Ham's Tips for Making Amazing Fried Rice | Peruvian Arroz Chaufa | NYT Cooking

Get the recipe: nyti.ms/4bkqDYp
After laborers flocked from China to Peru in the mid-1800s, a blend of Chinese and Peruvian cuisine known as Chifa was born. Ham El-Waylly is here to show us his simple version of arroz chaufa, or fried rice, which uses a base of chicken thighs and red bell pepper. The key to this recipe is keeping the cooking surface hot. That may be easy to achieve when using a powerful wok burner in a professional kitchen, but at home, this means cooking in smaller batches.
Interested in wok cooking and how to capture that “wok hei” flavor at home? Read more from J. Kenji Lopez-Alt: nyti.ms/4a6J5my
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[@mariapaularubianoa.6890]

You know how they say partners end up speaking similarly to each other from spending so much time together? This gave me big Sohla energy and I'm here for it ❤❤❤❤ pls keep bringing both of them back, they're fantastic❤

[@LostEveryMarble]

😂 same!!! "Wow big words" was BIG Sohla energy 😂😂😂

[@litoaznboy189]

Here for the Ham content! Please continue to bring him back!

[@michaelsalmon6436]

Agree x 10! So much so that I almost bought the re-chargeable solar frig cooler thingy from the pop up Ad that accompanies the youtube! I needed a 2nd mortgage to do so, but, hey, I would be ready for the coming Nuclear War! I am making a bunch of Fried Rice to have on hand. and ready to store in my Solar Frig! Happy Cooking!

[@duneythekid]

love the generous use of "Wow" by both Ham and Sohla

[@marianabazo4354]

I’m Peruvian and I approve this message 100%. 🔥🔥🔥 #ArrocitoChaufa

[@spider_plantt]

This looks delicious! The name 'arroz chaufa' kinda rang some bells for me so I did a quick google. . . "chau fan" is the most basic way to say "fried rice" in Cantonese. So the immigrant-driven culture mix that created arroz chaufa really just took words from both languages and smushed them together! Absolutely delightful!

[@Patricia-cn7ox]

Most Chinese immigrants were Cantonese in Peru, it has deeply impacted our culture. We also say “kion” to say ginger which is directly influenced by Chinese, other countries in Latin America use the proper word “jengibre” from Spanish.

[@benjaminmtang]

i thought that exact same thing! the homophonic use of "chau fan" ("cau" would be a closer approximation TBH) for the cantonese pronounciation is almost the same as the mandarin version "chao fan", makes me wonder about the origins of the chinese disapora in peru.

[@idefix12689]

In the Dominican Republic we call it Chofán. It was one of my favorite dishes that my grandmother would make for me

[@maggiecu3657]

I like how Ham explains things. I've been cooking for a long time but I learned some things today.

[@vivianramos5700]

I am so here for the Ham content. Also here for the Sohla content. Especially here for the Sohla+Ham content tho!!

[@nikkibaldwin384]

I dont know what I love most: the El-Waylly energy, the recipe, or the D-backs hat!

[@otterdonnelly9959]

It’s not necessarily a D-backs hat. It’s Clementine’s hat from The Walking Dead videogame. Though the creators never specified which team actually it is from.

[@intraum]

just went down the wikipedia rabbit hole of chifa cuisine (and peruvian cuisine in general) - i can't believe i was so ignorant on this topic, really fascinating!

[@solreategui418]

Thats why we have such nice cuisine! Japanese and chinese immigrants😍

[@485OCEAN]

bout time yall showed ham some love!!!! YUMMY RECIPE

[@artsyfartsy1998]

This reminds me so much of some of the first fried rice recipes I ever made, so cool to know that Peru was doing this too!

[@krschulman]

Ham is the best - love his videos! He cooks delicious food and I always learn so much!

[@TheAmandadawngrace]

I love watching Ham’s videos SO much! He’s so authentic and sincere.

[@lilchinesekidchen]

i love peruvian chinese and peruvian japanese food.

[@nata6025]

Ham makes every Cantonese g'ma and aunty proud. He does a proper stir fry

[@allanq.6135]

Indeed, and this is the big WHY about Peruvian-Chinese fusion had been working for decades( over a century now )...Cantonese were the ones that migrated to Peru and brought their customes and traditions to this South American country.

[@OnyxLynx6]

I would have added the sesame oil at the very end (heat destroys the fragrance) and added the garlic much later since it can get burned easily in such a hot pan. But otherwise, I wouldn’t have done anything different. Cumin and bell peppers sound like an interesting add…must try!

[@Mary-bg4kx]

I feel so validated, I always make fried rice in a cast iron. Also for reheating thai leftovers to get more char.

[@stephaniebanyas3698]

Ham is truly wonderful. I love how he moves in the kitchen (a real chef) and his knowledge of food. More, please!

[@ashleys637]

I'm going ham for Ham, baby. Speaking of...we need more eps of that show where they build a menu around one wacky ingredient (I forget the name atm). It's one of my favorites!

