Description
Ban Fan is a comforting Chinese mixed rice bowl featuring fragrant jasmine rice topped with a savory stir-fry of ground pork or chicken, fresh vegetables, and a perfectly fried egg. This quick and flavorful dish combines a balance of savory, sweet, and umami flavors, making it an easy weeknight meal that showcases classic Chinese home-style cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Base
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice
Meat and Sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 pound ground pork or chicken
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (cornstarch slurry)
- Salt to taste
Vegetables
- 1 cup bok choy, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Eggs
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Cook the Meat: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork or chicken and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Aromatics: Stir in the minced garlic and ginger; cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn them.
- Season the Meat: Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and white pepper. Stir well to combine all flavors evenly into the meat mixture.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms, shredded carrots, and chopped bok choy to the skillet. Stir fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still have a slight crispness.
- Thicken the Sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for another minute or until the sauce slightly thickens and coats the ingredients. Adjust salt to taste if needed.
- Fry the Eggs: In a separate pan, fry the eggs sunny-side up or to your preferred doneness.
- Assemble the Bowl: Divide the warm cooked jasmine rice among four serving bowls. Spoon the savory meat and vegetable mixture evenly over the rice.
- Top and Garnish: Place a fried egg on top of each bowl and garnish with sliced green onions. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Feel free to swap in other vegetables like snow peas, bean sprouts, or spinach for variety.
- For a vegetarian option, replace the meat with diced firm tofu and use vegetarian oyster sauce.
- Leftover roasted meats can be used instead of freshly cooked ground meat for a quicker meal.
- Serve with chili oil or additional soy sauce on the side for added flavor.
