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Overhead bowl of red kimchi fried rice topped with a sunny crisp-edged fried egg, chopped green scallions and a dark savory sauce drizzle

30-Minute Dinners

Kimchi Fried Rice with Crispy Fried Egg & Scallions

Cold rice, well-fermented kimchi and gochujang fry into a smoky-spicy skillet meal finished with sesame oil, scallions and crisp-edged eggs.

Developed for DishGal · Updated 2026-09-03

Prep12 min
Cook18 min
Total30 min
Cost$2.35

Directions

  1. Break up the cold rice

    Use damp fingers to separate the chilled rice into loose grains before heating the skillet. Cold, dry rice fries instead of collapsing into a sticky mass. Keep it refrigerated until the pan is ready.

  2. Mix the seasoning

    Whisk the kimchi brine, gochujang, soy sauce, 2 teaspoons mushroom oyster sauce and sugar in a small bowl until smooth. Taste the kimchi first; if it is especially salty, reduce the soy sauce to 2 teaspoons.

  3. Sear the kimchi

    Heat a wide 12-inch skillet over medium-high until hot. Add 1 tablespoon neutral oil, the onion and scallion whites, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the kimchi and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until its edges darken and most visible moisture evaporates.

  4. Fry the rice in a broad layer

    Add the garlic and stir for 20 seconds. Add the cold rice and remaining seasoning mixture, spread everything across the skillet and leave it undisturbed for 90 seconds. Toss, spread again and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until hot with scattered crisp grains.

  5. Finish the vegetables and sesame

    Fold in the peas and half the scallion greens and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the peas are hot and the rice reaches 165°F. Remove from the heat, drizzle with sesame oil and transfer to four warm bowls.

  6. Fry crisp-edged eggs

    Wipe the skillet clean enough to remove loose rice, return it to medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons neutral oil. Crack in the eggs, season with salt and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the whites are set and the edges are browned and lacy.

  7. Check egg doneness for your diners

    For a runny yolk, serve promptly once the white is fully set. For children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system, use pasteurized eggs or continue cooking until both white and yolk reach 160°F.

  8. Garnish and serve

    Stir the reserved teaspoon mushroom oyster sauce with 1 teaspoon warm water. Top each bowl of hot kimchi fried rice with one egg, drizzle lightly with the thinned sauce, and scatter over the remaining scallion greens, sesame seeds and nori strips if using. Serve immediately while the rice is hot and the egg edges are still crisp.

Why this works

Why it worksWell-fermented kimchi provides acidity, chile depth and savory complexity, while frying it until nearly dry concentrates flavor instead of making the rice soggy.
Why it worksChilled rice has a firmer, drier surface than freshly cooked rice, so its grains separate and pick up browned spots in a hot skillet.
Why it worksMixing the brine, gochujang and soy sauce before cooking distributes seasoning quickly, limiting the stirring that would otherwise soften the rice.

Useful kitchen gear

Tools that make this easier.

Compare the function and specifications first; skip anything your kitchen already handles well.

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Cast-iron skillet with a finished baked pasta Compare on Amazon12-inch cast-iron skilletA broad heat-steady surface lets cold rice fry in a thin layer instead of steaming into clumps.See current options → White-and-black countertop rice cooker with a glass lid and removable inner pot Compare on AmazonFamily-size rice cookerCook and cool the rice ahead, then use the cooker again when doubling the batch for meal prep.See current options → Large cutting board with a chef's knife and vegetables Compare on AmazonLarge nonslip cutting boardA stable board contains kimchi brine while leaving room to separate scallion whites from their green garnish.See current options →

Swaps & notes

Easy swaps

  • Brown rice or jasmine rice can replace short-grain rice as long as it is fully chilled and the grains are separated before frying.
  • For a vegan version, omit the eggs and add 8 oz diced extra-firm tofu after the kimchi; fry until browned before adding the rice. Confirm the kimchi is made without fish sauce or salted shrimp.
  • Frozen corn or finely diced carrots can replace the peas. Thaw frozen vegetables and pat them dry so they do not steam the rice.

Cook notes

  • Kimchi flavor varies widely. Older, tangier kimchi is ideal here; fresh mild kimchi may need an extra teaspoon of brine and 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar.
  • A 12-inch skillet gives four cups of rice enough contact with the metal to brown. If your pan is smaller, fry the rice in two batches.
  • This dish can be vegetarian only when the kimchi and gochujang labels confirm no fish sauce, anchovy extract or salted shrimp.

Storage

Rice should be cooled promptly after its first cooking and refrigerated within 2 hours in a shallow container. Refrigerate leftover kimchi fried rice without the eggs for up to 4 days. Reheat once in a hot skillet with 1 tablespoon water until every portion reaches 165°F; fry fresh eggs for serving. Do not leave cooked rice at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Questions

Can I use freshly cooked rice for kimchi fried rice?

Yes, but spread the hot rice on a rimmed sheet pan and refrigerate it uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes until cold and dry on the surface. Never leave it cooling at room temperature for an extended period.

Why is my fried rice soft and clumpy?

Warm rice, wet kimchi or an overcrowded pan usually causes clumping. Use thoroughly chilled rice, drain the kimchi, preheat a wide skillet and let each layer sit undisturbed long enough to fry.

How spicy is this recipe?

With 1 tablespoon gochujang it is moderately spicy, though kimchi heat varies. Use 2 teaspoons gochujang for a gentler version or add another teaspoon at the table for more heat.

Kimchi Fried Rice with Crispy Fried Egg & Scallions
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1. Break up the cold riceUse damp fingers to separate the chilled rice into loose grains before heating the skillet. Cold, dry rice fries instead of collapsing into a sticky mass. Keep it refrigerated until the pan is ready.
2. Mix the seasoningWhisk the kimchi brine, gochujang, soy sauce, 2 teaspoons mushroom oyster sauce and sugar in a small bowl until smooth. Taste the kimchi first; if it is especially salty, reduce the soy sauce to 2 teaspoons.
3. Sear the kimchiHeat a wide 12-inch skillet over medium-high until hot. Add 1 tablespoon neutral oil, the onion and scallion whites, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the kimchi and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until its edges darken and most visible moisture evaporates.
4. Fry the rice in a broad layerAdd the garlic and stir for 20 seconds. Add the cold rice and remaining seasoning mixture, spread everything across the skillet and leave it undisturbed for 90 seconds. Toss, spread again and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until hot with scattered crisp grains.
5. Finish the vegetables and sesameFold in the peas and half the scallion greens and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the peas are hot and the rice reaches 165°F. Remove from the heat, drizzle with sesame oil and transfer to four warm bowls.
6. Fry crisp-edged eggsWipe the skillet clean enough to remove loose rice, return it to medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons neutral oil. Crack in the eggs, season with salt and fry for 2 to 3 minutes until the whites are set and the edges are browned and lacy.
7. Check egg doneness for your dinersFor a runny yolk, serve promptly once the white is fully set. For children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system, use pasteurized eggs or continue cooking until both white and yolk reach 160°F.
8. Garnish and serveStir the reserved teaspoon mushroom oyster sauce with 1 teaspoon warm water. Top each bowl of hot kimchi fried rice with one egg, drizzle lightly with the thinned sauce, and scatter over the remaining scallion greens, sesame seeds and nori strips if using. Serve immediately while the rice is hot and the egg edges are still crisp.