Fried Rice with Veggies and Tofu

                                                                            Fried Rice

 I've always wanted to make the perfect fried rice, and one of the main things you need for that is cold, cooked rice. I usually don't have any leftover rice, so could never make it instantly. So I made the rice a day ahead of time, a first for me. I have used half brown rice and half Sona Masoori Rice. You can use any kind of rice, as long as you cook the grains separate. I mixed both the rices, and used 1:2 water ratio. I cooked it in a pressure cooker and after taking the rice out, let it cool in a tray for an hour and then put it in a container and put it in the fridge.

Fried Rice for 4 to 5 

Rice 1 and 1/2 Cups (Half Brown and Half Sona Masoori)
Tofu - 14oz  (Drained and cut in to square pieces)
Potato - 1 Large cut in to Strips
Cabbage - Cut in thin Strips
Red Bell Pepper -  Cut in thin Strips
Carrots -  Cut in thin Strips
Spring Onion - 1 Bunch (Cut in pieces, but reserve the top half separately for garnish)
Garlic - 7 to 8 Cloves Chopped in little pieces

Prep Work

 Oil - 5 Teaspoons
Soy Sauce - 2 Tablespoons
Ketchup - 2 Teaspoons
Black Pepper  1 Teaspoon (roasted and ground)
Salt to taste

Steps

---> (Medium flame)In a Pan, add 1 Tsp oil, and spread it evenly on the pan. Add the tofu pieces and sprinkle a bit of salt on them, and cook  them till they turn slightly brown.

Get all your items ready and be prepared to be at the stove for the next 12 to 15 minutes, for stirring the veggies, without leaving its side. Also you have to add a bit of salt each time you add every vegetable.
These times are given for the measurements given above, if you want to double the ingredients to feed a larger crowd, please remember to give the items a little extra time so all the veggies can cook perfectly.

---> In a thick bottomed pan, (Medium High Flame) Add the rest of the oil, add the garlic, roast them till they turn a little brown, add the spring onions, fry them for about 2 mins, add the potatoes, fry for about 3 to 4 mins, keep stirring, add the cabbage, and give it for about 3 mins, and then add the carrots and the bell pepper, and stir, and dont foget to add the salt each time you add a vegetable.

---> Check the veggies to see if they have cooked, especially the potato, and the rest can be a bit crunchy.

----> Once you have made sure the veggies have cooked, switch of the stove, and add the rice. When you add the rice, add by hand and kind of try to make the grains separate. They might be a little squishy since it was kept in the fridge. Add the Tofu, Black Pepper Powder, the soy sauce, the ketchup and salt for the rice.

----> Mix the rice, tofu, veggies and the sauces together. And start the stove again, and on a medium flame close the pan and let the items bled together for about 3 to 5 mins.

---> Garnish with the top half of the chopped Spring onions and serve.