Chinese Take-out Fried Rice

Here's a really good Chinese Take-out Fried Rice recipe that I originally saw on a sub-Reddit a little while back. I've made it once so far and it's really good. It may look complicated, but it's actually a fairly simple dish to make. 

Credit to Jason Farmer for doing a bunch of research into the recipe and for documenting it very well on his YouTube channel. Here's the link and I recommend watching it all the way through before attempting the recipe. The key to this recipe is preparation. Things move quickly as you start cooking, so have everything ready to go before you start.

 

Ingredients - Here's everything you'll need. You'll only need small amounts of the soy sauces, so I'd recommend getting small-ish bottles rather than Costco-sized ones. Also, as noted in the video, you want Chinese style soy sauce, not Japanese style.

• 2 parts standard long grain white rice
• 1 part Jasmine rice
• Lee Kum Kee or Pearl River Bridge light soy sauce
• Lee Kum Kee or Pearl River Bridge dark soy sauce
• Shaoxing Cooking Wine
• Toasted Sesame Oil
• 1 - Chicken breast
• Baking Soda
• Sugar
• Corn Starch
• Kosher Salt
• MSG
• Vegetable oil
• Sugar
• White pepper
• 2 - Eggs, beaten
• 1 - medium onion, diced
• Diced carrot
• Frozen peas
• Bean sprouts 

Prepare Rice - The recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked rice. Since 1 cup raw rice is ~3 cups cooked rice, we need about 2/3 cup uncooked rice. That means 4/9 cup long grain white rice and 2/9 cup Jasmine rice. Since I've never seen measuring cups in the ninths, I just convert it to metric volumes. In this case it's 105ml of long grain white, and 52.5ml of Jasmine. Update: To be more precise, I converted volume to weight; use 47.3g Jasmine and 94.6g long grain white rice.

• Wash rice under water until it runs clear.
• Cook rice 1:1 with water (142ml)
• Cool to room temp then chill overnight in the refrigerator.

Prepare Chicken

• Slice chicken into small pieces.
• Wash chicken under cold water and squeeze out excess water.
• Add 1/2 t baking soda to chicken and mix in.
• Add 1/2 t light soy sauce to chicken
• Add 1/2 t sugar to chicken.
• Add 1/2 t corn starch to chicken.
• Add 1/4 t Kosher salt to chicken.
• Add 1/8 t MSG to chicken
• Add 1 t vegetable oil
• Mix well and marinate from 15 mins to overnight.

Prepare Sauce Mixture

• Combine the following ingredients in a small bowl:
• 1/2 t sugar
• 2 t light soy sauce
• 1/2 t dark soy sauce. 
• Stir until sugar is dissolved and set aside.

Prepare Dry Spice Mixture

• Combine the following ingredients in a small bowl:
• 1 t Kosher salt
• 2 pinches of white pepper
• 1/2 t MSG
• Set aside

Prepare other ingredients

• To 2 beaten eggs, add a pinch of kosher salt and a pinch of MSG.
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 2 T diced carrots
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 T frozen peas
• Handful of bean sprouts
• 2 T Shaoxing wine
• 2 T sliced green onion
• 1 T toasted sesame oil

Bring It All Together

1. Heat wok, pan, or griddle over medium-high heat.
2. Add 1 T vegetable oil to pan
3. Turn heat down to medium and add eggs.
4. Cook eggs for about 15-20 second then carefully move them around to start scrambling. 
5. Cook eggs to slightly undercooked then transfer to a bowl.
6. Add 1 T oil to pan
7. Cook chicken to slightly undercooked then transfer to bowl with eggs.
8. Add 1 T oil to pan
9. Toss in diced onion and diced carrots.
10. Cook for a minute or two until onion is beginning to look translucent, then add garlic and saute for an additional 30 seconds.
11. Add 2 cups of the rice and stir constantly for about 2 minutes.
12. Add chicken and eggs to mixture and incorporate well.
13. Add sauce to mixture and incorporate well.
14. Add dry spice mixture and incorporate well.
15. Add frozen peas and bean sprouts, and gently mix them in.
16. Deglaze with Shaoxing wine and immediately stir into rice. 
17. Cook off the alcohol for about 20-30 seconds then turn off the heat.
18. Add green onion and toasted sesame oil and mix in.
19. Add salt and white pepper to taste.

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Cold IPA - It Just Works Clone

Today I'm brewing an experimental beer, a "Cold IPA". This is an emerging style that is still being defined, even in the commercial market. From the commercial examples I've tried, I would describe the style as hop-forward with firm bitterness and with a very clean and crisp fermentation profile. Grain bills are usually highly fermentable and closer to something you'd use for a crisp lager, employing things like flaked rice and steering clear of any crystal malts. 

