Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Name: Pineapple Fried Rice
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked Jasmine rice, completely cooled*; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1-inch cube of ginger, finely chopped; 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 1/2 cup frozen peas; 1 cup chopped pineapple; 1 tbsp soy sauce (can sub tamari); 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce; 1 tbsp lime juice; 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional); 1/2 cup roasted cashews

Jump To Recipe 1 reviews posted Mar 4, 2022 by Jessica Hoffman

This colourful Thai Pineapple Fried Rice recipe is loaded with vibrantly-flavoured vegetables, pineapple and cashews. This recipe is easy to make and comes together in just 20-minutes for an irresistible dish your whole family will love!

Pineapple Fried Rice

You may be familiar with traditional Chinese Fried Rice, but if you’ve never had Thai Pineapple Fried Rice before, you are in for a treat my friend!

This Thai-inspired dish is a take on traditional Thai Fried Rice that is made vegetarian and vegan friendly. Traditionally, Thai fried rice is made with shrimp and often has fish sauce in it. For this version, we’re keeping things simple with just vegetables, pineapple and cashews.

If you wanted to make this recipe higher in protein to serve as a complete meal, you can add in some egg or crumbled tofu to scramble. (Add this in after adding the vegetables to the pan, then sauteé for 2 minutes and continue with the recipe.)

Why You’ll Love Pineapple Thai Fried Rice!

Ready in 20 minutes. Is there anything better than a recipe that is packed with flavour and comes together in no time? This Fried Rice is quick and easy to make with minimal clean up!
Easy to customize. Want to add in more vegetables? Some tofu? other protein? Go right ahead! This Thai Fried Rice is super versatile and can be customized however you like.
Flavour city. The sweet, salty, tangy and savoury combination of flavours in this fried rice is seriously packed with flavour. It’s one of those recipes that you just can’t stop eating once you take a bite!

What makes Thai fried rice different?

There are a few main differences between Chinese Fried Rice and Thai Fried Rice that make them taste different. Traditionally, Thai Fried Rice is made with fish sauce, a common ingredient in most Thai cuisine. (for this vegetarian version, we use soy sauce instead of fish sauce.)

Another distinction that makes Thai Fried Rice taste different is the addition of ginger, lime juice and pineapple. This gives the fried rice that classic Thai flavour of sweet, salty, tangy and savoury.

What type of rice is best for fried rice?

Typically, fried rice is made with any long-grain white rice like basmati rice. This is because it holds its shape well and won’t become mushy when being stir-fried.

For this recipe, we’re using Jasmine rice, which is Thai long-grain rice. I’ve also tested this recipe with both long-grain and short-grain brown rice, which both come out well too.

pineapple fried rice in two pineapple bowls

Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients

Jasmine rice
Onion
Garlic
Ginger
Red bell pepper
Frozen peas
Fresh pineapple
Soy sauce
Dark Soy sauce
Lime juice
Chili flakes
Cashews
Green onions
Fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

How to tell if a pineapple is ripe

It’s important to use a ripe pineapple in this recipe for the best flavour and taste. There are a few key ways to tell if you have a sweet and ripe pineapple.

Check the colour of the skin. The more yellow it is, the riper the pineapple is. If the skin is very green, the pineapple isn’t ripe.
Gently squeeze the pineapple. If it’s very slightly soft, it’s ripe. If the solid, the pineapple isn’t ripe.
Smell the bottom of the pineapple. If it smells sweet, it’s ripe. If it has no smell, it’s not ripe.

How to cut a pineapple bowl

Start by cutting the pineapple in half, lengthwise. Be gentle when cutting the crown so the leaves stay intact. Next, take a sharp knife and make four deep vertical cuts in the pineapple, two on each end, and two on each side of the pineapple core as shown in the photo below.

Now it’s time to make horizontal cuts in the pineapple. Cut four deep horizontal cuts across the pineapple as shown in the photo below. Grab a spoon and use the spoon to gently scoop out and separate the fruit from the skin. You may need to shimmy the spoon into the pineapple to get the fruit to come out. If your knife cuts aren’t deep enough, you may also need to grab your knife again to cut slightly deeper towards the skin of the pineapple.

a spoon scoop out pineapple fruit from the skin

Repeat this process until all the fruit has been scooped out. Drain out any liquid from the pineapple and give yourself a high five, you just turned a pineapple into a bowl!

scooping out pineapple from the skin with a spoon

How do you add pineapple to rice?

The best way to add pineapple to rice is to cut the pineapple into small pieces and saute it in a pan with the rice to heat it up.

How to Make Pineapple Fried Rice

Step 1

Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat, then add the onions, garlic and ginger and sauteé for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Then add the red bell pepper and peas continue to sauteé for another 2 minutes.

A white pan with onions, red peppers and peas in it

Step 2

Add the pineapple, rice and sauces to the pan and stir everything together. You want the rice to get slightly toasted and crispy on the bottom, let the rice sit for 1-2 minutes without stirring it.

peas, red peppers and pineapple in a white pan

pineapple, vegetables and rice in a white pan

Step 3

Add the roasted cashews and mix together. Serve right away while the Pineapple Fried Rice is hot!

Tip: adding the cashews to the rice at the last minute will ensure that you end up with crunchy cashews in your fried rice! You can add the cashews in with the rest of the ingredients in step 2, however, they will cook and absorb some of the sauce so they will be softer, rather than crunchy.

What goes with Thai pineapple fried rice?

Fried rice makes a delicious Thai side dish that can be served in so many different ways. Traditionally Thai food is served family-style, with a variety of Thai dishes to enjoy together and pass around the table. Here are some of my favourite recipes to enjoy alongside this Thai Pineapple Fried Rice

Storing and Reheating Pineapple Fried Rice

Store leftover Thai Pineapple Fried Rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat the rice, add it to a heated pan on the stovetop with a touch of vegetable oil and lightly sauteé until warmed through. You can also reheat the rice in a bowl in the microwave until warm.

I don’t recommend freezing fried rice, as I find it makes the rice very mushy and doesn’t taste great.