This is how I use my leftover rice. American long grain (it looks brownish in the bag) is the best for this, because the grains will still be seperate. it's not really 'fried rice' like you'd get as a take-away, at least I don't think it is, but it flavours up leftovers that otherwise might not be used. In truth, one day I was totally skint and this is all I had in the fridge. They say necessity is the mother of invention.
Ingredients
Some rice, preferably day-old rice that has been left in the fridge
red and green bell peppers
one onion
sun-dried tomatoes in oil
some herbal savoury or thyme, a few pinches of this
black pepper
hazlenut oil for frying, and sesame oil for flavouring.
Method
Chop up the onions into small pieces. Chop the pepper into fork-sized bits. Add a couple of tablespoons of oil to a large frying pan or wok. Throw in the onions and pepper, cook until tender. Meanwhile, rip up some sun-dried tomatoes into bits. Throw into the pan, allow to sizzle for about half a minute.
Warm up the rice in a microwave - you may have to add a little bit of water. Get it so it has begun to steam.
Now throw in the rice to the frying pan. Add a teaspon or two of sesame oil, or to taste. Add the savoury/thyme and grind some black pepper over it. Give it a really good stir, then put the lid on the pan with the heat turned to minimum for a few mins. Stir again, put the lid back on the pan. keep doing this until it is all mixed in and smelling really nice, and serve as you would normal rice.
You can use a remarkable amount of thyme in this. I don't know why it goes, it just does. Oregano goes well too
You don't have to have the sun-dried tomato. Or sesame. But I like sesame.