You may ask yourself, what's the difference between a Cold IPA and an IPL (India Pale Lager). The answer is open to interpretation, but IMO I'd say the grain bill of an IPL is usually closer to that of an American IPA, whereas the grain bill of a Cold IPA is closer to that of an American Lager. So you could probably say an IPL is an IPA fermented with lager yeast (and slightly dialed down hop character to keep it balanced). A Cold IPA is closer to an American Lager with hopping rates on par with an American IPA and fermented with lager yeast or on the cold side of an ale yeast's range. Clear as mud? 

This beer is based on Green Cheek Beer Co.'s It Just Works and the commercial version is brewed with ale yeast. Here's the recipe as I'm brewing it today:

Target OG 1.059

Target FG: 1.007

IBU: 100+

AVB: 7.0

7.025# Weyermann Barke Pilsner Malt

3.0625# Flaked Rice

7.3ml HopShot (75 min) 

28g Pahto (HBC 682) (75 min)

4.66g BCAA

Yeast nutrient

Whirlfloc

37g Amarillo (Whirlpool)

1 Dropper of ALDC (Dry hop)

119g Ekuanot (Dry hop)

79g Mosaic (Dry hop)

40g Amarillo (Dry hop)

US-05

15ml Biofine at packaging - I've actually had better results lately with gelatin (my Biofine might be expired)

Mash at 148F, 90 min boil, chill to 64F then raise to 66F over two days and hold at 66F for an additional 2-3 days. 

On day 4-5, transfer to a purged vessel with dry hops and ALDC and hold at 68F until fermentation is complete. For my setup, I plan to use a purged keg with a dry hop screen fitted over the pickup tube and a spunding valve to regulate CO2 pressure. The ALDC isn't required, but it is intended to reduce diacetyl production when dry hopping. This will be my first time giving it a try.

Water Profile

Target Water Profile
Ca	Mg	Na	SO4	Cl	HCO3
72.3	18.8	52	150.8	153.8

I'm shooting for 150ppm each of Chloride and Sulfate for a 1:1 Chloride/Sulfate ratio, To 10 gallons of RO water, add:

• 5.2g Gypsum
• 5.0g Pickling salt
• 7.2g Epsom salt
• 5.6g Calcium chloride

Brewing Notes

No real issues other than I didn't realize my kettle ball valve was open when I was filling the kettle. As such, I probably lost about 4 oz of first runnings wort. Even with the target gravity exactly despite losing a little bit of wort on the garage floor. Clarity on this wort was amazing before adding the hops. As expected, the color is very light due to the pilsner and flaked rice grain bill.

Session Readings
Beginning mash pH	5.27
Ending mash pH	5.39
1st running gravity	19.9 (1.080)
Pre-Boil gravity	11.6 (1.045)
Pre-Boil pH	5.40
Post-Boil gravity	15 (1.059)
Post-Boil pH	5.32

Update 2/25/2023

I’m transferring to a keg today and adding the ALDC and dry hops. Technically day 5 was yesterday, but fermentation was a little slow to start, so I think I’m still within the 4-5 day window specified in the recipe. I realized my dry hop dip tube filter is in use, so I’m using the floating dip tube assembly that came with my Kegmenter instead. I’m planning on dry hopping for a maximum of 6 days.

Update 4/13/2023

I forgot to post an update when I kegged this beer. I really dig the way it turned out. It's very drinkable, especially for ~7%. Hop flavor and aroma are on par with a modern American IPA. Bitterness is definitely firm, but not harsh, so I'm really digging the water profile. All transfers were done closed into purged vessels so as to minimize O2 exposure. The hop character has held up really well. 

The only hiccup I had was with the floating dip tube. It clogged, so I probably lost half a gallon of beer in the keg (secondary). Next time I'll try the dip tube screen and see if it works better. Also, I tried using gelatin rather than Biofine and clarity is decent, but not great compared to most of my lagers. Next time I'll probably go with Biofine and see how it does.

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Tmavé Pivo - Czech Dark Lager

First brew of 2023 and I’m getting an early start because I want to be done in time to watch the Utes in the Rose Bowl. Today I’m brewing a style I’ve never brewed before. This recipe is based on Tmavé Pivo from Pivovar Hostomice in the Czech Republic, and it’s a Czech Dark Lager. This style is much less common than the more iconic pale Czech Pale Lagers, but I'd argue they're every bit as drinkable. Locally, Offset Bier in Park City, Utah won a silver medal at the North American Brewers Association competition (part of the Mountain Brewers Beer Fest) with their version of the style, also named Tmavé Pivo.

