Crazy Delicious Pak Choy Fried Rice (Quick Caribbean Vegan & Ital Style!)
A quick and delicious Caribbean-style pak choy fried rice made with fresh vegetables, ginger, garlic, pimento peppers, and toasted sesame oil. This easy one-pot recipe is vegan, vegetarian, plant-based, and Ital-inspired, making it a wonderful option for a satisfying meat-free lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger smashed/chopped
- 5 cloves garlic smashed
- 1 1/2 lb pak choy washed/chopped
- 3/4 teaspoon MSG optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 5 –8 pimento peppers chopped
- 3 cups cooked rice chilled
- 3/4 tablespoon mushroom-flavoured soy sauce dark soy sauce
Instructions
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a wok or wide pan, then add the onion, ginger, and garlic, toss, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the washed and trimmed pak choy (bok choy) and stir well to coat with the flavoured oil. The scent in the kitchen will immediately give you that sort of comforting hug. Toss in the MSG (if using), salt, and toasted sesame oil.
- Cook for 3 minutes, then add the pieces of pimento (seasoning) peppers and mix well. The pimento pepper will give the dish the lovely fragrance of a Scotch bonnet pepper, without any heat. If you can't source the pimento peppers, use bell peppers. Most West Indian markets, as well as some Asian supermarkets tend to stock them.
- If you find that the pak choy has released a lot of liquid (which is normal), move everything to the sides and allow the centre area to be just the liquid, where it will burn off quickly.
- Add the day-old or chilled rice (watch the video below where I speak more about this and how it helps you to get a fluffy or grainy fried rice).
- Add the soy sauce and mix well to combine everything. The rice was cooked in salted water, so with that in mind, after 2 minutes, taste and adjust the salt to your liking. After 4–5 minutes of adding the rice, you're ready to enjoy a classic one-pot Caribbean vegan fried rice, which happens to be plant-based and fits well for those of us who follow vegetarian and Ital diets.What's your favourite quick meal? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, and don't forget to check out my other Vegan Fried Rice recipe.
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pak choy fried rice vegan?
Yes. This pak choy fried rice is vegan and entirely plant-based. It uses fresh vegetables, rice, vegetable oil, toasted sesame oil, and mushroom-flavoured soy sauce. MSG is optional.Can I use bok choy instead of pak choy?
Yes. Pak choy and bok choy are commonly used interchangeably. Both work beautifully in fried rice, providing tender leafy greens and crunchy stems.Is pak choy fried rice suitable for an Ital diet?
This recipe is plant-based and inspired by Ital cooking principles. It contains no meat or animal products. Those following stricter interpretations of Ital should check their individual requirements, particularly regarding MSG and commercially prepared soy sauce.Why should I use cold rice for fried rice?
Chilled, day-old rice is firmer and contains less surface moisture than freshly cooked rice. This helps the grains remain separate during cooking, giving you a fluffier, grainier fried rice rather than a sticky or clumped result.Can I make pak choy fried rice without pimento peppers?
Absolutely. If you cannot find Caribbean pimento or seasoning peppers, bell peppers are a suitable substitute. They provide a mild pepper flavour, although the distinctive fragrance of Caribbean seasoning peppers will be different. Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!