Does Lap Cheong ring a bell? If you are into Asian cuisine, you will already be familiar with the Chinese sausage fried rice that makes a nice, no-frills, real quick meal. You just need to have Cantonese-style fried rice, stale ones are preferred though and a frozen lap cheong and you are sorted.

The thing I love about it is its flexibility in customization; you can add a variety of veggies, and can never go wrong. All my memories whether it’s good or bad associated with food, well that says a lot about my insatiable appetite for good food, and yes I proudly claim I’m a foodie, LOL!

Growing up, there is always one Asian specialty that is favorite of entire family and for us it was lap cheong, and whenever holidays rolled around. My mother would tighten up her apron and start preparing it, my aunts, uncles and we all children would cluster around the table and eat to our fullest. 

Even now, I feel like recreating those recipes of my mum to get that sense of nostalgia that I miss dearly when we hardly get a chance to be together. Another thing, it’s easy to make and takes only 20 minutes which allows me to make it occasionally despite my busy routine. 

Gear up with me to learn this nostalgic recipe of Chinese sausage fried rice and how you can bring in your variations along with best-serving ideas. 

What Is Chinese Sausage Made Of? 

Is it another name for La Chang? Yes, both are synonymous terms, you might be familiar with the Mandarin name, La Chang/腊肠, or the Cantonese one, Lap Cheong. These terms are widely used in trending cuisine ideas.

But what exactly is Chinese sausage? It’s a kind of cured sausage that originated in China. The sausage is prepared with fresh meat which is seasoned by a variety of ingredients and is air-dried until firm. 

The Cantonese version of this recipe can be found easily in overseas stores inspired by Chinese cuisine. It can be found in the chilled meat section where they are prepared by fatty pork and are sometimes mixed up with duck liver. The seasoning includes rice wine, rose water, soy sauce, etc. 

You will be surprised to know that Cantonese sausages have a unique sweet-savory flavor with a smoky undertone and a spiced fragrance unlike other cured sausages i.e., chorizo and salami, etc.

People often replace Lap Cheong with Lap Yuk which is Chinese bacon. 

Why You’ll Love Chinese Sausage With Fried Rice? 

Are you out of ideas to utilize your leftover rice? Here’s your cue to make a delicious and comforting recipe with your stale rice, Chinese sausage with fried rice. 

• You will be amazed to know that your stale rice is a canvas for Chinese sausage because savoriness and umami notes are going to be mingled and right around the corner.

• It will be prepared quickly, you no longer need to spend hours in the kitchen to get it done. 

• As the rice is prepared ahead of time, it saves a lot of time. 

• It serves as a wholesome meal for your dinner parties and brunches. 

• The eggs and sesame oil added to the recipe give sufficient protein with a dash of nutty flavor making it exotic.

Ingredients In Chinese Sausage Fried Rice 

Each of the ingredients added to the recipe imparts a particular flavor, therefore we must always go for high-quality ingredients and use them in proper ratios. 

Cold Leftover Rice: Well using the stale rice is a rule and I don’t even plan to break it. It seems to be the main ingredient besides Chinese sausage.  

Day-old rice is preferred because they are durable and doesn’t break during further cooking. I prefer using long-grain Jasmine rice as they are dry and fragrant. Medium-grain rice is also doable in our recipe. 

Chinese Sausage: It can be easily found in the Asian mart near you, but if you are unable to find any Lap Cheong then chorizo will work fine for your recipe.

Eggs: Are fried rice ever made without eggs? No right, so it’s another hero ingredient of our recipe. But what if you are allergic to eggs? No need to worry, just omit it simply. 

Onions: Onion brings a blast of flavor, so choose the ones you like the most whether it’s green onions, white, red, or shallots.

Vegetable Oil: Although you can use any neutral oil for this recipe, I’m using vegetable oil, however, peanut or sunflower oil also works well.

Garlic Cloves: It improves the overall flavor of the recipe but the flavor will be potent. If you prefer mildness, then use a pinch of garlic powder.

Scallions: They don’t just bring a dash of flavor but bring a pop of color to your recipe. It can always be substituted with chives, leeks, and green onions. 

Sesame Oil: It adds a smoky and nutty flavor rather effortlessly, you can also acquire this by adding roasted sesame seeds. 

White Pepper Powder: It brings a spicy, peppery flavor notes to the fried rice. You can also use black pepper powder instead. 

Soy Sauce: Do you like a hint of umami and salty flavor in your fried rice? Don’t skip soy sauce then. You can even substitute it with dark soy sauce which has a pretty complex flavor but enhances the overall appeal of the recipe. You can even add oyster sauce to enhance flavor. 

Variations In Chinese Sausage Fried Rice 

How to level up your typical Chinese sausage recipe? You may not believe but it’s way easier to level up this recipe to an insanely good level by adding up some extra ingredients.  What are they? 

Shrimp: Yes yes, I know it’s kind of a staple in fried rice but your low-key thrifty self might be skipping on it. But the juicy and succulent shrimp just amp up your regular fried rice, but don’t forget to peel and devein the shrimp beforehand. 

Tofu: Want to amp up protein but without overpowering your Chinese sausage dish? Add tofu, as this vegan protein proves to be an excellent choice. Just make sure you cut it into thin slices and fry it before adding it to fried rice for perfect flavor.

Vegetables: I prefer adding assorted vegetables to my Chinese sausage fried rice. It could be broccoli, baby corn, cabbage, or any other, if you have fresh ones then great just add those. 

Otherwise, frozen veggies like peas or carrots work like magic. 

What To Serve With Chinese Sausage Fried Rice?  

Although the recipe is wholesome on its own, a few sides never hurt, do they? 

• Chinese sausage fried rice tastes divine when served with Asian side dishes or other stir-fries. 

• You can serve Lap Cheong along with Chinese Chicken Corn Soup, egg drop soup, or other Asian chicken veggie cups.

• The easiest side you can serve along is Chinese broccoli aka gai lan or baby bok choy. 

• The sautéed assorted Asian vegetables also taste delicious when paired with lap cheong. 

Again, there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to serving suggestions, you can be wildly creative in choosing your favorite side meals. 

FAQs on Chinese Sausage 

Chinese Sausage Fried Rice Recipe