Chicken Fried Rice

One of my daughter's favorite places to eat out is the local Japanese hibachi restaurant.  I'm not really sure whether she likes the food or the "show" better.  Personally, I think watching your dinner be prepared in front of you makes it taste even better.

Maybe it's just my food background but I love the fact that I can see exactly what ingredients go into the dish the I order --- UNTIL they add that gigantic slab of butter at the end!  It's no wonder the meals are so irresistible. 

There is no doubt that the food at the hibachi restaurant is delicious.  I wanted to see if I could recreate that same yummy flavor at home in a slightly healthier version. 

Chicken Fried Rice
    3 Tbsp. butter, divided
    2 eggs, whisked
    2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
    1 small white onion, diced
    1/2 cup frozen peas
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    salt and pepper
    4 cups cooked and chilled rice
    3 green onions, thinly sliced
    3-4 Tbsp. soy sauce
    1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

Heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted. Add egg, and cook until scrambled, stirring occasionally. Remove egg, and transfer to a separate plate.

Add 1 T. oil and chicken.  Cook until almost cooked through.

Add peas, carrots and onions to skillet and cook until chicken is cooked through.

Increase heat to high and add the rice, green onions, soy sauce and stir until combined.  Continue stirring for an additional 3 minutes to fry the rice.

Add in the eggs and stir to combine. Add the sesame oil, stir to combine, and remove from heat.

Ok, so the verdict is in on the homemade - healthier - version of my daughter's favorite Japanese style hibachi chicken fried rice dish.  She claimed that she didn't like it quite as well as the restaurant version BUT she gobbled up two huge bowls of it in record time.  

In my defense, she wasn't home to watch me do all of the fancy knife tricks while I was preparing her dinner.  (ha ha ha)   I thought my version of chicken fried rice was even BETTER than the restaurant version.  AND I didn't have to feel guilty about consuming all that butter.  :)

Ciao!