1-First Step: Preheat Oven and Prepare Ingredients Set your oven to 200°C (390°F) or 180°C with a fan. Prepare all ingredients by mincing garlic, chopping bacon (or chosen protein), slicing green onions, and measuring out rice and stock.

2-Second Step: Combine Ingredients in Baking Dish In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, add uncooked rice, stock, light soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, minced garlic, frozen mixed vegetables, and white pepper. Stir thoroughly to blend all ingredients evenly, ensuring flavors will distribute nicely during cooking.

3-Third Step: Prepare Protein Layer Scatter raw chopped bacon evenly over the top of the rice mixture. If using alternative proteins such as tofu or tempeh, distribute those similarly. The raw bacon will brown and crisp as the rice bakes.

4-Fourth Step: Oven Bake Covered Cover the baking dish tightly with foil to trap steam and bake for 40 minutes without opening, which allows the rice to cook fully without becoming mushy or dry.

5-Fifth Step: Finish Baking Uncovered Remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for an additional 15 minutes. This step crisps the bacon and reduces excess moisture, developing a golden, slightly crispy top layer with concentrated flavors.

6-Final Step: Rest, Flavor, and Serve Take the baked fried rice out of the oven, loosely cover with foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes. This resting time helps the rice absorb residual moisture and finish cooking gently. Stir in sesame oil and sliced green onions for aroma and freshness before fluffing the rice with a fork and serving hot.