[@davidwalsh3410]

New Ham content is one of the few instances we will stop and watch. ❤

[@adolfobriceno1635]

Awesome. We love Arroz Chaufa as well. Thanks for the recipe

[@vivianramos5700]

This is one of my favorite dishes! Definitely making this recipe.

[@adrianasarmiento8420]

That looks absolutely delicious! Thank you for enlightening us about Peruvian cuisine. You've captured its essence perfectly!

[@paulcatalinpuiu986]

I just did this. Amazing!!!! Thank you!

[@Tzienzibarinzi]

32-33 millions of peruvian fellas had to like Hams chaufa if they had watched it...and the same amount like peruvian mgs Ajinomoto. Kudos

[@bngr_bngr]

Ajinomoto is the best! But Oriental Wok Fried Rice Seasoning is also delicious. It’s better than soy sauce.

[@opusgazelle]

Terrific! Ham is excellent and the tip about cast iron actually being better for home stir frying than a wok…seems so logical and right.

[@DizzyBusy]

You should also check out Kenji Alt-Lopez' fried rice video. He gave out three methods to get that wok hei in a home setting

[@marilynleija5357]

Looks super yummy 😋🤤 definitely appreciate it ❤️💯

[@Waywren]

Oh, beautiful! So much makes more sense this way, too--and you know we love some HAM TIME

[@enrikakucinskaite5277]

Awesome recipe!

[@marypeters1928]

Looks delicious!

[@ShardyRedVH]

That looks really good and I like that the instructions are straight-forward. I can already predict that if I made this at home, the second those dry spices hit the ripping hot pot it would be game over lol

[@Rockeargesell]

We love you Ham

[@NC-qc7wd]

Growing up poor and many times we did not have much food to make from scratch, we made Chinese rice and it was not much different than this, only made with leftovers and some fresh veggies.

[@rubenvargas3047]

LET'S GOO HAM, GREAT RECIPE!!

[@janclark2360]

yes to Ham!!!

[@BlondLanfear]

This looks delicious

[@nancyl9678]

Buenisimo el chaufa, Señor Ham!!!!

[@HFC786]

Please do more videos like the New York cab drivers food

[@fredbrown7954]

An excellent job 👏

[@EdwardVGrimm]

Love Chef Ham!

[@Easycooking-lm5bw]

I will try 😊

[@Debba521]

Really enjoyed this one! Ham is terrific. He knows what he's doing and has a great personality. Even more fun when Sohla is involved, their chemistry is real. But I have a feeling Sohla is busy with more important things these days 😊. This looks to me to be the best fried rice I've ever seen and I am sold on the cast iron pan. I gotta try it! Thanks Ham and NYT Cooking.

[@PassiveAgressive319]

I love Ham but when it’s with Sohla it’s fire🔥🔥🔥🔥. You can’t deny their chemistry

[@MsAsb-zx4sr]

Can’t wait to try this

[@Elizab3thds]

love ham!!!!

[@UkuleleEllie22]

This was so fun! 😁

[@Lwize]

Ham's the Man.

[@tinyfishhobby3138]

Ham is great. More please

[@hotturkin]

I love Ham!

[@alexisjauregui737]

Finally a video that kinda shows how long chopping the ingredients takes.

[@danielaciancio1690]

Loving all this latin american recipes from Ham

[@Visitkarte]

I should have watched this before I bought my wok… looks way, way better than my attempts to fried rice so far.

[@vickileonard72]

Good food is so easy people pay crazy $$ for that yummy goodness. U won another hit👏

[@sG12669]

Yess more ham content!!

[@zeroflowne]

Great video Clementine

[@emilyhawks7806]

Love the intro. Love Ham. One note would/could I take the plate off of my gas burner to get that wok breath?

[@michaelsalmon6436]

Great tips, Sam! Especially about opening up the windows and using a cast iron skillet versus a wok! Maybe include the disclaimer that eggs will stick to smoking hot cast iron unless the cast iron is thoroughly seasoned, IMO! This is NOT the recipe to try on your new, out of the box, cast iron skillet! Happy Cooking, Sam, and thanks for sharing this recipe. Kudos, as usual, to your great crew, especially the camera guys and gals!

[@michaelsalmon6436]

Typo alert! I meant Ham and not Sam! Very sorry, Ham! (BTW, Ham also works great in this stir-fry! LOL!)

[@0majors0]

Nice

[@sxstrngsamurai13]

Always fascinating to see how widespread Chinese cuisine is thanks to immigration. I'm a fan of the induction woks myself as I find them easier to wrangle than a cast iron skillet

[@darcyjorgensen5808]

#MSG Yes!!!!!

[@pretendtobenormal8064]

6:18 MSG is King of Flavor! Fuiyoh!!!

[@shiraleeana]

Nice music choices today

[@jennan124]

I agree that have a large flat pan is better than a wok for home cooking

[@oliviaisarankura9714]

WE STAN HAM

[@whiterabit]

❤❤❤

[@femimakinde8117]

The intro!

