Spicy rice with fried egg

Name: Spicy rice with fried egg
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Basmati rice 1.67 cups; Leeks 1 ¾ cup; Red peppers 2 ½ cups; Cherry tomatoes 1.7 cups; Tomato purée 2 cups; Fresh chili pepper 1; Nduja 0.9 oz; Eggs 4; Marjoram to taste; Extra virgin olive oil to taste; Fine salt to taste

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Gluten Free
Lactose Free

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 60 min
Serving: 4

PRESENTATION

Spicy fried rice gets a whole new vibe down in Calabria. And look, folks down there really mix things up with some local heat. 'Nduja, that famous Calabrian sausage spread—it's the key to the main punch in this spicy egg fried rice. What’s awesome is how the tangy tomato sauce made with 'nduja soaks into the basmati, giving you a moist, flavorful bite every time. Really good stuff. Italian summer veggies like zucchini and peppers get tossed in, making the dish not just hot but crispy and colorful too. And this is not your usual egg fried rice. Seriously, it’s a mix of Italian roots and Asian inspiration, which makes it a little unexpected and really fun to eat. And the fried egg on top? The classic touch. It has golden edges and a soft yolk that runs into the rice, pulling all the spicy, tender flavors together.

Down in Calabria, some folks even add a bit more 'nduja if they like things extra hot—way way better if you’re into spice—but the beauty of this spicy rice dish is how you can dial the heat up or down based on your mood. Regional twists pop up in different towns—some swap in eggplant or cherry tomatoes depending on what’s fresh at the market. Really. Compared to the usual egg fried rice from takeout spots, this version packs a deeper, richer flavor thanks to that smoky Italian sausage and the thick tomato sauce. It’s a "fusion" that works without being fussy—just straightforward, really tasty food that’s easy to throw together. For sure.

For anyone who loves homemade fried rice that feels a little special, this spicy fried rice with an egg on top makes a weeknight meal feel like an occasion—pretty much. The dish always comes out juicy from the sauce and just spicy enough to wake up your taste buds, with a mellow finish from the fried egg. So here's the thing, whether you’re into bold food or just want something different, this is one quick fried rice that brings a bit of Calabrian fire right to your table. It's a perfect blend of zesty and comforting, making it a go-to for any spicy food lover.

How to prepare Spicy rice with fried egg

To prepare the spicy rice with fried egg, start with the sauce: pour a splash of oil into a saucepan 1 and the chopped chili 2, and sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes, pour in the tomato purée 3, and cook the sauce for 30 minutes.

Slice the nduja 4 and add it to the sauce at the end of cooking 5, stir so that it melts. Salt and keep warm 6.

Clean and thinly slice the leek 7. Clean the peppers 8 and cut them into strips first 9.

Then cut them into 1/2-inch cubes 10. Quarter the cherry tomatoes 11. Put a pan on the heat to warm up, when it's hot add the oil and the leeks 12.

Add the peppers 13 and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Then pour in the tomatoes 14 and sauté for another 5 minutes. Salt and keep warm 15.

Cook the rice in plenty of salted water, keeping it undercooked by a couple of minutes compared to the times indicated on the package 16. Drain the rice 17 and pour it into the pan where the vegetables were cooked 18.

Add the tomato sauce 19. Sauté everything together over high heat to dry the rice a bit and obtain a crust. Meanwhile, heat the extra virgin olive oil in a pan 20, it should cover the entire bottom. Break an egg into a bowl and pour it into the pan 21.

Cook for 3 minutes 22 and salt. Transfer the rice to the plate 23, complete with the fried egg and fresh marjoram 34.

Storage

We recommend consuming the spicy rice with fried egg immediately. You can store the seasoned rice, but without the egg, in the fridge for a couple of days. We do not recommend freezing.