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The perfect Benihana-style fried rice combines tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a game-changing secret ingredient: their signature garlic butter. In just 20 minutes, you can recreate this beloved restaurant favorite in your own kitchen, using simple, affordable ingredients.
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting your culinary journey, our detailed guide breaks down every step of this famous recipe. From choosing the right rice to mastering the perfect cooking temperature, we’ll share professional insights straight from Benihana chefs.
Get ready to transform your ordinary fried rice into a restaurant-quality masterpiece that’ll have your family and friends believing you’ve been secretly training at Benihana all along!
The Secret Behind Benihana’s Iconic Chicken Fried Rice
Ever wondered what makes Benihana’s chicken fried rice so irresistibly delicious? This famous restaurant chain has captured hearts worldwide with their theatrical cooking style and mouthwatering dishes.
The magic begins when skilled chefs transform simple ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience right before your eyes. It’s not just dinner – it’s the complete Benihana experience right at your table.
Think about that perfect bite of rice – slightly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with pieces of perfectly seasoned chicken and vegetables dancing together in harmony.
What sets this special dish apart from ordinary fried rice isn’t just the ingredients or technique. It’s the showmanship, the sizzle of the grill, and a few secret elements that we’re about to unveil.
The delicious Japanese fried rice at Benihana has become legendary, inspiring countless home cooks to recreate this masterpiece in their own kitchens.
Ready to discover what makes this copycat Benihana recipe so special? Let’s dive into the secrets that transform regular fried rice into restaurant-quality perfection.
Ingredients
Essential Ingredients for Benihana Chicken Fried Rice
Creating authentic Benihana fried rice starts with gathering the perfect combination of simple ingredients that work together harmoniously.
The foundation begins with premium short-grain rice, enhanced by the perfect blend of seasonings. Each component plays a crucial role in building those signature flavors.
Let’s break down the essential elements:
Base Ingredients
– High-quality short-grain rice
– Soy sauce (use premium Japanese varieties)
– Fresh green onion for garnish
– Toasted sesame seeds
– Safflower oil for cooking
Seasoning Blend
– White pepper (provides subtle heat)
– Black pepper (adds depth)
– A precise balance of salt
The key is using less black pepper than you might expect – it’s about creating harmony, not overwhelming any single flavor.
These ingredients might seem simple, but it’s their quality and proper proportions that transform them into something extraordinary.
The Game-Changing Garlic Butter
The dish’s secret ingredient? A magnificent garlic butter compound that elevates every grain of rice.
To create authentic Benihana garlic butter:
– Start with high-quality unsalted butter
– Add freshly minced garlic (peel garlic cloves carefully)
– Mix in select seasonings
This butter compound isn’t just a topping – it’s the heart and soul of the dish, infusing every bite with that distinctive garlic butter taste.
Selection and Preparation Tips for Benihana Chicken Fried Rice
Success starts with selecting and preparing your rice properly – it’s the foundation of this iconic dish.
The secret? Using old rice, preferably day-old, makes a significant difference. Fresh rice contains too much moisture, leading to mushy fried rice.
For perfect results:
– Use 2 cups of uncooked rice for a family-sized portion
– Follow package directions precisely
– Ensure each rice grain cooks evenly
– Allow rice to cool completely before frying
Remember, proper rice preparation prevents excess moisture, which is crucial for achieving that perfect texture.
Pro tip: Cook your rice using slightly less water than usual. This helps ensure the final dish isn’t too wet when fried.
Variations: Personalizing Your Benihana Chicken Fried Rice
Last night as an inquisitive cook, I’ ve discovered several different ways to make the traditional Benihana-restaurant-style chicken with fried rice. The following adaptations can be considered by a chef when he/she wants to satisfy different tastes and wants for special occasions:
Spicy Kick
Apart from the traditional recipe, those who like sour and very hot can also use the sriracha and a bit of red pepper powder in the cooked rice. This is a very tasty process as you have to balance out spiciness, sourness, and saltiness in order to make combining the sriracha and the other flavors work.
Veggie Lover’s Dream
But the animal products are not necessarily the only ones belonging to a satisfactory product, which Finn refers to as the same is true in the case of small R&D projects, e.g. the vegetarian one where I have a no-chicken, all-veggie sauce alternative. If you add ground black pepper, snow peas, and mushrooms it will be full of colors and good food.
Seafood Delight
I don’t only eat chicken with my special fried rice. I have tried some delicious, expensive and really great-for-events recipes such as using shrimps instead of the chicken, or making a composition with shrimp, scallops, and squid. This makes the entire cuisine sweet.
