How to Make Thai Pineapple Fried Rice &Thai recipe

Pineapple fried rice, a classic Thai dish that brings together all the sweet and savory flavor profiles in one colourful plate. This Thai pineapple fried rice is fluffy jasmine rice with fresh pineapple chunks, crunchy cashews, vegetables, and aromatics for a quick and easy restaurant-style meal at home.

If you want a quick weeknight dinner, meal prep, or an impressive party food dish this tropical fried rice recipe comes through in all departments! The tart pineapple, salty soy sauce, and slight sweetness make this a kid-friendly best-seller that picky eaters can’t resist.

Learn more:How to STOP MAKING YOUR SALADS TASTE BORINGhttps://www.claytonhomesgarden.us/recipes/salads/

Why This Pineapple Rice Recipe is the Best What Makes This Recipe Special:

• 20-minute meal — perfect for those busy weeknights
• Either an Instant Pot or cook it on the stovetop
• Real Thai Taste without hard-to-find ingredients.
• Customizable — Can quickly be vegan, vegetarian or make it a top notch issue!
• One-pot meal – little clean up after usage
• Super meal prep — tastier the next day
• Restaurant-quality results at home

NOTE: This pineapple fried rice is not the first time that I have tested this recipe to guarantee you will get the same dry texture over and over again – no soggy or mushy rice!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Rice Base:

• 3 cups of 1-day old jasmine rice (or basmati rice) is the secret to good fried rice that will not go soggy.
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Fresh Ingredients:

• 2 cups pineapple chunks (fresh is preferable, but canned will also do)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 3 green onions/scallions, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• Optional for vegan Version: 2 eggs, beaten

Protein Options:

• ½ cup roasted cashews or peanuts
• Shrimp, Chicken, tofu or tempeh (if desired)

Sauce & Seasonings:

• 3 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari if gluten free)
• Fish sauce: 1 tablespoon (for authenticity, optional)
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon curry powder (this is what gives it the true Thai flavor)
• ½ teaspoon turmeric (for color)
• 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish:

• Fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Extra cashews
• Sliced cucumber

How to Make Pineapple Fried Rice:

Step 1: Prepare Your Rice

The right type of rice for pineapple fried rice is day-old jasmine rice. Why is using leftover rice so important?

• It is drier so doesn’t get mushy
• Individual grains separate easily
• It absorbs flavors better

Tip: If you do not have leftover rice, spread freshly cooked rice on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes to dry.

Step 2 — Getting Your Wok/Large Skillet Hot

In a large sauté pan or wok, heat the 2 tablespoons sesame oil and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over high heat. A smoking hot wok is crucial for stir fry technique, and the ultimate texture.

Process Step 3: Use eggs for scrambling

Move the oil to the sides, add beaten eggs to the center, and scramble until just set. Remove and set aside.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatics

Notes: Add some minced garlic and grated ginger to the wok. Fry for 30 seconds until fragrant. This forms the aromatic base for why Thai food is so good.

Step 5: Add Vegetables

Add red bell pepper, peas and carrots and stir-fry until tender-crisp for 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Add the Rice

Add the day-old rice to the wok breaking up any clumps as needed Stir-fry until each grain has an equal amount of oil and hot for 3-4 minutes

STEP 7: Fat, To Season Bay Rice

Add:

• Soy sauce
• Fish sauce (if using)
• Curry powder
• Turmeric
• Sugar

Mechanically mix to combine spices. The rice should look beautiful and golden from the turmeric and curry powder.

Step 8: Top off with pineapple and cashews

Stir in fresh chunks of pineapple and roasted cashews. Heat the pineapple for about 2 minutes, until it is heated throughout but retains its shape.

Step 9: Add Lime and Herbs For Garnishing

Take off the heat, stir in lime juice and green onions. Oh and the lime juice: it livens everything up and gives you that punchy flavour.

Instant Pot Pineapple Lime Rice Method

Sauté Mode — activates sauté mode to cook onions, garlic, and other aromatics

• Add Rice & LiquidAdd 1.5 cups jasmine rice with 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• Pressure Cook: Pressure cook for 4 minutes on High
• Natural Release: Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release
• Fluff & Mix: scatter the pineapple, cashews and seasonings over;

You can prepare this one-pot pineapple rice using the following method and then make a big batch to portion it out for the week.

Variations & Customizations

Protein Additions:

Shrimp Pineapple Fried Rice:

• Stir in 1 lb deveined and peeled medium shrimp. Add rice cook till pink

Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice:

• 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or leftover rotisserie chicken

Tofu Pineapple Fried Rice (Vegan):

• See also Samurai Tofu78 g or 14 oz pressed, cubed firm tofu: I pan fried the pieces until slightly crispy and then threw them into the rice.

Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice:

• Omit eggs and fish sauce
• Replace honey with maple syrup
• Add extra vegetables for protein
• Gluten-Free Pineapple Rice:
• Use tamari, as opposed to soy sauce
• Verify curry powder is gluten-free
• Coconut Aminos to add flavor

Low-Sodium Fried Rice:

• Cut soy sauce down to 1 tablespoon
• Use low-sodium soy sauce
• Skip fish sauce
• Flavor up with extra lime juice and herbs

Keto Pineapple Rice:

• Substitute jasmine rice with cauliflower rice
• Pineapple decreases to pound quarter as filling for use
• Add extra vegetables and protein

Spicy Pineapple Fried Rice:

Add:

• 1-2 Thai chilies, sliced
• 1 teaspoon sriracha
• Red pepper flakes to taste

What to Serve with Pineapple Fried Rice

This Asian rice dish works both as a main course or side dish. Pair it with:

Main Dishes:

• Thai basil chicken
• Sweet and sour tofu
• Grilled teriyaki salmon
• Spring rolls
• Tom yum soup

Side Dishes:

• Cucumber salad
• Papaya salad (Som Tam)
• Steamed edamame
• Asian slaw

Presentation Ideas:

• To serve your pineapple fried rice like an extra fancy-touch party food, try this:
• Slash a large pineapple in half lengthways
• Scoop the flesh – (use in recipe)
• Scoop out the flesh of a pineapple, then stuff into the hollowed shell fried rice.
• Topping garnish with fresh herbs and cashews

Storing and Reheating Pineapple Fried Rice

Storage:

• Fridge: Use an airtight container and has a shelf life of 4 days
• Freezer: Freeze multiple portions for up to 3 months

Reheating:

• Top stovetop – best method, splash a little water (or Broth If You Like) and boil/cook over medium heat.
• Microwave: cover with damp paper towel, heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through
• Crispy style (Air fryer: 5 minutes at 350°F, microwave timed to cook at about the same rate)

Tip: Squeeze lime over the reheated meal to add brightness.

Make Ahead Pineapple Rice:

Here is a recipe that is perfect for preparing meals:

• Cook rice 1-2 days ahead
• Prep vegetables and store separately
• Assemble and cook when ready
• Divide into containers to have packaged for weeknight dinners

Final Thoughts

This simple pineapple fried rice recipe could actually help anyone to prepare restaurant-style Thai food at home. Using some very basic pantry items, it takes no more than 20-minutes from start-to-finish to create a healthy, wholesome dinner that deserves to be called takeout.

The beauty of this delicious rice recipe is that you can easily: Keep it vegan → Add your favourite protein, increase or reduce spices → Meal prep for the entire week. Fresh pineapple meets next level jasmine rice here, giving you tropical flavors worthy of walking the streets in Bangkok.