Lemongrass Fried Rice Recipe

Complete with deliciously marinated lemongrass shrimp and just the right amount of carbs, this lemongrass shrimp fried rice is a meal that will hit all your macros at only 370 calories. Did I mention that it’s also delicious?

🍏 How to Make It Healthy – The Fitsian Method

Shrimp is one of my favorite proteins to cook with since it has such high protein content at such a low calorie count. A 3oz serving of shrimp is only 80 calories! I used size 41-50 shrimp here but any size works -- you can refer to this guide on shrimp sizing to determine the right number of shrimp to use. By keeping portion control in mind by using only 1 serving of rice, I keep the calories and carbohydrates intake to a minimum. I also added an egg here, which boosted the dish’s protein content - and let’s be real, everything's better with an egg!

For a detailed breakdown of each ingredients, their portioning, and how they make up the nutrition profile of this low calorie lemongrass fried rice recipe, you may refer to the table below:

💭 FAQs

How do you use lemongrass in cooking?

Lemongrass are long, stalky herbs with a wood-like texture. When using, you will need to peel it back a few layers to reach the white fleshy part. Then, cut the lemongrass in thin slices starting from the white, fleshy bottom until you reach the green woody part (these are usually saved for steeping in soups or curries). For optimal flavor, pound the sliced lemongrass slices in a mortar and pestle -- this will release all the flavor and juices. For more information about how to cook with lemongrass, check out this article from The Spruce Eats on How to Prepare Lemongrass.

What part of the lemongrass stalks do I use?

Generally for stir frying, we use the bottom, white fleshy part of the lemongrass stalk.

Want to optimize for the texture of the rice?

This recipe calls for 1 serving of mixed grain rice, which is ¼ cup uncooked. You can also opt for other types of rice if you’d like. They key to optimizing the texture of the rice is to make it a day or two in advance and keeping it in the fridge overnight. Otherwise, the rice can be overly moist and soggy. You can also make bigger portions of rice to prep for various recipes throughout the week to save time. You can also pick up pre-made rice from a local restaurant via takeout if you're in a time crunch.

If you liked this recipe, check out the following:

• Tom Yum Fried rice recipe for the Tom Yum lovers out there
• Seafood Tom Yum Soup for a great soup pairing
• Pineapple Fried Rice recipe another classic Thai fried rice dish
• Low Calorie Thai Foods Guide for low calorie Thai recipes that are still high in proteins
• Protein Squared recipe collection for more macro-friendly, protein packed recipes

📋 Ingredient Notes

Shrimp & Marinade

• 2 teaspoon Fish Sauce
• 1-2 Thai chilis (Optional: adjust based on spice tolerance)
• 1 clove Garlic
• 3 oz Shrimp
• 1 stalk Lemongrass

Fried Rice

• 1 serving Mixed Grain Rice (Or rice of choice)
• 1 clove Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Fish Sauce
• ½ Red onion
• 1 Mushroom
• 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
• 1 Egg
• Sprinkle of white pepper
• Cilantro and Scallions (For garnish)

🔪 Step by Step Instructions

1. Start by cooking the rice according to package directions or your methodology of choice.
2. In a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic, lemongrass, and thai chilis until a rough paste forms. Combine in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of Fish Sauce and marinate the shrimp in the mixture for 5-15 minutes.
3. Add in the shrimp and cook in a single layer for 1-2 minutes each side, then remove the shrimp from the skillet. This is to avoid overcooking the shrimp.
4. Begin to sauté the minced garlic, onions, mushrooms, and more thai chilis in the same pan with cooking spray.
5. Once the vegetables have softened, add in the cooked rice along with the soy sauce, remaining 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and white pepper and mix thoroughly.
6. Move everything to one side of the pan, spray the pan with cooking spray, and add in the egg. Once the egg begins to settle, begin to mix it into the rice.
7. Add in the shrimps, remove from heat, and garnish with cilantro and scallions. Time to enjoy your delicious meal!

🍳 Recipe