Salmon Fried Rice

This Salmon Fried Rice is so delicious and so easy to make too! Pan seared Salmon stir fried with mixed vegetables, eggs, garlic, rice, soy sauce and more!

Jump to:

• About the Ingredients
• How to make Salmon Fried Rice (Step by Step)
• Salmon Fried Rice Recipe
• More Delicious and Easy Salmon Recipes
• Pin for later!

One of the things I always keep in the house is frozen seafood like salmon, mahi mahi, or shrimp, along with frozen veggies. They defrost quickly and make last-minute dinners super easy to pull together.

By the way if you love fried rice recipes, check out this round up of 20+ delicious fried rice recipes from around the world! There's kimchi fried rice, thai fried rice, chinese fried rice and more!

About the Ingredients

Here are extra info and tips to make a tasty Salmon fried rice:

Leftover cooked rice

Leftover cooked rice is the key to making great fried rice! Day-old rice is drier and firmer, which helps the grains stay separate and prevents sogginess when stir-frying.

You can actually make fried rice with many types of rice - each gives a slightly different texture and flavor:

• Short-Grain Rice (Japanese or Taiwanese-Style):
  This rice is a bit sticky and chewy, creating a heartier fried rice where the ingredients cling together nicely. It's common in Taiwanese or Japanese home-style fried rice (like the version in my photos below).
• Medium-Grain Rice (e.g., Calrose):
  A nice in-between option - not too sticky, not too dry. It's what you'll often find in Chinese-American restaurant-style fried rice.
• Long-Grain Rice (e.g., Jasmine or Basmati):
  Light, fluffy, and more separated after stir-frying. Jasmine adds aroma and is popular in Thai-style fried rice, while basmati gives a drier, fluffier texture (like in one of my earlier versions made with leftover Indian food).

No matter which type you use, just make sure it's cold, leftover rice - fresh rice tends to clump and turn mushy when stir-fried.

Veggies

For the frozen veggies, you can choose your favorite types of frozen veggies! The most common is peas and carrots and corn, however, some mixes will have green beans, or broccoli and cauliflower, and those will also work too.

The only thing to note is if you have larger or chunkier frozen veggies, it may take just a bit longer to heat up when we are cooking them.

You can also use fresh veggies! Or a mix of both.

How to make Salmon Fried Rice (Step by Step)

First gather your ingredients:

• 2 tablespoon cooking oil, separated
• 6 oz salmon, cooked
• 2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 cup frozen mixed veggies (corn, peas, carrots, etc.)
• 2 cups of cooked rice (pictures are of leftover basmati rice)
• 2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoon soy sauce
• Salt to taste
• Green onions, chopped

In a large wok or frying pan, add 1 tablespoon cooking oil and cook salmon over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes, then flip it to cook the other side for another 2 minutes.

Remove the salmon from the skillet and use a fork and knife to tear it in to large chunks.

Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil, garlic and mixed veggies in to wok and cook for about 2 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften, stirring occasionally.

With the spatula, move vegetables to one side of the skillet, if the pan is dry go ahead and add a little more oil. Then add the beaten eggs to the other side, and stir it to scramble. I actually usually just crack the eggs in to the pan and then scramble to skip beating the eggs resulting in an extra bowl to wash 🙂

Add the salmon back in to cooking pan, along with rice, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt to taste, and stir fry everything to blend together. Cook for about 3 minutes more minutes.

Sprinkle chopped green onions on top (optional), remove from heat and serve!

Storage & Reheat

Since this dish is made with leftover cooked rice, it's already about a day old - so it won't keep quite as long as dishes made with freshly cooked rice.

• Refrigerate:
  Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  (If you used rice that was already a day old, try to enjoy it sooner rather than later.)
• Freeze:
  You can freeze it for up to 1 month. Let it cool completely first, then portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge before warming.
• Reheat:
  For the best texture, reheat in a wok or pan over medium heat. Add a splash of water or a drizzle of sesame oil to loosen up the rice and bring it back to life.
  The microwave also works fine - just cover with a damp paper towel and heat in short bursts, stirring halfway through.

FAQ

Can I use freshly cooked rice?
You can, but freshly cooked rice is moist and sticky, which makes it harder to stir-fry without turning mushy. If you're using fresh rice, spread it on a tray and let it cool for at least an hour before cooking.

What kind of rice works best for fried rice?
Any type of leftover rice works! Short-grain rice (Japanese or Taiwanese-style) gives a stickier, heartier texture, while long-grain rice (like jasmine or basmati) makes it lighter and fluffier.

Can I use canned salmon?
Yes! Just drain it well before adding it in - it's a great shortcut for quick lunches.

Can I use other veggies?
Definitely. Try broccoli, green beans, bell peppers, or even chopped spinach. Just make sure chunkier veggies are cooked a bit longer before adding the rice.

Can I make it gluten-free?
Yes - just use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.

How do I keep my fried rice from turning soggy?
Use cold, day-old rice, and make sure your pan is hot before adding ingredients. Don't overcrowd the wok - stir fry in batches if needed.

Here's when I cooked it with Short Grain rice:

More Delicious and Easy Salmon Recipes

• If you're looking for something super easy and delicious try this Salmon With Green Onions, Garlic, and Soy Sauce - you can literally pan fry, air fry, steam or even microwave!
• Pan Seared Salmon with Spinach and Mushrooms is not only delicious but also healthy and diet friendly for you!
• Another yummy way to make salmon is to stir fry it! If you like stir fries check out this Salmon Stir Fry with Vegetables recipe!
• Have you ever tried pan fried miso salmon? If not I recommend you check it out - the miso adds a umami tasty flavor to the fish!

Pin for later!