With a bright deep-yellow color derived from turmeric, this easy and super tasty rice dish (Java Rice / Yellow Fried Rice) lends a pop of color to any meal. Perfect summer side dish as it pairs so well with barbecued or grilled meat, chicken or seafood! Just a few ingredients needed to make this.
I love, love, love fried rice! What’s even better? I use left-over chilled rice to make fried rice so nothing is wasted! This is what I have learned growing up on a tiny island in the Philippine archipelago – you never waste precious rice!
White fried rice, though certainly tasty, can get very plain and boring sometimes. Thankfully, we can add a pop of color to plain white rice and make it a more appetizing and eye-catching dish! In the Philippines, we call that yellowish rice as Java rice!
I know it seems to have a strange name, right? You know why? Because Java is actually an island in Indonesia and you’ve probably heard of it more as a type of coffee as well. Java coffee, of course, originated from the Java Islands of Indonesia. But how did it end up becoming the name of a favorite Filipino rice dish?
Honestly, I am as clueless as you are. I actually tried to research this when I wrote my cookbook. Yes, this Java rice is included in my book entitled Rice. Noodles. Yum. (Everyone’s Favorite Southeast Asian Dishes). But, I couldn’t find out how the Filipino yellow rice ended up being called Java rice. I just remember from memory that this was first introduced on the menu by a very popular restaurant in Metro Manila called Aristocrat. As far as I know, once it became popular there it then became a household name and so many restaurants now make their own version of Java rice.
I honestly think it was named as such because it was probably inspired by or based on the Indonesian yellow rice called “nasi kuning.” Perhaps they just adapted the Java name too if it was indeed a play on the Indonesian yellow rice. Whether this is true or not, let me just tell you that this is one deliciously tasty rice that is so perfect eaten with grilled meats! Since it’s summer and I’ve been doing a lot of grilling so you can be sure, I have this rice often! I hope you try this and let us know if you like it. It’s super easy to make and only has very few ingredients!
Looking for more rice recipes? Look no further than our cookbook with 75 RICE & NOODLE dishes all in full color. Check the video flip through below to see its content.
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Enjoy this delicious rice this summer or anytime you want an easy and tasty vibrant fried rice!
The golden yellow color comes from the egg yolk. The method of making golden fried rice is different from classic fried rice. The egg is mixed with rice directly before stir-frying. If you want your golden fried rice to be more “yellow”, you can add more egg yolks.
Java Rice, also known as Yellow Fried Rice is a wonderful addition to meals. Serve alongside pork, chicken or shrimp, it adds a great depth of flavor with very little effort.
This recipe has nothing to do with Java in terms of programming, it relates back to some possible Indonesian influence as in the island of Java. I just loved the simple yet pronounced flavors and I as I predicted it very much appealed to my son. He took the leftovers in his lunch the next day.
When I heard my blogger friend Abby (the creator of Manila Spoon) was releasing a brand new cookbook I was not only excited for her, I was secretly hoping to add it to my shelf of cookbooks. I’ve known Abby within blogging circles for quite a few years and respect the time and love that go into her authentic recipes.
Java Rice is also known as Yellow Fried Rice is an easy addition to meals. Loaded with flavor, you can pair this side dish with a variety of meats.
I love a cookbook, yes an actual book with recipes and big bright beautiful pictures. Pre-Internet days I had oodles of cookbooks, shelves full of them. General cookbooks, specialty cookbooks, locale-specific cookbooks, I loved buying them. My husband wasn’t too thrilled with moving them (we moved quite a few times) and through the moves, I scaled back to just a few favorites remaining on my shelves.
How to Make Yellow Fried Rice (Java Rice)
- 2 tbsp cooking oil of choice
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 4 cups cooked and chilled rice
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil and the garlic over low heat and cook until the garlic is nicely browned. Scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the cooked garlic and set aside. Add the butter and ground turmeric to the pan and cook until the butter melts.
- Add the rice to the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Press or pat down the rice using a spatula to separate the grains, then fold the rice over. Do these steps two steps a few times until the rice grains have fully separated. Continue to cook until the rice is fully heated through and has turned yellowish in color. Make sure that the color is evenly distributed.
- Season the rice with the soy sauce and salt, stirring once more until the rice has fully absorbed the soy sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve immediately adding the remaining browned garlic as garnish.
How to Make Yellow Fried Rice (Pork Fried Rice)
FAQ
Why are some fried rice yellow?
What gives fried rice its color?
What is the difference between yellow and brown fried rice?
Where does yellow rice come from?
Why is fried rice yellow?
Let’s find out. Why is fried rice yellow ? Fried rice is yellow due to additives like turmeric, a thinned out soy sauce, or beta-carotene heavy vegetables like carrots and red bell pepper. This rice dish is a way to incorporate a lot of leftovers, so other ingredients often stain the rice.
What is the difference between brown and white rice? Why is rice polishing done? What type of rice can a sugar patient take?
The difference between brown and white rice is the fiber content. Brown rice has a fiber-rich composition and requires 5-10 additional minutes to get cooked versus white rice. A sugar patient should choose brown rice or white rice compensed with fibre-rich foods in the same meal.
What is Yellow Fried Rice?
Yellow fried rice is a dish of cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok or a frying pan and is usually made with eggs, vegetables, and meat. It is often served with a variety of sauces and condiments. The dish is typically made by first cooking rice in water or stock, then draining the liquid and letting the rice cool.
What color is fried rice?
With a bright deep-yellow color derived from turmeric, this easy and super tasty rice dish (Java Rice / Yellow Fried Rice) lends a pop of color to any meal. Perfect summer side dish as it pairs so well with barbecued or grilled meat, chicken or seafood! Just a few ingredients needed to make this. I love, love, love fried rice! What’s even better?