Tropical Twist
And this pineapple I told you about should be a snack. The addition of pineapple and coconut dish is actually a fun surprise when I feel that a typical dish would be boring to eat. This is a nice kind of sweet and sour taste that you feel after eating it.
Curry Fusion
The Indian curry variation is a taste sensation that awakens the sense with the extra flavor from the apple and a spicy flavor from the curry seasoning. This recipe adds greater taste and flavor to the usual comfort menu.
Kid-Friendly Version
You might wonder how less soy and more candy corn would taste. It’s always a pleasure to prepare food for children in such a way that the level of soy sauce is reduced and the sweetness is the sweet corn that is added. The children will love the bright yellow background of the corn that stimulates their senses.
Just note that the given ones can be just used as starting points. It is always a nice idea to try to invent and experiment in your own ways and taste your own versions of the recipe they want the most!
Instructions
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for easy Benihana Chicken Fried Rice
Creating restaurant-quality Benihana Chicken Fried Rice requires attention to timing and technique. Follow these precise steps to achieve optimal results:
Step 1: Rice Preparation (Day Before) Begin this process by preparing your rice the day before cooking. Cook the rice according to package instructions, then spread it in a thin layer on a baking sheet. Place it uncovered in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours. This crucial step removes excess moisture and creates the ideal texture for stir-frying.
Step 2: Garlic Butter Preparation Combine softened butter with freshly grated garlic and light soy sauce until thoroughly incorporated. This signature component should be refrigerated until firm. The garlic butter adds the distinctive richness that defines Benihana’s cooking style.
Step 3: Protein and Vegetable Preparation Marinate your chosen protein in the specified seasoning mixture. Meanwhile, prepare your vegetables with precise, uniform cuts to ensure even cooking. This attention to detail in preparation significantly impacts the final texture and appearance of the dish.
Step 4: Protein Cooking Heat your cooking surface to high temperature before adding oil and your marinated protein. The addition of garlic butter during this stage creates the first layer of flavor development. Remove and reserve the cooked protein.
Step 5: Vegetable and Rice Stir-Frying In the same pan, create a layered flavor profile by stir-frying garlic, followed by vegetables, and finally the dried rice. The key is maintaining high heat while keeping ingredients in constant motion.
Step 6: Final Assembly Create a well in the rice for cooking eggs, then incorporate all components with the final seasonings and garlic butter. This stage requires quick, decisive movements to prevent overcooking while ensuring thorough integration of all elements.
Pro Tips:
- Use a large, flat cooking surface to ensure proper heat distribution
- Keep ingredients moving constantly to prevent sticking
- Break up any rice clumps before cooking for uniform texture
- Add seasonings gradually to achieve balanced flavor
Essential Hint: Allow your cooking surface to reach proper temperature before beginning. For optimal results, use a large, flat-bottomed carbon steel or stainless steel pan. If using a wok, ensure it’s properly seasoned to prevent sticking. Clean your cooking surface immediately after use while still hot, using appropriate heat-resistant cleaning tools.
Protein Preparation and Cooking
The protein component requires special attention to achieve that signature Benihana texture and flavor.
Start with high-quality diced chicken breast, cut into small bite size pieces for even cooking. You can also explore different protein of your choice to customize the dish.
Professional Tips from Benihana Chefs
As shared by chef Oscar Briseno, a veteran own Benihana chef, the key tip is proper temperature control. Never overcrowd the cooking surface – this ensures each piece cooks evenly.
A master technique involves using the side of a knife to check protein doneness while cooking.
Equipment
Perfect Your Cooking Equipment
Selecting the right equipment makes a significant difference in your results.
A carbon steel wok or large, shallow pan works best for home kitchen use. The key is having enough surface area to prevent overcrowding.
Remember, while professionals use a teppanyaki grill, you can achieve excellent results with standard home equipment.
Storage:
Keeping Your Benihana Chicken Fried Rice Fresh
As for your advice, I view correct positioning of the dish in the matter of storage as a critical element of quality maintenance. Here is how I would generally store it:
First off, leave the fried rice to cool down properly before tucking it away. This method wards off humidity and prevents damper rice from turning into sogginess.
The rice will keep well for 3 to 4 days if it is stored in an airtight container that is kept in the fridge.
To reheat, cooking on a stove with medium heat is definitely the best in my opinion. Include in the recipe a little water or a touch of oil to keep it from drying out.
Although I have noticed that it freezes well, it gives a rather mealy texture. In case you like the idea of the freezer, just make it into cubes and later eat it within a month or two.
Portion the rice meal-sized servings for easier thawing and reheating before you put it in the freezer.
