cup frozen peas and cook until thawed, about 1 minute. Transfer vegetable mixture to plate with eggs.
  4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add thinly sliced whites of 4 scallions and 4 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 4 cups cooked and cooled basmati rice and stir to combine. Spread into even layer and cook, stirring occasionally and pressing down with spatula to break up clumps, until grains are separated and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Drizzle sauce evenly over rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce coats every grain and begins to caramelize lightly on bottom of wok, about 2 minutes. Return egg and vegetable mixture to wok. Add thinly sliced greens of 4 scallions and cook, stirring frequently and breaking eggs into bite-size pieces, until heated through, about 1 minute. Serve.
Ketchup Fried Rice
Photography by Kritsada. Styling by Christine Tobin.

Ketchup Fried Rice

Headshot of Nik Sharma
By Nik Sharma

Published on August 17, 2026

Save

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

Ingredient check list

Ingredients

Ingredient check list

Ingredients

Ingredient check list

Why This Recipe Works

Ketchup fried rice is a staple of Indo-Chinese restaurants and home kitchens across India, where Chinese culinary traditions were adapted over generations into something entirely their own. In this recipe, basmati rice, with its long grains and low moisture content, stands in for the more traditional jasmine and resists clumping during stir-frying. Ketchup might seem like an unusual addition, but it contributes acidity, savory depth, and a fruity sweetness that works in harmony with soy sauce. A splash of rice vinegar prevents the dish from tipping too sweet. Cooking the eggs first and setting them aside ensures that they’ll stay moist when they go back in at the end. Breaking the curds into bite-size pieces just before serving keeps them distinct.

Before You Begin

Garnish with sliced Thai chiles.

Instructions

  1. Whisk ⅓ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 teaspoons rice vinegar, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in small bowl; set aside.
  2. Beat 3 eggs with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt in medium bowl. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add eggs and cook, stirring constantly, until soft curds form and very little liquid egg remains, about 30 seconds. Transfer to large plate.
  3. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in now-empty wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1 carrot, peeled and cut into ¼-inch dice, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned and crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups shredded cabbage and cook, stirring frequently, until tender and bright green, about 2 minutes. Stir in ½ cup frozen peas and cook until thawed, about 1 minute. Transfer vegetable mixture to plate with eggs.
  4. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in now-empty wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add thinly sliced whites of 4 scallions and 4 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 4 cups cooked and cooled basmati rice and stir to combine. Spread into even layer and cook, stirring occasionally and pressing down with spatula to break up clumps, until grains are separated and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Drizzle sauce evenly over rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce coats every grain and begins to caramelize lightly on bottom of wok, about 2 minutes. Return egg and vegetable mixture to wok. Add thinly sliced greens of 4 scallions and cook, stirring frequently and breaking eggs into bite-size pieces, until heated through, about 1 minute. Serve.
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