Here’s the BJCP description of the style:

A rich, dark, malty Czech lager with a roast character that can vary from almost absent to quite prominent. Malty with an interesting and complex flavor profile, with variable levels of hopping providing a range of possible interpretations.

This style is a combination of the Czech styles tmavý ležák (11–12.9 °P) and tmavé speciální pivo (13–14.9 °P). More modern examples are drier and have higher bitterness while traditional versions often have IBUs in the 18–20 range with a sweeter balance.

Here's the recipe as I'm brewing it today:

Target OG: 1.056 
Target FG: 1.012 
IBUs: 41 
ABV: 5.8% 

3.6625# Czech floor-malted pilsner 
3.6625# Munich I 
1.675# Weyermann Caramunich III 
1g BrewTan B in mash

2.2oz Weyermann Carafa III (added at sparge)
8.6g Magnum (60 min)
10.5g Magnum (30 min)
54.2g Czech Saaz (15 min)
4.66g BCAA

White Labs WLP800 Pilsner Lager

Keeping with tradition, I'm employing a double decoction mash for this session. If you don't want to go to the trouble of a decoction mash, I'd probably do a single infusion mash at ~149-150F.

Mash In

Mash in at 99F then raise temp to 126F and hold for 5 minutes before pulling first decoction. 

First Decoction

1. Pull a one-third decoction, raise temp to 145F and hold for 5 minutes.
2. Raise temp to 162F and hold for 15 minutes. 
3. Bring decoction to a boil, and boil for 15 minutes.  
4. Return decoction to the main mash and maintain at 144F. 

Second Decoction

1. Pull a second one-third decoction, raise decoction temp to 162F and hold for 15 minutes. 
2. Bring decoction to a boil, and boil for 15 minutes. 
3. Return decoction to the main mash and maintain at 165F for 10 minutes.

Add the Carafa III at sparge. 90 min boil. Chill to about 46F then increase temp to 50F over two days.  Hold at 50F until primary is complete, then cold crash and lager for at least a few weeks.  

Water Profile

This is a super soft water profile as recommended by Gordon Strong via a BYO article.  

• Add 2.26 ml of Phosphoric Acid per 10 gallons RO water. 
• Add 2g calcium chloride per 10 gallons RO water.

Brewing Notes

No issues other than my arm was really tired from the constant stirring during the decoctions…I might even have a blister. For anyone interested, here's a short video I posted on Instagram for this brew session.

Gravity came in a little below target on this batch, but it’s still within guidelines. Decoction temps were pretty spot on. I love our cooktop, it provides really nice even heating. Also, my wife bought some wooden cooking spoon/scraper utensils called Spurtles and they work amazing for decoction mashes. The color on this beer is gorgeous. Hopefully it tastes as good as it looks. I chilled down to ~55F before transferring to the fermenter. I’ll continue chilling down to 46F before pitching yeast.

Session Readings
Beginning mash pH	5.24
Ending mash pH	5.29
1st running gravity	20.3 (1.082)
Pre-Boil gravity	8.8 (1.034)
Pre-Boil pH	5.32
Post-Boil gravity	12.5 (1.049)
Post-Boil pH	5.27

Update 1/2/2023 5:40PM

Yeast was pitched.

Update 1/4/2023

Fermentation was a little sluggish to get going, but I did pitch at 46F and the low temp on this yeast’s range is 50F. I finished ramping the temps up from 46F to 50F today and fermentation activity seems to be ramping up. This morning there was a glug about once every 10-ish seconds and this evening it’s closer to once every 5 seconds.

Update 1/23/2023

This beer was kegged tonight along with gelatin for fining.

Update 2/17/2023

This beer has dropped crystal clear and is a really beautiful dark garnet color. It's a super easy drinking beer, yet it has some nice malty character. I'm going to be entering this beer in two competitions, NHC and Lagerpalooza.

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Kellerbier 2022

I haven’t brewed a ton in 2022, so I figured I’d do one last brew before the end of the year. This will also allow me to fine tune this recipe in preparation for some upcoming competitions. 

Today I’m trying a slight variation of my Kellerbier recipe. I really like this beer because it's so easy to drink; great on its own after working in the yard, as part of a michelada, or just any time you want a nice drinkable beer. This beer is inspired by Russian River’s STS Pils and I was listening to a recent BN podcast with Vinnie Cilurzo where he mentioned they use Augustiner yeast. L17 is reportedly the same strain as Augustiner, so I figured I'd give it a try (in the past I've used Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager) and see how it compares.

