This Chinese style Corn Fried Rice is a comforting dish made with sweet corn, rice, spring onions, capsicum, herbs and spices. The recipe is vegan and gluten-free.
Rinse rice very well till the water runs clear of starch.
Soak rice in 1 cup water for 20 to 30 mins. After 20 to 30 mins drain the water from rice and set the soaked rice grains aside.
In a pot, add 3 cups of water with ¼ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon oil. Adding oil is optional. Bring the water to a boil
Add the soaked rice to the hot water.
Gently shake the pan or stir the rice grains with a fork.
On a medium to high heat cook the rice without the lid.
Cook till the rice grains become al dente or just cooked.
Remove the pot from fire and strain the rice. While straining, you can also gently rinse the rice in water so that they stop cooking and don't stick to each other.
You can also gently fluff the rice with a fork and keep aside. Cover the rice and keep aside till the rice cools completely.
Cooking corn
When the rice is soaking, steam or pressure cook 1 medium to large corn cob.
You can steam the corn cob in a steamer or a stovetop pressure cooker or Instant Pot. If pressure cooking, then pressure cook in a 3 litre stovetop pressure cooker for 2 to 3 whistles with 1.5 cups water.
When the pressure falls naturally in the cooker, then only open the lid. Remove the cooked corn cob gently with a pair of tongs and set aside on a plate to cool.
When the corn cob becomes warm or cools at room temperature, carefully slice the corn kernels from the cob.
Be careful while slicing the kernels. You will need about 1 to 1.25 cups of corn kernels. Keep the corn kernels aside.
Making corn fried rice
Heat 2 tablespoon sesame oil or toasted sesame oil in a wok or kadai. Choose to stir fry all the ingredients on medium to medium-high heat depending on the heaviness and type of wok or pan you use.
Keep the heat to medium and then add the chopped spring onion whites.
You can also add some spring onion greens together with the whites. But make sure it is ½ cup in total.
Stir fry for a minute.
Then add the chopped capsicum. Stir fry for a minute.
Now add chopped celery. This is optional. Skip if you do not have celery. Stir and mix.
Now add the corn kernels. Stir fry for a minute or two.
Add fermented soy sauce. I used a gluten-free soy sauce. If using any other soy sauce, then add as per taste.You can omit soy sauce if you prefer.
Add the crushed black pepper or pepper powder. Give a good mix.
Now add the cooked rice in two portions. After adding one portion, lightly stir and mix.
Then add the second portion of rice. Also season with salt. Mix well.
Add 2 tablespoon of chopped spring onion greens.
Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar or sweet rice wine (mirin). If you do not have these, then you can use regular white vinegar.
You can also skip adding vinegar. Gently mix and switch off the heat.
Serve Corn Fried Rice garnished with the remaining 1 tablespoon spring onion greens with a side veggie saucy dish like veg manchurian or veg balls in hot garlic sauce or chilly mushroom.
You can also pack it for lunch box.
Notes
You can also use 1 to 1.25 cups of canned or tinned corn kernels.
You can use any variety of capsicum (bell pepper) - green, yellow or red.
The addition of soy sauce and rice vinegar is optional.
You can use freshly cooked rice (that has been cooled) or can also use leftover rice. I generally prefer to make the dish with freshly cooked rice.