This Chinese sausage fried rice is the ultimate fried rice of them all. It is a flavour packed comfort food that's quick and easy! A delicious treat that is perfect eaten on its own or accompanied by a few Asian dishes.
Love fried rice? Also try my Thai Fried Rice and Prawn and Egg Fried Rice!
Chinese sausages (aka lap cheong) are fragrant, cured thin sausages that add a tonne of flavour to any Asian dish! A bit more on this below.
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Chinese sausages (lap cheong)
Chinese sausages (in mandarin: θ θ or θθ Έ), also widely known as 'lap cheong' (the Cantonese pronunciation), are extremely aromatic, flavourful thin dried cured fatty pork sausages.
There are actually a variety of different styles of Chinese cured sausages out there with slightly different names, depending on the ingredients and methodologies used. Different regions (parts of Asia) have their own distinct styles too!
Typically, Chinese sausages are made of pork, pork fat, soy sauce, sugar, alcohol, rose water/essence, salt, flavour enhancers and preservatives.
Extremely versatile, these dried, cured sausages can be added to a large variety of dishes including fried rice! Each small bite is extremely flavoursome and thus not much is needed to pimp up a dish. Once you've made this recipe, you'll understand. Heck, just simply opening the package you'll get a mouthwatering whiff of aroma!
Ingredients
- Chinese sausages can be found at Asian grocery stores. If you're based in Australia, you can also find these in the Asian isles at many Coles and Woolworths!
- Leftover rice is the best rice to use for the perfect fried rice. Unlike freshly cooked rice, leftover rice (ie, cooked the day before) are drier and firmer in texture. This allows for great stir-frying. You can use freshly steamed rice, of course, just be mindful of the water content when cooking the rice. Add a little less water than you would normally.
- Soy sauce normal, light or dark soy sauces are all fine to use. Dark soy sauces are stronger in flavour and slightly less salty than normal/light soy sauces. So depending on which you use, adjust the amount of salt you add when cooking the fried rice.
- Spring onion or scallion is a must! I find this fried rice taste pretty flat without it. It's aromatic and a great addition to 'oomph' up the dish or as I like to say, totally takes this dish to the next level. π
Preparing Chinese sausages
You might be thinking.. whaaaat I need to prep these sausages before cooking them? Okay, chill. You don't 'have to', but I think it's a necessary option personally.
This is just the way I was taught growing up, my grandma used to do it so did my dad. Now I'm passing this fancy trick (not so family secret) to you.
Basically, you want to peel off the casing of the sausages. It has no taste and adds a tough texture to the sausages especially when cooked in fried rice (no moisture to soften it).
This step really just makes the sausage bites more pleasant to eat and works well with the remaining (soft) ingredients of the fried rice.
- STEP 1. Soak the sausages with some warm/hot water for about 2 minutes. Not boiling hot as you don't want the flavours/oils to escape from the sausages! See image #1 above.
- STEP 2. You know the casing is ready to come off when it has turned opaque/white-ish. See image #2 above. Starting from either end, it peels off very easily. Like image #3 above.
- STEP 3. Thinly slice the Chinese sausages. About 2mm thick. Or a little chunkier if you wish. Like image #4 above.
How to make Chinese sausage fried rice
Making a plate of Chinese sausage fried rice is super quick and easy!
To make your life nice and easy, use a large non-stick pan or wok. This will avoid any sticky bottom disappointments! Nothing worse than rice being stuck at the bottom of the pan. Not only will this be a pain to clean, more importantly, the rice won't get the chance to get that wok hei or 'wok heat' in Cantonese!
Wok heat is crucial to stir-fries in general, it's the key to big flavours in Chinese cooking! Here are some fantastic stir fry recipes you've got to try - Vermicelli Stir Fry, Chicken in Black Bean Sauce and Squid Stir Fry!
Make the scrambled eggs first
One of the fantastic things about a bowl of good fried rice is that the eggs are golden and soft. The trick to achieving this is by cooking the scrambled eggs first then setting it aside. Only to be added back into the pan with the rest of the ingredients just before serving.
- STEP 1. Whisk eggs in a small bowl then pour into a hot pan or wok with a good amount of oil (about 1 tbsp) to ensure it does not stick at any stage.
- STEP 2. Slowly push the eggs around the pan with a spatula and as soon as it has taken shape, and not fully cooked through, take it out and set aside. Like images #1 and #2 above. This literally takes about 10 seconds so keep both eyes on the eggs!
Then the rest
- STEP 3. In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or frying pan and saute diced onions and minced garlic until soft and slightly golden.
- STEP 4. Add the Chinese sausage slices and white parts of the sliced scallions. Saute for about 2 minutes on medium heat.
- STEP 5. By now, the pan is smelling delicious and the sausages have released it's heavenly oils and turning slightly golden. Push the ingredients to the edges of the pan to make way for leftover steamed rice. Like image #5 above. Turn the heat up to high.
- STEP 6. Stir fry for about 1 minute on high heat (keep at this heat for remaining steps). You will have to use the flat side of a spatula to push down clumps of rice. Now, add soy sauce, salt and ground white pepper.
- STEP 7. Stir fry for about 2 minutes. The most important trick to the ultimate fried rice is to ensure each and every grain of rice has touched the hot pan. So stir fry away and get that heat into your rice. It's amazing how heat adds so much flavour.
- STEP 8. Time to add the cooked scrambled eggs. Break eggs apart with your trusty spatula into similar chunks as the sausages. Then add the scallions (remaining green parts)Stir fry and mix through for about 30 seconds.
Here you have it! The best Chinese sausage fried rice! This is unlike your regular takeout fried rice, this is restaurant quality, sooo much better!
