The BEST Thai Pineapple Fried Rice {with Raisins, Cashews, and Curry}
Love Thai food? Then this BEST Thai Pineapple Fried Rice with Raisins, Cashews, and Curry is here just for you! Modeled after Chivit Thama Daa (our favorite Thai restaurant in Chiang Rai, Thailand), this fried rice is a classic Thai recipe that your whole family will enjoy.
Easy and Simple Fried Rice Recipe
Fried rice does not have to be complicated. In fact, one of the reasons why it is so appealing is its simplicity. Use up already-cooked rice and make a meal out of it? Yes, please! And once you get the gist of the flavors that pair best with fried rice, making your own version (or versions) is easy.
Fried Rice Seasoning
The flavors of fried rice usually center on a combination of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and turmeric and/or curry. In addition to those flavors, some cooks add a bit of broth, lemongrass, or chili pepper.
What Culture is Pineapple Fried Rice From?
Thailand is the home of pineapple fried rice. And it makes a lot of sense. With an abundance of pineapple in this tropical land, why not add it to all kinds of dishes–from curries to cashew chicken to fried rice?
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice with Cashews and Raisins
Thai pineapple fried rice traditionally includes an assortment of fruit, nuts, meats/proteins, and vegetables. Some of the most common are:
- pineapple
- onion
- green onion
- bell pepper (green, yellow, or red)
- shrimp
- chicken
- ham
- bacon
- cashew nuts
- raisins
- eggs
Pineapple Fried Rice with Ham
Pineapple fried rice is often eaten with its signature shrimp. But there are multiple versions that exchange shrimp for another protein: chicken, bacon, egg, or even ham. Try a mixture of any or all of these for new flavor inspiration.
Pineapple Fried Rice Without Egg
Every version of pineapple fried rice that I’ve ever tasted has been sans egg. So when I first heard someone ask if it were possible to make pineapple fried rice without egg, I was shocked. Not only is it possible, it’s a common way of making it in Thailand itself.
Is Pineapple Fried Rice Healthy?
It depends on what you add to it. White rice in and of itself is not the healthiest choice. However, the more vegetables (bell pepper, onion), fruit (pineapple, raisins), nuts (cashews), and proteins (chicken, egg, shrimp, bacon, etc.) that you add, the healthier the dish becomes.
How to Add Flavor to Fried Rice?
Here are some simple ideas for taking your fried rice to the next level when it comes to flavor: 1) choose a fragrant rice; 2) use an infused cooking oil (such as garlic oil, ginger oil, or chili oil); 3) add chicken bouillon, beef bouillon, or vegetable bouillon.
Fried Rice Ingredients
To make pineapple fried rice, you will need:
- pineapple chunks
- minced onion
- minced garlic
- minced ginger
- chopped bell pepper
- diced bacon
- cashews
- golden raisins
- turmeric powder
- curry powder
- salt and pepper
- chili pepper (optional)
- olive oil
- cooked white rice
- dark soy sauce
Should You Cool Rice Before Making Fried Rice?
Absolutely! Using leftover (or at least cooled) rice to make fried rice is a MUST. Fresh rice is too soft and starchy to mix well without mashing, while cooled rice has had time to dry a bit, making it much easier to stir without transforming to a pulp.
Why Do Fried Rice Recipes Call for Day-Old Rice?
Many recipes for fried rice list day-old (or older) rice as the main ingredient. This is because leftover rice has lost much of its “stickiness” and is easier to mix with the many other ingredients of fried rice.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Day-Old Rice for Fried Rice?
If you use fresh rice to make fried rice, expect to create a pulp. Using day-old rice (or older)–or at least cooled rice–is the key to excellent texture.
How Long to Let Rice Sit for Fried Rice?
If you do not have leftover rice to make fried rice, do not despair. You can make fresh rice, as long as you allow it to sit for about an hour or two (or until completely cooled). Then proceed with the rest of the recipe.
How Do You Cool Rice for Fried Rice Quickly?
Set cooked rice in a drafty area (under a range hood with the exhaust fan on works too) to cool it quickly. Another option for cooling rice is setting it in the refrigerator. However, this is not highly recommended, as this does not always result in the best texture for the rice.
Can You Use 2-Day-Old Rice for Fried Rice?
As long as the rice has not become moldy or otherwise spoiled, my family uses it in fried rice. Some health organizations advise against using rice that has been refrigerated for more than a day, while others say that rice that is several days old can be fine for consumption. Just note that the older the rice, the shorter the shelf life the fried rice will have after you have cooked it.
