Recipes Shrimp Fried Rice with Coconut and Pickled Onions 5.0 (1,310) Add your rating & review "I've served this dish since day one at Straits," says Chris Yeo. For his exquisite version of fried rice, known in Southeast Asia as nasi goreng, he adds two surprise ingredients: quick-pickled onions and nutty shredded coconut. Fast Asian Recipes By Chris Yeo Chris Yeo Chris Yeo is the chef/owner and founder of Straits Restaurants. He was one of the first restauranteurs to bring authentic Singaporean fare to the San Francisco Bay Area. Chris co-wrote The Cooking of Singapore: Great Dishes from Asia's Culinary Crossroads (1993).Experience: Upon graduating from the Singapore Hotel and Catering School, Chris Yeo went to work at the Mandarin Hotel. However, he became disillusioned with the hospitality industry after two years and moved to London to start over as a hairstylist working under Vidal Sassoon in the 1970s. Chris emigrated to the States a decade later and started his hair studio in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. While he was a successful stylist, Chris realized his love of entertaining and creating food was his true passion. In 1987, Chris opened Straits named after The Strait of Malacca which separates Singapore from Indonesia. Diners and reviewers were instantly wowed by his contemporary, meticulously executed dishes full of bold, crave-worthy flavors. He eventually expanded to six locations, from the Bay Area to Houston and Atlanta. In 2005, Chris launched another dining concept, SINO Restaurant + Lounge, his modernist interpretation of Cantonese fusion cuisine set against an elegantly designed interior reminiscent of sultry 1930s Shanghai.Education: Chris received his formal culinary training at the Singapore Hotel and Catering School. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 23, 2018 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © John Kernick Active Time: 35 mins Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins Yield: 10 Ingredients 3 cups long-grain rice (19 ounces) 5 cups water 1/2 cup finely shredded fresh or dried unsweetened coconut 1 small onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice 3 tablespoons rice vinegar Salt 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 4 large eggs, beaten 2 large shallots, thinly sliced 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined Freshly ground white pepper 4 cups coarsely chopped green cabbage (1/2 small head) 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper One 10-ounce package frozen peas, thawed 1/4 cup Asian fish sauce Directions In a large saucepan, rinse the rice, then drain it. Return the rice to the saucepan, add the water and bring to a boil. Cover the saucepan and cook the rice over low heat until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Stir in the shredded coconut, cover and let stand off the heat for 10 minutes. Fluff the rice and spread it out on a large rimmed baking sheet. Let cool, then refrigerate, uncovered, until completely chilled, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss the onion with the vinegar and a large pinch of salt. Let stand for 10 minutes. In a small saucepan of boiling water, cook the carrots until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil. Season the eggs with salt. Add them to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until just scrambled, about 1 minute. Transfer the eggs to a large plate. Wipe out the skillet and heat 3 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in it. Add the sliced shallots and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until they're browned and crisp, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shallots to a small bowl. Add the shrimp to the skillet and season with salt and white pepper. Cook over moderate heat, turning once, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Add the shrimp to the plate with the eggs. Rub the cooked rice between your hands to separate the grains. In each of 2 large skillets, heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add half of the cabbage and crushed red pepper to each skillet and stir-fry over moderately high heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add half of the peas, carrots and pickled onion to each skillet and stir until hot. Add half of the rice to each skillet along with the shrimp and eggs and toss over moderate heat until well mixed and heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir half of the fish sauce into the rice in each skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the rice to a large bowl, garnish with the fried shallots and serve. Make Ahead The fried rice can be prepared through Step 1 and refrigerated covered for up to 3 days. Suggested Pairing The American oak barrels often used for aging Chardonnay can impart a slight coconut aroma—which explains why oak-aged Chardonnay pairs well with this coconutty shrimp dish. Rate it Print