Rice is a staple of many people’s diets. It’s an energizing, balancing dish that can fuel your body and even aid in digestion. Its abundance throughout the world has contributed to its great popularity. It’s enjoyed at different times throughout the day by various different cultures, with many Asian countries eating rice with steamed vegetables or Congee (a Chinese rice porridge) for breakfast, it’s also heavily popular in Latin American countries and in India where it’s served as the perfect complement to sauce-heavy dishes.

Rice is undoubtedly an important part of global cuisine, but how well does it pair with kidney disease? Surprisingly well, actually.  Keeping in mind that nutrient-rich varieties like brown rice are best avoided once in Stage 4 of CKD, white rice is a perfectly safe option. Its low protein content and the variety of dishes which can be made with it, make it a perfect choice for any kidney-friendly meal plan.

Today’s recipe takes a classic favorite, fried rice, a staple in many Chinese restaurants and turns it on its head. While usually served with minced pork, we’ve decided to keep this dish friendly to both the kidney disease sufferer and pig communities by omitting the pork and instead using a medley of fresh vegetables.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 Cups of White Rice
1 Cup of Bean Sprouts
2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Sesame Oil or Coconut Oil 
1-2 Tablespoons of Rice or Apple Cider Vinegar
1-2 Tablespoons of Low Sodium or Sodium-Free Soy Sauce
2-4 Scallions, diced
1 Carrot, diced
1 Cup Snow Peas

1. Rinse and cook rice according to directions. Rice cooked a day before works very well, too.

2. If using fresh or frozen snow peas, carrots and bean sprouts, cook according to package directions. Steaming is preferable!

3. Heat oil in a wok or skillet, add diced carrots, snow peas and bean sprouts, cooking them over medium heat for about 2 minutes.

4. Add rice, rice vinegar and soy sauce and cook for 2 or 3 minutes or until rice is hot, stirring frequently.

5. Garnish with scallions and enjoy!

And, be sure to check out our video about the Pros and Cons of different varieties of rice, as well as which ones fit best into the healthiest kidney disease diet for you!