Tips for making the best Chinese sausage fried rice every time
- The ultimate not-so-secret secret to the best fried rice is to cook on high heat, constantly stir fry and make sure each and every grain has touched the hot pan/wok.
- This takes me to the second point. Make sure this also happens when you've added the soy sauce. Soy sauces transform when it touches heat. It caramelises and the result is deliciously rich and deep umami flavour. Soy sauce + rice = best friends.
- Keep the eggs golden and fluffy by scrambling it first, setting it aside then adding it back into the pan/wok just before serving.
- Finally, like any other dish you would ever make, make sure to taste before serving. Does it need more salt? Perhaps a little more heat from the pepper? Do you like things on the spicy side? Add some little chilli flakes for good measure. Tip: if you find it is a little too salty for your liking, add chilli - it helps balance the saltiness.
Good to know (FAQs)
At most Asian supermarkets! If you're in Australia, they can be found in the Asian aisle of many Coles and Woolies! I live in Sydney and the other day I found them at a fruit and veggie shop in Top Ryde! Say whaaaaat
The answer is YES. You do need to cook them. Just like you would bacon.
Yes. However, as mentioned above under 'Preparing Chinese sausages' section, the skin has no taste and can be peeled off to improve the texture of the sausages when eaten. A home cooking trick used by many!
Three words: sweet, salty, savoury! These sausages are extremely flavourful and thus typically eaten thinly sliced with flavour carrying ingredients. In the case of this recipe, an egg fried rice!
Compared to Western-style sausages, Chinese sausages are bigger in flavour. They're saltier, sweeter and more 'punchy' in terms of savouriness (umami!). Chinese sausages also generally are not eaten on their own as mentioned in the question above!
The short answer is no. It contains a high level of saturated fat and salt in particular. Approximately 25% of it is saturated fat! Like bacon, eat in moderation and a little at a time, just like this Chinese sausage fried rice recipe! π
When I started putting this post together, I had no idea it was going to be this long. But I wanted to make sure I cover all the important steps, tips and tricks so that you can make the perfect Chinese sausage fried rice every time!
More delicious Chinese recipes
- Soy sauce chicken - my BEST, easy homestyle soy sauce chicken, perfect with some steamed rice and veggies
- Chicken noodle stir fry - great weeknight healthy meal
- Beef and vegetable stir fry - another fantastic healthy stir fry
- Sticky soy chicken wings - crowd-pleaser, finger-licking good
Thank you for checking out my recipes! Let me know what you think and/or if you have any questions, drop me a note in the comments section below. π
Happy cooking!
Gen
π Recipe
Chinese sausage fried rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups Leftover (overnight) rice (note 1)
- 2 Chinese sausage (lap cheong) Thinly sliced (note 2)
- 2 eggs whisked
- Β½ brown onion finely diced
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- 1 spring onion/scallion large, thinly sliced (note 3)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon oil such as canola or sunflower
- ΒΌ teaspoon salt guide, adjust for personal preference
- ΒΌ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Optional: remove the casing of the sausages by soaking it in warm to hot (not boiling) water for 2 minutes then peel at either ends. Discard casing. (note 4)
- Scramble eggs in a hot non-stick pan with 1 tablespoon of oil. Once it has formed shape but not completely cooked through, remove and set aside. This takes about 10 seconds.
- In the same pan, add remaining oil and saute onions and garlic on high heat.
- Once onions and garlic has turned slightly golden, add chinese sausages and white parts of the sliced spring onions/scallions. Saute on medium heat for 1 - 2 minutes.
- By now you the smell from the pan (or wok if using) should be heavenly. Push ingredients in the pan to the edges of pan/wok to make room for rice.
- Pour leftover rice in the middle of pan/wok and turn the heat back up to high and stir fry for 1 minute. Push clumps of rice down with the flat side of spatula to break rice apart.
- Add in soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stir fry for 2 more minutes. Make sure each and every grain of rice has touched the hot pan/wok.
- Add scrambled eggs back into the pan/wok along with green parts of sliced spring onions/scallions.
- Break eggs apart into similar size as sausages. Stir fry and mix through for about 20 - 30 seconds.
- Serve on its own or your favourite Chinese meat or vegetable dish.
Laura
What kind of oil do you use? I once used sesame and over did it and it was wayyyyy too much and the smell made me sick - lol. What kind of oil do you recommend?
Genevieve
Hi Laura, sorry to hear that! I recommend using neutral tasting oils such as sunflower, canola or vegetable oils to cook with. Use sesame oils very sparingly as its aroma is quite strong. I also like using olive oil as I find the taste of the oil very subtle and no overpowering.
- Gen
Christine
Hi I was just wondering how to tell when the sausages are done? My store has the red raw Chinese sausages and Iβm not sure how to tell when those ones are done. Thank you for any advice!
Genevieve
Hi Christine, Chinese sausages cook fairly quick in the frying pan especially when they've been thinly sliced. Generally, once the fat starts to render and the sausages starts to caramelise in colour, they are pretty much done - about a 2 to 3 minutes. π
Josie
This is one of my favourites after living in Brunei for 20 years then Malaysia 9 years goes really well with fried chicken, we use to eat this 3 times a week now we live in Liverpool I make it quite often first time with Chinese sausage as only just got them,
Genevieve
This with fried chicken sounds scrumptious!
Jonathan
Great instructions
Great taste..
Not too oily
Loved it
Genevieve
I'm glad to hear!
Shiou An
Thank you for the recipe!! Its my childhood favourite.
Genevieve
My absolute pleasure Shiou An! π
Scarlet
I love fried rice so it will be fun to try this version that is completely new to me. Thanks!
Genevieve
My absolute pleasure! Hope you like it π