Taiwanese Fried Rice

A few months ago, my mother and I took my boys to Taiwan for an epic summer vacation. My family is from Taipei, and I wanted to make sure the kids had a chance to make a connection with their ancestral roots. Turns out, it was pretty easy to do, starting with, no surprise here, the food.

Taiwan is known for its cuisine, and we ended each day with the full bellies to prove it. We had one particularly amazing meal at a restaurant run by Mama Tsao and her husband. Her vegetable rice packs a punch of flavor: it's savory and completely addictive. She told me her secret is infusing the oil with aromatics like Chinese ham and bacon. Fried rice is one of those guilty pleasures a lot of us associate with our neighborhood Chinese delivery place, but try this recipe and I think you might find yourself tossing that takeout menu.

It's easy, filled with layers of flavor, and probably quite a bit healthier than anything in those little white cartons. Give it a shot and customize with any meats or veggies you wish! 

You can find more of Patricia's recipes on her YouTube channels, Farm to Table Family and Farm to Table Baby Mama, which focuses on creating delicious food for babies and children. The recipes are modern takes on traditional favorites inspired by the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients.