Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice with Leeks
By: Merritt
If you are looking to use up some leftover rice that you have sitting around, or you just love fried (like me) then this recipe for shrimp and chicken fried rice with miso butter leek tops is a great recipe to try! A perfect weeknight dish that is filling, easy to prepare, and a recipe that the whole family will love, there is very little not to like about this shrimp fried rice.
To add texture and flavor, this dish uses leeks in two forms. The white parts are simmered and the sauteed, while the green tops are coated in miso butter and then baked until crispy. It is a unique but very flavorful way to cook with leeks that I think you will love trying.
Shrimp and chicken fried is great because it is also high protein. Combining chicken sausage, which adds umami and flavor with lean shrimp, these proteins make for a very filling meal.
This post will walk you through how to make shrimp and chicken fried rice to that it comes out great every time. I will also provide some great substitutions and pairings that will keep your fried rice game interesting!
Notes and Tips For Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice
Make sure you have leftover rice on hand for this recipe. If you find yourself in a pinch, make rice, and then flash cool it by spreading it over a baking sheet and tossing it in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.
This dish makes for a great meal prep dish that can be enjoyed through the week. To reheat, you can microwave it or through it in a skillet to help re-crisp the rice.
Using peeled and de-veined shrimp is my preferable method, since it makes eating the rice easier. You can find any type of shrimp that you prefer in the frozen section, or get fresh from the fish counter. If you are using frozen shrimp, be sure to give them a day to de-frost in your fridge before making this dish.
Common Questions For Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice
What is in Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice?
Shrimp and chicken fried rice contains shrimp, chicken sausage, leeks, carrots, egg, garlic, peas, and rice. The seasonings are from butter or oil of choice, soy sauce, ginger powder, and white pepper.
Feel free to experiment with different seasonings. You can try adding in Sriracha at the end, red chili flakes, some sesame oil, or even finishing everything off with some fresh green onion. If you add something cool and tasty, let me know in the comments!
What Else To Add to Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice?
Though this dish is full of both veggies and protein, there are a few substitutions or additions that you can make to change up your fried rice.
You can sub out any type of meat for the chicken sausage. Sausage is a salty element that add flavor, so try using bacon, pork belly, or other types of sausage.
You can also use different types of veggies in shrimp and chicken fried rice. Try using broccoli, green onion, or even kale. You want to use veggies that are low moisture so that your rice does not get soggy!
What Are Miso Butter Leek Tops?
Miso butter leek tops are the green part of the leeks that have been roasted with miso butter until lightly crispy. Miso butter is something that I love to cook with and you can see it in my miso butter beans and onions, as well as my miso butter salmon recipes!
Miso butter adds a ton of flavor but if you want to skip that step, you can roast the leek tops with olive oil, salt, and pepper if you prefer.
Why Is Leftover Rice Best For Fried Rice?
Leftover rice is typically better for fried rice because of the starch molecules that have re-hardened. When the starch has a chance to cool, the grains become more individual and less likely to clump together. Leftover rice is also typically drier which also helps make a fried rice that is not wet!
What Do I Do If My Chicken Sausage is Not Pre-Cooked?
If you get chicken sausage or any other type of meat, then it needs to be cooked prior to starting the rest of the recipe. Sausage and bacon will cook slower than the rest of the ingredients, so it is best to make sure that is cooked first. You can save the fat and use it to add flavor to your fried rice!
What Goes with Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice?
This fried rice dish is a meal all on its own, but sometime it is nice to serve fried rice with extra vegetables, a salad, and if you are feeling extra gourmet, a dessert!
Try serving this rice alongside carrot and edamame salad. It is a well seasoned salad that may even mix in well to this rice!
Flank Steak in soy marinade is a staple in my house and it would definitely make for a great substitution in this rice.
You can also check out my other fried rice recipe. It is a little more simple and uses shelled edamame to add flavor and texture!
Ingredients for Shrimp and Chicken Fried Rice
Recipe: Serves 4
- 1 Large Leek or multiple small ones. The more leeks, the more "onion" your rice will have.
- 2 precooked chicken sausage links Look for a mild seasoning, you can also use pork sausage, or bacon.
- 20 Medium to Large Shrimp Defrosted if using frozen.
- 1 Large Carrot Coined
- 3 cups white rice leftover rice preferred
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 Tbs butter or oil of choice pluse more as needed
- 3 Tbs soy sauce any type will do
- 1 egg optional but adds flavor
- 1/4 cup frozen peas do not defrost. These will be added from frozen. These are optional but add great flavor!
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp ginger powder a small piece of fresh ginger works great too!
- Sesame seeds for serving
How To Make Shrimp and Chicken Stir Fry
Prepare the Leeks and Veggies
Pre-heat the oven to 325 F
Wash and trim the leeks. Cut them to separate the green tops from the white bottoms.
Wash and chop the carrot and set aside.
Lightly mince the garlic and set aside.
Finely chop the green tops into small strips and add to a parchment paper lined baking sheets.
Combine 1.5 Tbs of salted butter with 1-2 tsp of white miso paste.
Massage the miso butter into the green leek tops.
Bake the leek tops until lightly crispy, about 20 minutes or until the rest of the rice is finished.
Thinly slice the white leek bottoms.
Add to a pan over medium to low heat with 2 Tbs of water. Let the leek bottoms cook until the water evaporates. About 3-4 minutes.
Cook the Shrimp
While the leek tops are simmering, add 1 Tbs of butter or oil to a pan over medium high heat
When the oil is lightly bubbling, add the shrimp. Allow to cook for 1 minute or until the side touching the pan is turning pink.
Turn and toss the shrimp until fully cooked or just under, about 2 minutes.
Set aside to cool on a plate, preferably lined with a paper towel.
Serve and Enjoy
Once water in the leek tops has evaporated. Add 1 Tbs of oil or butter along with the garlic and toss to combine.
Allow the garlic to cook for about 2 minutes and then add the carrots, rice, 2 Tbs of soy sauce, the ginger, white pepper, and another Tbs of oil or butter, and toss well to combine and coat everything with the soy sauce and seasoning.
Allow the rice to cook on once side for 2 minutes or until looking browned on the bottom layer.
Making a small crater in the rice mixture, crack the egg in the middle and then lightly scramble. When the egg is 85 percent cooked, scramble it in with the rest of the rice.
Add in the chopped chicken sausage, frozen peas, and cooked shrimp along with a little bit more soy sauce, and the sesame oil. If your rice is looking too wet at this point, add in a little more oil and turn the heat up just slightly.
Allow the fried rice to cook for about 2-3 minutes or until the sausage is browned and heated all the way through.
Remove the leek tops from the oven (they should have cooked for about 20 minutes at this point) and add in 1/2 of the tops to the rice. Toss to combine.
Remove from the heat and serve with black sesame seeds, extra soy sauce, and the remaining leek tops.