[@cinemaocd1752]

I also do stir fries in a cast iron pan, as per Budget Eats, June Xie. The big takeaway for me, is cleaning out the pan after each ingredient...

[@kevinyep7133]

as a Chinese Peruvian this is fire

[@mariaj3263]

omg Ham! Yes!!!

[@kkobrien]

F*** that looks so delicious. Making immediately!

[@adammoore7447]

Although I've never seen (red/green) bell pepper used in a Chaufa here in Peru, that's a damn good-looking home version.

[@Patricia-cn7ox]

It’s not that uncommon, I’m Peruvian and I’ve had tons of chaufas with red bell pepper. My mom also puts it in her homemade version.

[@adammoore7447]

@@Patricia-cn7ox Interesting. We must have gone to different Chifas ;0 I've had (hundreds of?) Chaufas over the years and don't recall having red bell pepper in them. Either way, it doesn't matter. It's just fried rice, so you can put in whatever you want.

[@HaciaAsia]

I think it's more homemade-style. Usually, 'Chifas' don't include red pepper in their chaufa, but many Peruvians add it when they cook at home.

[@merrivideo]

​@@HaciaAsia true. They also add hotdog

[@anuradhaherur7820]

Missed opportunity to call it Ham fried rice, because Ham fried this rice.

[@talldrinkofanightmare6775]

very nice!

[@CharlieCabralos]

I'm still trying to figure out if he's really a professional paraglider... haha

[@soggyinthemorning]

Ham! Ham! Ham! Ham 🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️

[@bngr_bngr]

My mom adds pork instead of oil. She also adds shrimp. I’ve eaten at several Peruvian restaurants in the US and in Peru but never had Chaufa with red peppers.

[@HaciaAsia]

I think it’s more homemade-style. Usually “Chifas” don’t include red pepper in their chaufa, but many Peruvian add it when they cook at home

[@bngr_bngr]

@@HaciaAsia my family in Peru must be anti red peppers. The best Peruvian restaurants are anti red peppers.

[@reytxatan8077]

red peppers are used in the japanese fried rice, and it gives an spectacular flavour.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@reytxatan8077 this is supposed to be Peruvian food not Japanese.

[@benjaminmtang]

#HereForHam should be an official hashtag!

[@swordmother]

love this fricken guy

[@williamdejeffrio9701]

Excellent lesson. I can't use the MSG because it triggers migraine for me, but everything else looks incredibly yummy.

[@compster1]

How is this different from a regular fried rice? What’s the Peruvian bit?

[@randylee8681]

Cumin for sure. Definitely gives it a more South American flair. The bell pepper too. Chinese fried rice typically doesn’t include “wet” ingredients as they’ll make things mushy. But the technique used here in browning everything separately bypasses that problem.

[@solreategui418]

Chaufa is the rice, Chifa is the hybrid of peruvian-chinese dishes.

[@animatedstill4729]

Can I just mention real quick that all these KZbin videos where the chef teaches everyone to heat their wok to ripping hot temperatures that they need to be aware of the smoke point of cooking oil. I almost burned down my parents kitchen when I added the wrong cooking oil (olive) to my wok as a kid.

[@mirinewcome3000]

New Years Eve 1980 - I made this rice.

[@cdb88]

I will use a cast iron! Thanks!

[@joebowden4065]

What about using a paella pan?

[@saikeshi]

Finally a good guide to cast iron fried rice

[@tracyx11]

i need uncle roger to cook with sohla and ham

[@goeshen4359]

YYYYYAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY HHHHHAAAAAAMMMMMM❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@shlomovenezia101]

Didnt think Ian Fidance could cook this well

[@wm6549]

I think the difference between Peruvian and Chinese versions is that the Chinese use more rice.

[@Booogieman]

no black pepper?

[@ilushk]

HAM HAM HAM HAM HAM WE LOVE NON BULLSHIT CHEF AROUND HERE

[@richardD.dedekind]

Sorry but, didn’t the garlic get burnt?

[@bryanareynolds]

Why did the music in the vegetable chopping section sound like it was signaling "ok hold on everyone a big huge fuck up is about to happen"

[@merrivideo]

Cumin? Noooooo. It should be "canela china" (Chinese cinnamon). Some restaurants add sesame seeds but not red peppers. I've seen the peppers, peas and even hotdog in "menus" (restaurants that only serve lunch options at an affordable price)

[@lazyautomation3481]

Amateur pro wrestler? Ham you training for an aew debut?

[@unit--ns8jh]

I think I'm gonna name my 90's indie wannabe band Pockets of Char 🤔

[@JorgetheLuchadore]

ham fried rice, hold the pork

[@wiseSYW]

'chaufan' means 'fried rice' in cantonese...so arroz chaufa is rice fried rice :D

[@zDiegoChz]

Just hold off on the cumin, it changes Chaufa´s flavor profile a little too much.

[@skepticalpartisan8787]

This recipe involves a lot of pan manipulation which may not be possible with a heavy cast iron skillet. A better choice may be a light weight carbon steel pan.