FAQ
What type of oil does Benihana use?
My experience has taught me that Safflower oil happens to be the main oil that Benihana cooks with. The reason that this oil is chosen is that it has a very high smoke point and a very bland or undetectable flavor, which are the recipes used for the meal at Benihana,
How do Chinese restaurants make fried rice taste so good?
Among the tools and traditions of the cuisine, Chinese restaurants take the pizza of frying rice at its peak when they manage to make outstandoing fried rice. Some ways are the following: using day-old rice, which gratify, keeping the heat on even fire until it becomes crisp, and a fusion of spices, e.g., curry, garlic, and oyster sauce are some of the examples.
Does Benihana have chicken fried rice?
A lovely mix of chicken fried rice is the most celebrated face of the menus of Benihana at all. There is one of their chickened rice dishes on their menu. It is a classic meal that couples their well-known weight rice with soft slices of chicken, made and served on their teppanyaki grill before the customers.
What is the secret of Chinese fried rice?
Authentic Chinese fried rice is a combination of a few things, including the above. First, using leftover rice reduces mushiness, and also the cold texture prevents the sticky together of the rice. Second, Chinese fried rice is a flavor of a little bit of smoke which is accomplished through the use of a large draining oil and a lot of fire. Finally, the cook has to be careful not to add the other ingredients too quickly and onto each other.
Conclusion
After trying with my own hands, I have concluded that the preparation of Benihana’s chicken fried rice is, in fact, simpler than one might think. To begin with, through my systematic research and exercise, I have grasped what I consider as the essential tips that must be followed: the use of fresh and high-quality ingredients, the application of correct techniques, and the choice of the right cooking temperature. So proud to tell you that this formula, when you add your favorite veggies, gives us the chance to bring the restaurant home just in 20 minutes. It serves the purpose of not only being for special events but also of constantly finding the Benihana taste that is deep-rooted in us.
I want everyone to give this recipe a try, mingle with different alternatives, and fall in love with the art of being a Benihana specialist at the domestic front. For more inspiration, check out my Easy Beef Recipes or explore how to make Longhorn Parmesan Crusted Chicken for another restaurant-quality dish. If you’re looking for more quick and delicious meals, my Taco Soup Recipe or Braised Chicken in the Oven are perfect options.
Benihana’s Chicken Fried Rice recipe
Equipment
- 1 Large frying pan or wok Non-stick recommended for easy cooking.
- 1 Wooden spatula For stirring and flipping ingredients.
- 1 Mixing Bowls For preparing ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked short-grain rice (day-old) Day-old rice works best for fried rice.
- 1 cup Chicken breast (diced) Use fresh, high-quality chicken.
- ½ cup Mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn) Fresh or frozen.
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce Use premium Japanese soy sauce.
- 2 tbsp Garlic butter The secret ingredient for authentic flavor.
- 2 eggs Beaten eggs For scrambling.
- ¼ cup Green onions (chopped) For garnish.
Instructions
- Heat a large frying pan or wok over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp of safflower oil.
- Sauté diced chicken until fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, scramble beaten eggs. Push to the side and add mixed vegetables.
- Add day-old rice and cooked chicken to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Pour soy sauce and garlic butter over the rice mixture. Stir until evenly coated.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and serve hot.
Notes
- Rice Preparation:
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- Always use day-old rice for fried rice. Freshly cooked rice contains too much moisture, which can make the dish soggy.
- If you don’t have day-old rice, spread freshly cooked rice on a baking sheet and let it cool completely in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
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Customization Options:
- Protein Variations: Swap chicken for shrimp, beef, or tofu for a different twist.
- Vegetable Add-Ins: Add bell peppers, broccoli, or mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Spice Level: Add a dash of sriracha or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
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Garlic Butter Tips:
- Use high-quality unsalted butter and freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.
- Prepare the garlic butter in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
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Cooking Tips:
- Cook ingredients in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can lower the temperature and result in steaming instead of frying.
- Use a large frying pan or wok to ensure even cooking and prevent spillage.
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Storage and Reheating:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, use a frying pan over medium heat with a splash of water or oil to restore moisture. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the rice dry or rubbery.
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Serving Suggestions:
- Serve with a side of miso soup or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Garnish with extra green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or a drizzle of soy sauce for added flavor and presentation.
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Kid-Friendly Version:
- Reduce the amount of soy sauce and skip the spicy ingredients for a milder version that kids will love.
- Add sweet corn or diced pineapple for a touch of sweetness.
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Meal Prep:
- This recipe is perfect for meal prep. Double the ingredients and store individual portions in the fridge or freezer for quick weekday meals.