Pineapple fried rice has to be the most flavourful, quick vegetarian recipe with leftover rice. Bursting with taste, easy to make on busy days makes this Thai Pineapple fried rice is a perfect, gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian dinner to make at home when you are craving an Asian takeout for dinner.
We love fried rice. This is my go-to way to repurpose leftover rice in a delicious recipe. Just like Egg fried rice, schezwan fried rice or veggie fried rice this tropical Thai Fried rice recipe is super easy to put together. Make it in 15 minutes if you have leftover rice and pineapple in your fridge.
Fluffy grains of basmati rice with loads of colourful veggies, juicy pineapples all tossed together in flavour mix of curry powder, sauces and spices taste incredibly delicious.
The sweet and tangy taste of pineapple is so good that it immediately transports you back to beach shack dinner memories from that Thailand trip that you took many moons ago. Now after being confined whole of 2020 it seems like a very distant memory to me at least.
In Thailand, this is served in cute pineapple boats made after emptying the shell after taking out fruit. I wanted to do it at home too but then the lazy cook side kicked in and I simply served in plates instead of those emptied out pineapple shells 🙂
Anyways it still tastes awesome, In pineapple shells or on the plate. You will love this flavoured packed Thai recipe.
This Pineapple fried rice is:
- Vegan and gluten-free
- easy to make, delicious and takes just 15 minutes.
- This makes it easy to make even for weeknight dinners.
- Perfect to serve as a side or main meal by itself.
- You can make a lot of variations by changing up ingredients.
How to Make Pineapple Fried Rice
One important thing is heat. While making fried rice keep the heat to the high side. We want to sauté everything fast. So prep your ingredients before and then start the cooking process.
What You Need to make it
Rice: For this recipe, Jasmine rice or basmati rice both work great. I mostly cook basmati rice to go with Indian dishes so most of the time I have leftover rice. That’s the reason I often make fried rice with the same ingredients. When I have leftover jasmine rice I prefer to use them.
Pineapple: Fresh juicy chunks of pineapple works great. When you can’t find fresh you can use tinned or canned pineapple.
Veggies: To pack more nutrition and add more fibre add your favourite veggies. I added onions, beans or corn and sliced Thai peppers. You can also add peas and finely chopped carrots.
Cashew: Cashews add a creamy taste. Feel free to skip them if you want to cut calories.
Seasonings: Curry powder is the key to pack more flavour. Since I added soy sauce and leftover rice were perfectly seasoned with salt I skipped adding extra salt in the recipe. If you like to add more you can. But first, always taste it.
Sauces: Soy sauce, Thai Red Chilli Sauce I have used.
Basil: For the best taste and flavour.
Oil: Any vegetable oil of your choice. For an authentic taste, I used Sesame oil.
Add-ons to Make Best Fried Rice
- The combination of curry powder + soy sauce
- Fresh and juicy pineapple with fresh red chillies makes for a pop of various flavours, heat and the taste.
Step by Step Video
Recipe Notes and Pro Tips
- Leftover rice is best for making any fried rice dish. A day’s old rice is best because they are cold in the fridge and do not stick together.
- Use ripe pineapple because that will give it a perfectly sweet and acidic taste.
- To add protein you can also add tofu.
- To make a healthy version swap basmati rice with brown rice.
- In Authentic Thai fried rice, a combination of oyster sauce or fish sauce with soy sauce is used. Since I wanted to make it vegetarian and vegan I used a combination of soy sauce and chilli sauce.
- If you can’t find curry powder you can substitute it with Maggie seasoning. It is not authentic but tastes great nevertheless!
- I have not added salt because sauces and rice already have salt. You can add some if you like it more salty.
Can You Freeze Pineapple Fried Rice?
Yes, you can freeze them easily. I prefer to freeze them in airtight glass freezer-safe containers. When We want to eat, I take them out of the freezer a couple of hours before and thaw them in the fridge before I reheat them for dinner or lunch.
What to Serve with Fried Rice
You can serve any of these Asian takeout favourites. Few of my favourite dishes to serve with fried rice are
More Such Recipes
Vegetable Fried Rice
📖 Recipe
Pineapple Fried Rice
Equipment
- WOK
- Non-Stick Pan (US)
Ingredients
- 3 cups rice cooked
- 2 cups Pineapple
- ½ cup onions
- 1 teaspoon galangal thai ginger
- ½ cup beans
- ½ cup corn kernels
- ⅕ cup sliced Thai peppers.
- ¼ cup Cashew
- 1 teaspoon Curry powder
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Thai red chilli sauce
- 3 tablespoon cilantro
- 2 tablespoon Oil
Instructions
- In a large skillet, pan or wok heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil.
- Add glangal/thai ginger, chopped onions and saute till light brown in colour.
- Now add chopped beans, corn kernels and sliced thai red pepper mix and saute on high heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Now add raw cashews and saute for 2 more minutes.
- Add 3 cups of a day old cooked rice.
- Also, Add in soy sauce, red chilli sauce, curry powder.
- Toss everything together to combine and keep the skillet on medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 2 cups of pineapple which is cut into small cubes.
- Mix and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add chopped coriander and Enjoy hot sweet and spicy pineapple fried rice.
Video
Notes
- Leftover rice is best for making any fried rice dish. A day’s old rice is best because they are cold in the fridge and do not stick together.
- Use ripe pineapple because that will give it a perfectly sweet and acidic taste.
- To add protein you can also add tofu.
- To make a healthy version swap basmati rice with brown rice.
- In Authentic Thai fried rice, a combination of oyster sauce or fish sauce with soy sauce is used. Since I wanted to make it vegetarian and vegan I used a combination of soy sauce and chilli sauce.
- If you can’t find curry powder you can substitute it with Maggie seasoning. It is not authentic but tastes great nevertheless!
- I have not added salt because sauces and rice already have salt. You can add some if you like it more salty.
Nutrition
Before You Go
Tried This Recipe? Please rate it in using star rating and follow Rekha Kakkar on Pinterest! Pinterest for more delicious Recipes.
Leave me your Opinion