What Type of Rice Is Best for Fried Rice?
Any type of long-grain rice is excellent for fried rice: basmati rice, jasmine rice, etc. Steer clear of short-grain rice, though. Shorter rice grains–while great for sushi and rice balls–are too starchy for fried rice and will mash and ball up in the pan when being mixed with the other ingredients of fried rice.
Is Basmati Rice Good for Fried Rice?
Basmati rice is a superb choice for making fried rice. It is not overly starchy, and the long grain of the rice allows it to mix well with other ingredients.
How Do You Prepare Rice for Fried Rice?
To make rice to be used in fried rice, choose one of these methods:
- Rice in a rice cooker — Follow the manufacturer’s directions
- Rice on the stovetop — Pour a cup of rice and three cups of filtered water into a medium-sized stockpot or dutch oven. With the lid on, bring the pot to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, and cook for about 15 minutes, or until no more water remains and the rice is soft.
After the rice is fully cooked, let it cool and sit for one or more hours.
Which Vinegar is Best for Fried Rice?
Many types of vinegar can pair well with soy sauce for fried rice. We like to use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. For depth of flavor, experiment with wine vinegars and rice vinegars. If you question your choice of vinegar, test it on a small portion of the rice before adding it to the whole dish.
What is the Best Soy Sauce for Fried Rice?
Dark soy sauce is best for fried rice. This is because of the depth of flavor that dark soy sauce offers.
How To Spice Up Leftover Fried Rice
If you have leftover fried rice, you might notice that some ingredients in it (for example, raisins or nuts) tend to swell and lose their crispness. To spice up leftover fried rice, try adding a few fresh ingredients (such as new raisins and nuts) and/or some chili pepper sauce or flakes.
What Do You Eat with Fried Rice?
Fried rice pairs well with many different main dishes and vegetables. Here are some meal ideas:
- chicken drumsticks
- fried chicken
- pork chops
- lamb chops
- kabobs
- sliced cucumbers
- fresh fruit
- fruit smoothie (we love avocado smoothies, which are also served in Thailand!)
- veggies and hummus
- homemade applesauce
- muffins
A Note about Clean-Up
As with any recipe that has turmeric and curry in it, this recipe for pineapple fried rice will not let you soon forget its presence in your day. Yellow on your plate, yellow on your teeth, and (possibly) yellow on your chin will serve as reminders that you just ate the best fried rice. To make clean-up easier, we suggest washing dishes immediately after finishing your meal.
Final Thoughts on the BEST Thai Pineapple Fried Rice (with raisins, cashews, and curry)
When you give this recipe a try, share it with us! Tag us on social media with the hashtag #thesantoscookbook and don’t forget to leave a comment telling us how it went for you!
BEST Thai Pineapple Fried Rice (with Raisins, Cashews, Curry)
Ingredients
- 5 strips bacon, diced (can be turkey bacon)
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil (for frying)
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced (about 1/3 cup)
- 1 Tbsp. minced ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup minced onion (preferably yellow or purple)
- 2 cups bite-sized pineapple pieces
- 1/2 cup salted cashew nuts
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1 tsp. ground turmeric
- 2 tsp. curry powder or curry paste
- 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
- Red chili flakes, to taste (optional) - or - chili-infused oil (see note)
- 4 cups cooked white rice (cooled leftovers, not warm)
Instructions
- In a wok or large saucepan, add the olive oil, bacon, bell pepper, garlic, ginger, pineapple, and onion. Cook over medium heat until the bacon is beginning to brown and the onion is translucent.
- Add the curry powder (or paste), ground turmeric, soy sauce, sugar, raisins, cashews, and chili pepper flakes (if using) and mix well.
- Stir in the cooked rice and mix until fully incorporated. All of the rice should be tinted yellow by the spices, with no rice grains left white.
- Remove from the heat, garnish with minced green onion, and serve.
Notes
We created this recipe as a copycat of our favorite pineapple fried rice served at the restaurante Chivit Thama Daa in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The restaurant serves this dish with a small bowl of chili-infused oil to add flavor. To make your own chili-infused oil, warm 1/4 cup olive oil and add a few pieces of minced red and green chilis (your choice of spice level). Let sit for an hour or more. Drizzle over your prepared pineapple fried rice right before eating.
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