This delicious garlicky, buttery Japanese Fried Rice is a low carb inspired healthy alternative to traditional fried rice. With only 5g net carbs per serving, it’s a great option for a quick lunch or dinner.
Inspired by my love for Japanese fried garlic rice (chahan), this version is made with cauliflower rice making it a great, healthy and low carb alternative.
It’s savory, garlicky and very filling. Sure to satisfy any fried rice craving!
What is Japanese Beef Fried Rice?
Traditionally, Japanese beef fried rice is made with white rice, however this recipe introduces the same great flavors while providing you a healthier low carb dish.
This Japanese beef fried rice uses thinly sliced beef combined with cauliflower rice, onions and green onions then seasoned with a classic Japanese style butter, garlic and soy sauce seasoning and stir fry on high heat in a wok or a large pan until aromatic and fully cooked.
How is Japanese fried rice different from Chinese fried rice?
Besides the use of different seasonings, Japanese fried rice uses short-grain rice while Chinese fried rice uses long-grain rice such as jasmine rice.
Where does fried rice come from?
Fried rice originally came from people using leftover day-old rice and other ingredients.
How to make Japanese fried rice like the restaurant?
Japanese fried rice made in restaurants such as teppanyaki or hibachi style uses very high heat to give it that signature flavor. You can mimic this by using the recipe here and cooking your rice on either a wok or large fry pan.
Also, if using steamed rice, make sure to use leftover rice or 1-2 days old rice. Otherwise, the fried rice will come out soggy and won’t have the same texture as resturant fried rice.
What ingredients do I need and how do you make Japanese fried rice?
- Sliced Beef – thinly sliced beef. You can also use chicken or pork.
- Rice – cauliflower rice or rice of choice. If using steamed white rice, it’s best to use leftover rice or day old rice to achieve the correct texture.
- Neutral Oil – high temp neutral cooking oil such as vegetable oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil.
- Butter – can use salted or unsalted depending on preference.
- Garlic – grated using a hand grater. Use more if you are a garlic lover.
- Onion – diced using your preferred method.
- Green Onion – finely chopped.
- Egg – beaten.
- Soy Sauce – low sodium is preferred. For gluten free you can use tamari or coconut aminos.
- Salt – table salt or sea salt.
- Black Pepper – fresh or pre-ground black pepper.
Follow directions cooking eggs, then beef, followed by cauliflower and onion. Add back in the eggs and beef along with the seasonings and stir fry to evenly distribute. Finally add green onions and transfer to serving plate.
What kind of beef should I use for this recipe?
Any type of thinly sliced beef works well for this recipe. You can purchase shabu shabu or sukiyaki beef at Japanese supermarkets or ask your local butcher to thinly slice ribeye or chuck for you.
What is cauliflower rice and what are the benefits over traditional steamed rice?
Cauliflower rice is just cauliflower that has been chopped into little grain size pieces. You can easily find cauliflower rice at most supermarkets in the frozen vegetable section.
Compared to traditional white rice, cauliflower rice is very low in carbs at about 3g net per cup. Overall, cauliflower rice has more nutritional value than white rice making it a great healthier alternative.
However, you can also easily use this recipe using traditional rice as well.
Just note if you are using traditional steamed rice, it’s best to use leftover rice that’s 1-2 days old.
What is the nutrition information for this Japanese fried rice recipe?
- 663 Calories
- 17g Carbohydrates
- 12g Fiber
- 35g Protein
- 50g Fat
- 304mg Cholesterol
- 1691mg Sodium
- 426mg Potassium
- 62mg Calcium
- 3mg Iron
- 999ui Vitamin A
- 1mg Vitamin C
Looking for other fried rice recipes?
- Garlic Chicken Fried Rice
- Chicken Kimchi Fried Rice
- Lemon Pepper Shrimp Fried Rice
- Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice
- Lime Chicken Fried Rice
Now, let’s get making this Japanese Beef Fried Rice!
- Prepping Time 5M
- Cook Time 10M
- Total Time 15M
- Net Carb/Serv ~5g
- Servings 1 Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/4 lb Thinly Sliced Beef (you can use chicken or pork as well)
- 2 Cups Cauliflower Rice (or rice of choice)
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1-2 Garlic (use 2 if you like garlic)
- 2 tbsp Chopped Onion
- 1/2 Stalk Green Onion
- 1 Egg
- 2 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) Finely dice green onions, onions, beef and set aside.
3) Grate garlic with a grater and set aside.
4) In a small mixing bowl beat eggs.
5) In a small Teflon frying pan, spray cooking oil, pour eggs on medium-low heat, mix as if you are scrambling eggs for 1 minute and remove from heat. Eggs should only be partially cooked (very soft). Transfer to holding a bowl.
6) In a new small Teflon frying pan, spray cooking oil on high heat, add beef and cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked. Transfer to holding a bowl.
7) In a large Teflon fry pan, add frozen cauliflower rice and onions and cook for 2-3 minutes or until preferred tenderness is attained.
8) After 2-3 minutes, add beef, partially cooked eggs, Soy Sauce, grated garlic, butter, salt and black pepper. Mix well and continue to cook for an additional 1 minute or until eggs are fully cooked.
9) Lastly, mix in the green onions and transfer to a serving bowl. Enjoy hot!
Hope you enjoy your Japanese Beef Fried Rice!
If you’re looking for other recipe ideas, be sure to check out our growing Recipe Index full of healthy Asian inspired recipes!
Join us on Facebook to be part of our interactive discussions & recipe requests and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, or subscribe to our New Recipe Notification and be the first to know when we post a new recipe!
Japanese Beef Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1/4 lb Beef you can use chicken or pork as well
- 2 Cups Cauliflower Rice or rice of choice
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1-2 Whole Garlic use 2 if you like garlic
- 2 tbsp Chopped Onion
- 1/2 Stalk Green Onion
- 1 Egg
- 2 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Finely dice green onions, onions, beef and set aside.
- Grate garlic with a grater and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs.
- In a small Teflon frying pan, spray cooking oil, pour eggs on medium-low heat, mix as if you are scrambling eggs for 1 minute and remove from heat. Eggs should only be partially cooked (very soft). Transfer to holding a bowl.
- In a new small Teflon frying pan, spray cooking oil on high heat, add beef and cook for 2-3 minutes or until cooked. Transfer to holding a bowl.
- In a large Teflon fry pan, add frozen cauliflower rice and onions and cook for 2-3 minutes or until preferred tenderness is attained.
- After 2-3 minutes, add beef, partially cooked eggs, Soy Sauce, grated garlic, butter, salt and black pepper. Mix well and continue to cook for an additional 1 minute or until eggs are fully cooked.
- Lastly, mix in the green onions and transfer to a serving bowl. Enjoy hot!
Video
Nutrition
*This page contains affiliate marketing links*
