For those who’ve been following my weblog for some time, you already know that fried rice is one in every of my favourite dishes to prepare dinner. More often than not, I attempt to use minimal elements to make a fast meal. For instance, 5-Ingredient Egg Fried Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice, and Floor Pork Fried Rice. However after I make fried rice for Sunday dinner or a gathering, I prefer to make a barely extra concerned fried rice, like this Thai pineapple fried rice.
There’s one thing irresistibly joyful a couple of plate of colourful fried rice, particularly when it comes filled with candy, savory, and fragrant flavors. What makes this dish actually particular is its stunning steadiness – the salty richness of the oyster sauce and soy sauce paired with the light heat of curry powder and the juicy burst of candy pineapple. Every chunk brings out a little bit of every thing – crispy rice, plump shrimp, aromatic lap cheung (Chinese language sausage), and tender veggies. It’s colourful, comforting, and prepared in below half-hour!
Elements
There are a couple of methods to prepare dinner Thai pineapple fried rice. This recipe was primarily based on my favourite model after I was again in China, every time we’d exit for Thai meals. The recipe makes use of a small quantity of Chinese language sausage to spice up the flavour and curry powder so as to add a particular aroma. Within the restaurant, the dish was normally offered in a hollowed-out pineapple. However I used lower pineapple to simplify the prep course of for this homestyle model.
- Day-old rice: In a single day rice is right because it’s drier and simpler to separate. It crisps up significantly better than contemporary rice, creating separate grains as an alternative of clumping collectively in the course of the stir fry. My favourite sort for this dish is jasmine rice.
- Shrimp and Lap Cheung: A traditional combo for a daring taste base and texture. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to skip the Lap Cheung when you should not have it available.
- Greens: Frozen peas and carrots add texture and colour.
- Pineapple: Recent pineapple provides vivid acidity and a golden colour. I extremely suggest utilizing contemporary as an alternative of canned, which is normally too candy.
- Taste base: Soy sauce and oyster sauce for a wealthy umami, and gentle Madras curry powder for aroma and colour.
Professional tip for crispy fluffy rice
Fluff the rice whenever you’re measuring the rice, and do NOT pack it down into your measuring cup. You need loads of air between the grains, in order that they separate simply throughout cooking and create a greater texture. Packing the rice leads to a clumpy texture that received’t sear correctly.
Learn how to make
Be sure to have every thing prepped earlier than beginning the stir fry, since you have to to maneuver quick as soon as the cooking begins.
My recipe cooks the eggs and shrimp individually, which ensures the wok stays scorching with out overcooking the elements. It’s a step that takes just a little additional time however creates a tremendous consequence.
1. Scramble the eggs. I prefer to warmth up the wok very popular, then prepare dinner the eggs till the floor is golden brown however the inside continues to be not utterly cooked. So I get a pleasant crispy texture, and the rice will absorb some raw egg later.
2. Sear the shrimp. By utilizing a very popular wok and taking the shrimp out as quickly because it’s cooked, it prevents the shrimp from overcooking and yields a pleasant tender texture.
3. Fry the Chinese language sausage till crispy. This step is vital since you need the fats to render out of the sausage to season the rice. The sausage will even have a chewy texture with out tasting greasy after frying.
4. Stir fry the greens, however solely briefly, so they keep a crisp texture on the finish with out turning soggy.
5. Toss the rice with the greens till heated via and the grains separate, then combine within the sauce. Be certain that to toss the rice for lengthy sufficient, so the grains crisp up. When you add the seasonings, the rice can be more durable to separate. And when you prepare dinner the spices within the scorching pan too lengthy, they may begin sticking to the pan and burn.
6. Lastly, add again the cooked eggs and shrimp, and toss every thing collectively.
Professional tip for wok cooking
Though you’ll be able to prepare dinner Thai pineapple fried rice in a big skillet, a wok is a a lot simpler utensil for this recipe, because it permits you to toss all of the elements with out them flying all over. My recipe additionally cooks a number of elements individually, which helps the wok to take care of a excessive temperature so that you get some wok hei for a smoky style.