Target OG 1.051

Target FG: 1.010 

IBU: 21

ABV: 5.4%

8.25# Root Shoot Pilsner
0.25# Weyermann Munich I
1g BrewTan B in mash
20g Hallertauer Mittelfruh (FWH)
14g Aramis (60 min)
24g Aramis (0 min)
4.66g BCAA 
Imperial Yeast - L17 Harvest 
Whirlfloc

Single Decoction Mash

Mash in at 132°F and hold for 10 minutes.
Increase mash temps to 147°F, then pull 1/3 of mash for decoction. 
Heat the decoction to 156–158°F, hold for 10 minutes.
Bring Decoction to a boil, and boil for 10 minutes.
Raise mash to 156–158°F.
Return decoction to mash and mashout at 168F.

90 minute boil, ferment at 50°F

Water Recipe - To 10 gallons of RO water, add:

• 3g Epsom Salts
• 3g Calcium Chloride

Brewing Notes

No issues, but I totally forgot to add the BrewTan B to the mash. I’m testing out a little pH meter accessory I designed and printed using my 3D printer. It’s basically a holder for a beaker and the two probes from the pH meter (temp and pH probe). I partially fill the beaker with water and ice, then I have a smaller beaker that I fill with the sample. The smaller beaker fits in the larger one and the sample gets cooled by the ice water to ensure accurate pH readings.

Session Readings
Beginning mash pH	5.36
Ending mash pH	5.29
1st running gravity	16.7 (1.066)
Pre-Boil gravity	8.9 (1.034)
Pre-Boil pH	5.34
Post-Boil gravity	12.7 (1.050)
Post-Boil pH	5.39

Update 12/26/2022 7:20PM

Wort temp was down to 50F so I aerated and pitched the yeast.

Update 12/27/2022 7:00PM

There are active signs of fermentation with a bubble out my blow-off tube, about once per 4-6 seconds.

Update 1/14/2023

I kegged this beer today along with 10ml of Biofine. I let this go for 24-48 hours before drawing off a pint or so. It should be carbed and ready to drink within a few days.

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Spaghetti Pomodoro from The Bear

This recipe is based on the red sauce as featured in the family dinners in the FX television series The Bear. Granted, I haven't made a whole lot of marinara recipes from scratch, but I really liked this sauce and it's way better than bottled sauces. This recipe is based on this YouTube video where real-life chef Matty Matheson and Courtney Storer from the show walk you through the process. I'd definitely advise checking out the video but if you're used to the typical step by step recipe instructions that you usually find on the Internet, it'll be a different experience. So, this is my attempt to translate the recipe into the more traditional format.

Ingredients

2 - 28oz cans Centro crushed tomatoes

6 tablespoons butter

1 yellow onion, halved

1 - 6oz can of Cento tomato paste

8-10 cloves garlic, chopped/minced/sliced 

Olive oil

Crushed red pepper

Kosher salt

Black pepper

Fresh basil

1 box spaghetti (I actually like angel hair pasta more)

Instructions

1. Halve your onion and peel it. It's ok to trim a little off the top and bottom, but leave enough of the core on the bottom so that it holds together. You’re going to be removing the onion later, so this is why you want to keep it intact.
2. To a medium/large pot, add a couple tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium high heat.
3. Add 6T butter to pot.
4. Once the butter has started melting, add onion halves (flat side down).
5. Add garlic and adjust heat as necessary so as not to burn the garlic.
6. Add one or two "chef pinches" of kosher salt. (It's probably at least a teaspoon)
7. Reduce heat to medium low.
8. Add a pinch or more of crushed red pepper (more of you like some heat in your red sauce)
9. Add anywhere from 3-6oz of tomato paste to the pot and cook it off for a few  minutes. This will help avoid the metallic character often associated with tomato paste.
10. Tear a few basil leaves and add them to the pot. If you decide you want more basil, you can also add it later. 
11. Add crushed tomatoes to pot. 
12. Add about half a can (14oz) of water to the pot.
13. Add a couple more chef pinches of kosher salt.
14. Add black pepper to taste. I probably start at about 1 teaspoon worth, and go from there.  
15. Stir to mix and taste.  If it's too acidic, add more salt (a little at a time).
16. Continue to cook over low medium heat until the onions are fully cooked through and translucent.  I've let it go over an hour without any issues. Just remember to stir occasionally and make sure the heat is low enough that it doesn't burn/scorch the sauce.
17. When the onion is cooked all the way through, remove the onions and discard. Taste the sauce again and add salt, pepper, and more fresh basil to taste. 
18. Prepare your pasta per the package directions.
19. In the video they combine the pasta and sauce then serve. I love a ton of sauce on my spaghetti but my wife likes less sauce on hers, so we add the sauce at serving time. 

Options

I love meatballs and this sauce goes well with them for spaghetti and meatballs or for a meatball sandwich. One time I added some crumbled spicy Italian sausage and it also was really good.

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