Crab fried rice is made with day-old rice, eggs, and sweet crabmeat. It's simple, but the crab really makes it feel special.
Use good-quality crabmeat if you can, since that's where most of the flavor comes from.
Once everything is ready, it cooks quickly and turns leftover rice into a full meal.
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Ingredients You'll Need
Notes and Substitutions
- White rice: Use medium or long-grain rice, like jasmine. Day-old rice works best, but fresh rice is fine if it is not too soft or wet.
- Crabmeat: I used canned crabmeat, but fresh or frozen works too. If using canned, look for jumbo lump, lump, or backfin crabmeat, which have larger pieces and a better texture.
How to Make Crab Fried Rice (Step-by-Step)
Before you start
Break up the rice with a fork.
If using fresh rice, spread it out and let it cool a bit so it doesn't clump or turn mushy.
Step 1: Sauté the aromatics and crab
Heat a wok or wide pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon oil.
Sauté 1 onion (finely chopped) and 3 garlic cloves (minced) until softened.
Add ½ red bell pepper (finely chopped) and ½ cup crabmeat.
Break up the crabmeat as it cooks for another minute.
Step 2: Cook the eggs
Push the crab mixture to one side of the wok.
Add a little more oil to the empty side, then add 2 eggs.
Cook and stir the eggs until just set.
Step 3: Add the rice and seasonings
Add:
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- ground pepper (to taste)
Mix until everything is well combined and the rice is evenly coated.
Step 4: Add the crab, scallions, and cilantro
Add the remaining crabmeat, 3 scallions (chopped), and ¼ cup cilantro (chopped).
Toss them together and season with salt as needed. Turn off the heat.
Serve your crab fried rice with a lime wedge and cucumbers.
Recipe FAQs
Crab fried rice is a fried rice dish with eggs, seasonings, and crabmeat. It is popular in many Asian cuisines, including Thai cuisine.
Lump, jumbo lump, or backfin crabmeat work best because they have larger pieces and a better texture. Fresh, frozen, or canned crabmeat can all be used.
Yes. Freshly cooked rice works as long as it is not too soft or wet. Let it cool first so the grains stay separate when stir-fried.
What to Serve with Crab Fried Rice
- Adobong kangkong: Water spinach in adobo sauce.
- Inihaw na liempo: Grilled marinated pork belly.
- Lechon kawali: Crispy fried pork belly.
- Chicken inasal: Grilled chicken with calamansi, lemongrass, and annatto.
- Lumpia: Crispy spring rolls with meat, shrimp, or vegetables.
- Fried calamari: Crispy fried squid rings.
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📖 Recipe
Crab Fried Rice Recipe
Equipment
- Wok or wide pan
Ingredients
- 8 ounces crabmeat about 1 ½ cups
- 3 cups cooked rice cold
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ red bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce sub:soy sauce
- Ground black or white pepper to taste
- 3 scallions chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- Neutral oil
For serving (optional)
- Lime wedges
- Cucumber slices
Instructions
- Sauté the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and half of the crabmeat.
- Push everything to one side and cook the eggs until just set.
- Add the rice, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Add the remaining crabmeat, scallions, and cilantro.
- Toss gently, season with salt if needed, and serve.
Video
Notes
- White rice: Use medium- or long-grain rice, like jasmine. Day-old rice works best, but fresh rice is fine if not too soft or wet.
- Crabmeat: I used canned crabmeat, but fresh or frozen works too. For canned, choose jumbo lump, lump, or backfin for larger pieces.
Abby says
Now i know what to make with my canned crab, thanks for this recipe! Looks really good!
Nora Reyes says
Yeeees! I'm so glad! Canned crab can be a real lifesaver in the kitchen.
jomelyn says
I love anything fried rice. can I use imitation crab here? where did u get crab meat in can? i wanna try this recipe, makes me hungry.
Bim says
This is one in the menu I always order when eating out. I’ll try to prepare this one of these days. Good suggestion that canned good quality crabmeat can be used as a choice rather than fresh one.Looks yummy! Thanks Nora.
Nora says
Thank you! =)
Nora says
They can get so expensive at restaurants. I hope you'll like it and please send me your feedback. =)