Be sure to warmth up the wok till it simply begins to smoke. Use a beneficiant quantity of oil at first of cooking, and swirl the wok to coat a big space to stop sticking. Utilizing day-old rice additionally reduces the starch from the grains, making the rice stick much less.
One tip to recollect is, when you add an ingredient, give it time to sear earlier than shifting it. This helps the wok to regain temperature and sear the elements. And solely begin to toss and stir after the elements have seared and the wok is piping scorching (you’ll be able to hear the scorching and see the smoke developing).
Learn how to serve
This Thai pineapple fried rice is finest served scorching and contemporary from the pan. Get pleasure from it as a hearty primary or pair it with:
Leftovers are nice for lunch the following day, simply reheat them gently within the microwave or on the range with a splash of oil.
Incessantly requested questions
Do I want to make use of day-old rice?
Sure! Day-old or leftover rice works finest as a result of the grains are firmer and drier, which prevents the fried rice from turning mushy. For those who don’t have in a single day rice, you should utilize freshly cooked rice by spreading it out on a tray to let it cool off, then retailer it within the fridge for at the least an hour to dry out. Notice, the rice will nonetheless be extra moist, and you must attempt to fluff the rice as a lot as attainable earlier than making it into fried rice.
Can I exploit canned pineapple as an alternative of contemporary?
Completely. Recent pineapple provides one of the best taste and texture, however canned pineapple chunks work nicely too. Simply be certain that to empty the juice and pat the pineapple dry earlier than including it to the rice.
What can I exploit as an alternative of lap cheung (Chinese language sausage)?
For those who can’t discover lap cheung, you should utilize diced bacon, ham, or common sausage. The small quantity of salty meat provides a number of taste to the rice.
What sort of curry powder ought to I exploit?
Gentle Madras curry powder is most popular on this recipe, as a result of it provides heat, earthy notes with out being too spicy. You may substitute common yellow curry powder or Japanese curry powder when you like.
Chinese language Cooking Made Simple
Are you new to this web site? This free electronic mail sequence is a good place to start out. I’ll stroll you thru a couple of of my hottest recipes and present you the way and why they work. You’ll shortly begin to prepare dinner higher Chinese language meals in your individual kitchen.
My Thai pineapple fried rice makes use of easy elements to create most taste. By utilizing tangy contemporary pineapple, candy shrimp, and curry powder so as to add complexity, this fried rice is filled with taste and texture which you can’t resist.
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Mix the oyster sauce, gentle soy sauce and curry powder in a small bowl.
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Warmth 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high warmth in a big skillet till smoking. Add the eggs. Scramble the eggs and switch to a plate.
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Add 1/2 tablespoon oil and the shrimp. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Prepare dinner, stirring sometimes, till the shrimp are simply cooked via, 2 to three minutes. Switch to the plate with the eggs.
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Add 1 tablespoon oil and lap cheung. Prepare dinner over medium warmth till the floor turns golden brown.
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Add the onion, peas and carrot. Prepare dinner over medium-high warmth till the greens simply soften, 2 to three minutes.
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Add the rice and pour within the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil. Stir and chop to separate the rice. Prepare dinner till the rice is heated, 2 to three minutes. For those who’re utilizing a wok or a carbon metal skillet, the rice would possibly persist with the pan. You may add a bit extra oil and use your spatula to launch the rice.
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Pour within the sauce. Stir to coat the rice evenly with the sauce. Add again the cooked eggs and shrimp. Stir to combine nicely.
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Add the pineapple and toss to combine once more. Style the rice and sprinkle salt if wanted. Switch every thing to an enormous plate. Serve scorching as a primary dish or aspect dish.
Ingredient Substitution Information
- To make this dish gluten-free, use a gluten-free oyster sauce, and use tamari to interchange soy sauce.
Serving: 1serving, Energy: 436kcal, Carbohydrates: 47.5g, Protein: 19.6g, Fats: 18.5g, Saturated Fats: 4.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 218mg, Sodium: 604mg, Potassium: 276mg, Fiber: 2.4g, Sugar: 6.1g, Calcium: 80mg, Iron: 3mg
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