Thai Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice

Written by
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Darlene Schmidt
Updated 12/26/20
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

The Spruce
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 8 mins
Total: 38 mins
Servings: 5 to 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
622 Calories
6g Fat
129g Carbs
15g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 622
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 35mg 12%
Sodium 796mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 129g 47%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Protein 15g
Calcium 126mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This classic Thai pineapple fried rice is truly mouthwatering. Golden grains of rice jeweled with chunks of juicy pineapple, cashews, and currants create a taste that will send you straight to paradise.

Thai fried rice is similar to Chinese fried rice with the difference in the flavoring of sauce. Thai fried rice uses fish sauce, while Chinese fried rice uses soy sauce. We offer both options in this recipe letting you choose which flavoring you prefer to use depending on your taste or if you are a vegetarian.

Make this pineapple fried rice recipe as the main course or as a beautiful side dish to any meal. For true restaurant quality, you can serve it in a carved-out pineapple, which is quite easy and fun.

2:13

Click Play to See This Thai Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons oil (divided)
  • 3 to 4 cups cooked rice (preferably several days old)
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (substitute fish sauce if nonvegetarian)
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 2 shallots (finely chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
  • 1 red or green chile (thinly sliced) or 1/4 to 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed chile flakes
  • 1/4 cup vegetable stock or mock chicken stock (or regular chicken stock if nonvegetarian)
  • 1 egg (vegans can omit)
  • Optional: 1 small carrot (grated, about 1/4 cup)
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1 small can pineapple chunks (drained) or 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
  • 1/4 cup currants or raisins
  • 1/2 cup roasted unsalted whole cashews
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Optional: freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 3 scallions (finely sliced)
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Mix 1 tablespoon of the oil with the rice, using your fingers to separate any chunks into grains. Set aside.

    Using fingers to separate rice from clumps to grains
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  3. In a cup, stir the soy sauce or fish sauce together with the curry powder.

    combine soy sauce or fish sauce with curry powder
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  4. Drizzle the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots, garlic, and chile, stir-frying until fragrant, about 1 minute.

    Stir-frying shallots, garlic, and chile pepper
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  5. Whenever the pan becomes dry, add a little stock, 1 tablespoon at a time, to keep ingredients sizzling.

    Adding stock to keep the vegetables sizzling
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  6. Crack the egg (if using) into the wok and stir quickly to cook (as though you are scrambling eggs).

    Adding an egg to the vegetable stir-fry
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  7. Add the carrot, if using, and peas. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, adding more stock if needed.

    Adding grated carrot and peas
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  8. Now add the rice, pineapple chunks, currants, and cashews.

    Adding rice, pineapple chunks, currants, and cashews
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  9. Drizzle the soy/fish sauce mixture over and gently stir-fry to combine over medium-high to high heat until the rice "dances" (makes popping sounds), about 5 to 8 minutes, or until desired lightness is achieved. Avoid adding any more stock from here on, or your rice will turn out heavy and/or soggy.

    Stirring in the soy sauce to the mixture
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  10. If desired, you can push ingredients aside and add a little more oil to the pan to give your rice that special "shine" you see in restaurant fried rice.

    More oil is added as the dish cooks
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  11. Remove from heat. Do a taste test for salt and flavor, adding a few shakes of salt or a little more soy sauce, as needed. If too salty for your taste, add a squeeze or two of lime juice.

    Adding lime juice and more soy sauce
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  12. To serve, scoop rice onto a serving platter (or into a carved-out pineapple). Top with scallions and cilantro.

  13. Enjoy.

Tip

  • Vegans may omit the egg without losing the flavor or nutrients of this great dish, as tasty cashews provide the main protein source.