The ingredients you should NEVER put in fried rice

All the things regular Aussies hate in their fried rice (from pineapple to peas) and then what our experts say makes a perfect fried rice.

The ingredients you should NEVER put in fried rice

Fried rice is the staple of Aussie takeaway and it’s also a dish we love recreating at home. And why wouldn’t we? It’s a very forgiving recipe – just throw in whatever you have in the fridge and pantry with some leftover rice, and dinner is sorted.

However, according to our Facebook followers, there are some ingredients that should never be used. Like peas. And pineapple. And tiny prawns. Here are some other things you told us should never make their way into fried rice.

“Gravy. I kid you not, in Oban, Scotland my cousin and I got special fried rice and it was covered in gravy.” – Kerrilee

“Apple! Mum always put in apple.”- Nicole

“Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, yes I’ve received all three at different times.” – Browsey

“Fruit, regardless of whether it’s fresh, cooked or dried, stays out of fried rice.” – Tony

“Sultanas and pineapple and walnuts… you see that as a throwback from the 80s and it’s so wrong.” – Kate

“Capsicum, it ends up being the only thing you can taste.” – Joanne

“Pineapple, just like it shouldn’t be on pizza. Eat pineapple cold people, not heated!” – Martin

“Olives and anchovies.” – Sarah.

“Avocado, coriander, prawns, HAM(blech), carrots, broccoli, many other abominations.” – Kendi

“As an Asian, I would say cheese. We don’t have cheese. So no cheese in fried rice.” – Maggie

“Prawns, capsicum and that imitation crab mix.” – Christina

“Pineapple, or large prawns, I’m fine with small ones but I pick big ones out and feed to my cats.” – Sammy

“I hate hot sweet things in a meal and am not even keen on them in a dessert. Sultanas, pineapple, stewed or chopped fruit should be cold in desserts and even sweet veggies (carrot, beetroot) etc should never be in fried rice or similar stir-fries – yuk.” – Lyn

“Freshly cooked rice cooker rice, that’s been overcooked and chucked in the wok and all the grains have stuck together and shattered into clingy goop.” – David

After all these fried rice no-nos, we will leave you with some wise words from Emili:

“Nothing. If you like it, put it in there. For me fried rice is how I get rid of food that might otherwise go to waste.” – Emili

Australia’s #1 fried rice recipe

We accept that every Aussie is entitled to their opinion about what should or shouldn’t go in fried rice, but our foodies have their take on what makes the perfect fried rice too… and trust us when we say they know how to make a really good fried rice.

Recipe expert and tester Alison Adams can’t look past this easy fried rice recipe by Tracy Rutherford. She says she loves a fried rice that “contains only a handful of ingredients and ensures making fried rice is simple”. Not only because it makes hectic weeknights easier but because it also “means that kids love it and can have fun cooking it”.

She adds: “It’s also a great way to use up any freshly cooked rice that’s been leftover from the night before.”

So, what does this super-popular fried rice recipe include? Eggs and bacon are essential for texture and flavour, says Alison. (Unless you’re a vego, of course.) Carrots and peas are the veggies of choice in this recipe, but the carrots are grated so you don’t get any hard chunks.

The only condiment included is soy sauce, because the best things in life are always the simplest.

RELATED VIDEO:

Best fried rice recipes

• If you don’t like peas in your fried rice.
• If you don’t like pineapple in your fried rice.
• If you don’t like prawns in your fried rice.

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Originally published as The ingredients you should NEVER put in fried rice