Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan) (2024)

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This Thai pineapple fried rice is one of my favorite recipes for busy days! It’s super easy to make, healthy, and so yummy. Plus, it’s SO colorful! Eating this pineapple rice will be like taking a trip to Thailand!

The recipe for this Thai pineapple fried rice reminds me so much of our last trip to Thailand and sunny days at the beach! It was one of my favorite meals there and of course I had to make my own homemade version as soon as I got back home.

Why This Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Works:

The pineapple provides this fried rice with juicy sweetness.
Curry powder and soy sauce add flavor and spiciness.
Red bell pepper and carrots give it some nice crunch and color.
Green onions and fresh cilantro leaves provide it with even more flavor and freshness.
Green peas add some nice protein.
Leftover rice does not only make this pineapple fried rice recipe easier but it also does not clump together like freshly cooked rice would.

This Pineapple Rice Is:

vegan
gluten-free if you use tamari instead of soy sauce
light and healthy
so delicious – I just love its sweet and tangy taste!
super easy to make
ready in only 15minutes.
a great side or even a whole meal just by itself.
perfect for busy weeknight dinners
great for hot summer days
the perfect meal for Thailand fans like me

You don’t need any fancy or hard to find ingredients for this pineapple fried rice. You should be able to find everything in any regular grocery store.

You need:

basmati rice (it’s best with cooked rice from the day before)
one onion
garlic
carrots
bell pepper
frozen peas
fresh pineapple chunks
cashews
soy sauce
curry powder
green onions
salt and black pepper
red pepper flakes
fresh cilantro

As always, you can find the full recipe for this vegan fried rice and the ingredient list in a separate, printable recipe box at the end of this post.

STEP 1: Ilike the Thai pineapple fried rice best with left-over rice from the day before. So cook the rice according to the instructions on the package and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge until you use it.

STEP 2:Cook the frozen peas for about 2-3 minutes on the stove top or in the microwave.

STEP 3: Cut the red bell pepper and the carrots into thin stripes. Finely chop the onion and the garlic.

STEP 4: In a large pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion for about 3 minutes.

STEP 5: Then add the garlic, the carrots, and the bell pepper. Cook for 3 minutes.

STEP 6:Then stir in the cooked rice and season with the curry powder and the soy sauce.

Thai Fried Pineapple Rice in a Pineapple Shell

We had this so many times during our time in Thailand. Usually right at the beach and not on plates, but in pineapple shells.

Do you want to serve your pineapple rice in a pineapple shell like I did? It’s more authentic this way and doesn’t it look super pretty?

Making a pineapple shell out of fresh pineapple is super easy. Just follow these three easy steps:

STEP ONE: Using a sharp knife, cut off about 1/3 of a fresh pineapple.

STEP TWO: Make a cut around the edge of the pineapple to make the pineapple bowl. Be careful not to cut through the bottom of the pineapple.

STEP THREE: Cut the pineapple into six pieces. Carefully use a spoon to remove the pineapple pieces. Congrats, you’ve got a pineapple bowl!

This Thai fried pineapple rice is best when you use left-over rice from the day before. Unlike freshly cooked rice, chilled leftover rice doesn’t clump together or become mushy when being fried.
Make sure the pineapple you use for this recipe is ripe. Check out this article that tells your more about how to find out if a pineapple is ripe.
For a gluten-free version use tamari instead of soy sauce.
If you want you can also add some protein to this pineapple fried rice. I saw that they sometimes add chicken or shrimps in Thailand. My vegan suggestions are fried tofu or tempeh.
Prep all ingredients before you start the actual cooking process. The fried rice comes together super quickly, so you won’t have much time for chopping once you’ve started cooking.
If you’re looking for a healthier version, you can also substitute the white basmati rice with brown rice. This would also be a good choice for people suffering from diabetes as brown rice has a way better glycemic index.
This recipe works best in a wok or in a cast iron skillet.

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice – FAQ:

Can you freeze pineapple fried rice?

Yes, you can freeze pineapple fried rice. It won’t be as fresh, but it will still be good. However, do not freeze the cilantro and green onions as they won’t freeze well.

It works best to freeze the fried rice in ziplock bags. Just take it out of the freezer a few hours before you want to eat it and then reheat it for easy lunches and dinner.

I always think fresh is best, but if you’ve got a lot of leftovers, this is definitely an option!

What makes pineapple fried rice yellow?

I used curry powder to give this pineapple fried rice its yellow color.

Where does pineapple fried rice come from?

Fried rice is typical of central Thai cuisine. Pineapple rice is one of many popular regional variants.

Can I use canned pineapple instead of fresh pineapple?

I would always recommend using fresh pineapple for this pineapple fried rice. Fresh is just best!

However, the recipe also works with canned pineapple chunks. Just make sure to use canned pineapple without additional sugar. Otherwise the recipe will turn out too sweet.

Other Vegan Asian Recipes You Might Like:

summer rolls with mango and mint
vegan bibimbap
vegan congee with tempeh
50 vegan Asian recipes (roundup)
vegan butter chicken

I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS!

I hope you like this Thai pineapple fried rice recipe as much as we do around here.

If you give it a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Justleave me a comment and a star ratingbelow. Your comments really make my day!

You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me onFacebook,Instagram, orPinterest!

Sina – xx

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan)

This Thai pineapple fried rice recipe is one of my favorites for busy days! Super easy, healthy, and so yummy. Plus, it's SO colorful!

4.47 from 69 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Thai

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

Total Time: 17 minutes mins

Servings: 3 servings

Calories: 325kcal

Author: Sina

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup Basmati rice (equals 3 cups cooked rice)
▢ 1 onion, chopped
▢ 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
▢ 1 tablespoon oil
▢ 2 carrots, cut into thin sticks
▢ 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into thin sticks
▢ 1/2 cup frozen peas
▢ 1/2 cup cashews
▢ 1 tablespoon soy sauce
▢ 1 tablespoon curry powder
▢ 1 cup pineapple, cut into small pieces
▢ 2 green onions, cut into rings
▢ salt, to taste
▢ black pepper, to taste
▢ red pepper flakes (optional)
▢ fresh cilantro (optional)

Instructions

I like the Thai pineapple fried rice best with left-over rice from the day before. So cook the rice according to the instructions on the package and store it in an air-tight container in the fridge until you use it. Cook the frozen peas for about 7 minutes.
In a large pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion for about 3 minutes. Then add the garlic, the carrots, and the bell pepper. Cook for 3 minutes.
Then stir in the cooked rice and season with the curry powder and the soy sauce. Next, add the pineapple, the peas, the green onion, and the cashews. Season with salt, black pepper, and if using red pepper flakes. Stir until well combined. Serve with fresh cilantro. Enjoy!

Notes

This Thai fried pineapple rice is best when you use left-over rice from the day before. Unlike freshly cooked rice, chilled leftover rice doesn't clump together or become mushy when being fried.
Make sure the pineapple you use for this recipe is ripe. Check out this article that tells your more about how to find out if a pineapple is ripe.
For a gluten-free version use tamari instead of soy sauce.
If you want you can also add some protein to this pineapple fried rice. I saw that they sometimes add chicken or shrimps in Thailand. My vegan suggestions are fried tofu or tempeh.
Prep all ingredients before you start the actual cooking process. The fried rice comes together super quickly, so you won't have much time for chopping once you've started cooking.
If you're looking for a healthier version, you can also substitute the white basmati rice with brown rice. This would also be a good choice for people suffering from diabetes as brown rice has a way better glycemic index.
This recipe works best in a wok or in a cast iron skillet.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @_veganheaven_ or tag #veganheaven!

Rate the recipe!If you like this recipe, please leave a good rating! This will help other readers.

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (Vegan) (2024)

FAQs

What makes Thai fried rice taste different? ›

I recreated it, and after researching and experimenting, I managed to get it very close! Thai Fried Rice gets its unique flavor from the fish sauce, soy sauce, and chili peppers, and the jasmine rice is a must. They also added tomatoes to their rice which gives it a subtle hint of sweetness.

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

View Details ›

Is Thai fried rice the same as Chinese fried rice? ›

This dish differs from Chinese fried rice in that it is prepared with Thai jasmine rice instead of regular long-grain rice. It normally contains meat (chicken, shrimp, and crab are all common), egg, onions, garlic and sometimes tomatoes.

Find Out More ›

What is the difference between special fried rice and Thai fried rice? ›

The two major differences are that Thai fried rice uses Jasmine rice, which is scented, where Chinese fried rice uses a plain, unscented rice. And second, Thai fried rice has nam pla -- fish sauce -- in addition to soy sauce -- where Chinese fried rice typically uses soy sauce alone.

Show Me More ›

Why does Chinese restaurant fried rice taste better? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

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What gives restaurant fried rice its flavor? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Learn More Now ›

What oil is best for fried rice? ›

You can also use day-old brown rice, however it will create a less-authentic taste and texture, even though it's still delicious. Sesame oil. I do not recommend omitting or substituting the sesame oil in this recipe. It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish.

Get More Info ›

What makes fried rice more flavorful? ›

Pick the Right Ingredients

There are three main ingredients of fried rice: eggs, vegetables and meat. Scrambled throughout the rice, eggs bring savory flavors and protein, while vegetables like broccoli, peas, carrots, and edamame add variety and depth to the dish. The more you have, the more robust the flavor.

Get More Info Here ›

What is the origin of pineapple fried rice? ›

from Chinese people living in Thailand.

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Why is Thai Fried Rice orange? ›

And again, the reason the Thai fried rice comes out so orange in color, is due to the shrimp head oils.

See Details ›

What is the best Thai rice? ›

Thai jasmine rice (Hom Mali) has been crowned the world best rice variety for its flavor and fragrance for several consecutive years by the international rice trace convention! The rice varieties are judged according to four criterias: aroma, taste, texture, and shape of the rice grain….

Read On ›

Why is pineapple fried rice so good? ›

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice. A popular Thai dish bursting with flavours of curry powder, pops of fresh pineapple and crunchy cashews. Serve in a pineapple bowl for that extra "wow" factor. It's quick and easy, with the option to use coconut rice for extra richness.