There’s various versions of Pineapple Fried Rice around, but I think the best is Thai. The sweet, juicy pieces of pineapple goes so well with the savoury flavoured jasmine rice! Terrific side dish for tropical dishes, summer BBQ’s and of course, with all things Thai.

Plate of Pineapple Fried Rice (Thai) ready to be served

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice is of Thai origin, though there’s iterations of it all around the world. While some recipes use little more than a dash of soy sauce, this is a recipe that stays true to the Thai way and will evoke memories of warm balmy evenings in Thailand, eating at beach shack diners with your toes squidging in the sand, sipping on fruit cocktails.

Or – at rickety tables at your cheerful local Thai restaurant. 😂

This is the rice dish that was spied on the side of the Honey Soy Chicken recipe I shared on Monday. Noticed and requested by a number of readers!

Here is the photo in question:

Plate of honey soy garlic chicken with a side of pineapple fried rice

And here’s a nice close up of the pineapple rice so you can see it in all its glory! Fluffy grains of jasmine rice, colourful veggies, sweet juicy pieces of pineapple all tossed in a savoury, slightly sweet Thai fried rice sauce.

Close up of Pineapple Fried Rice (Thai)

What goes in Pineapple Fried Rice

Here’s what you need to make Pineapple Fried Rice – the Thai way (the best way!). While it is of course best to make this with fresh pineapple when they’re ripe and at their prime, canned is perfectly acceptable (and a heck of a lot faster to prep!).

Ingredients in Pineapple Fried Rice (Thai)

3 Thai Sauce Options

The right sauce is key to making a really tasty pineapple fried rice and this recipe offers 3 options, all of which are very tasty:

  • Fish sauce + oyster sauce – truly authentic Thai, terrific caramelisation / depth of flavour. In fact, purists say it’s “illegal” to use soy sauce in Thai cooking. That if you do, it’s Chinese food not Thai!
  • Soy sauce + oyster sauce – typically thought of as Thai homestyle.
  • Soy sauce + Maggi seasoning* – commonly used by Thai restaurants outside of Thailand

* Thai Seasoning Sauce is a sauce with more flavour than soy sauce. Gold Mountain is the most common one in Australia. It is available in Asian stores and some grocery stores, and costs around $2 for a large bottle.

Feel free to use any cookable vegetables you want. I like using colourful veggies – on theme with this tropical dish!

How to make Pineapple Fried Rice

It’s nice and quick to make – everything is just fried up in a skillet or wok. Use a large one so you can toss enthusiastically because that’s the key to reducing the sauce down and making it almost “caramelise” the rice grains which = flavour!

How to make Pineapple Fried Rice (Thai)

Skillet filled with Pineapple Fried Rice (Thai)

What to serve it with

This is a Thai side dish, so obviously Thai foods are no–brainer companions! Thai Cashew Chicken Stir Fry or Thai Satay would be fantastic. If curry is on the brain, I have the favourites covered! Pick from Yellow, Red, Green or Massaman Curries. Meanwhile for a fresh contrast, a Green Papaya Salad is perfect.

Or even just Asian foods!! Still it would be criminal to limit our imaginations to just these cuisines. In fact, as mentioned above, this is the very side that was depicted in Monday’s grilled Honey Soy Chicken which, despite having soy sauce in it, is the only Asian thing about it.

It’s practically a mandatory side for tropical themed menus, it will pair beautifully with Caribbean foods (like Jerk Chicken), or use it to elevate simple mains such as pan seared fish.

I’d weep with happiness if I saw it alongside a pile of sticky BBQ Pork Ribs, slices of ultra tender Beef Brisket, Sticky Chicken or any seared, grilled or baked salmon, shrimp/prawns or fish.

 

And one last thing – as with all fried rice dishes, while it’s best served straight out of the wok, this isn’t usually practical if you’re making multiple things on the stove or it’s part of a spread. So you’ll be pleased to know that it reheats very well in the microwave – or even covered in the oven! – Nagi x

Watch how to make it

Pineapple Fried Rice (Thai)

 

Recipe video above. Terrific side dish option with a tropical or summer flair! This is a Thai dish made with a classic Thai Fried Rice Sauce. Use ONE of the 3 sauces – all are traditional. Serve with all things Thai, Asian, BBQ, tropical themed, Caribbean (excellent match!), fish, prawns/shrimp, salmon – see in post for ideas. Also – featured in Monday’s Honey Soy Chicken.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
  • 1/2 onion , finely chopped
  • 1/2 red capsicum / bell peppers , diced (~ 3/4 cup)
  • 1/2 cup peas , frozen
  • 3 cups day old jasmine rice , cooked (Note 1)
  • 1 1/2 cups pineapple pieces , fresh or canned drained (~ 220g) (Note 2)
  • 1/2 cup green onion , sliced

Sauce Option 1 (Base version, recommended):

  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/2 tsp sugar

Sauce Option 2:

  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (not dark soy)

Sauce Option 3:

    • 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp Thai Seasoning (Gold Mountain)
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Instructions

  • Heat oil in a wok or large non stick skillet over high heat.
  • Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute.
  • Add capsicum, cook for 1 minute.
  • Add peas, stir for 30 seconds.
  • Add rice and Sauce ingredients of choice. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until rice grains goes from being wet with sauce to sort of caramelised.
  • Add pineapple, stir for just 30 seconds to warm through.
  • Stir through green onions then serve!

Recipe Notes:

PROTEIN ADD INS – If you would like to add meat (chicken, prawns/shrimp) just add it mid onion cook. I would use about 150g/5 oz chopped into small pieces. Egg would be great too – use 2, whisk, cook a messy omelette, remove, chop. Make recipe, toss egg back in at end.

1. Jasmine Rice – fried rice needs to be made with day old rice so it’s dried out and less sticky. If you try to make it with fresh rice, it comes out a gluey mess.

You will need 1 cup (200g) uncooked rice to make 3 cups cooked.

Pineapple Fried Rice Emergency?? Cook rice, spread out on tray and let it cool. Freeze 1 hour, then thaw = “day old rice” ready to make fried rice!

Handy tip – keep bags of cooked rice in the freezer. It’s perfect for making fried rice (defrost from frozen in microwave about 3 minutes on high per 2 cups of cooked rice).

2. Pineapple – of course this is best made with fresh pineapple but canned will do in a pinch. You’ll need a 440g/14oz can of pineapple pieces (or slices, then chop), drain then use about 3/4 of the can (can weight includes the juice).

3. Sauce Options:

  • Fish sauce + Oyster Sauce (base recipe) – the version that purists say is “real” Thai fried rice because if you use soy sauce, it makes it Chinese (or other Asian)
  • Soy Sauce + Oyster Sauce – more akin to Thai home cooking
  • Sauce with Thai Seasoning Sauce is commonly used by Thai restaurants in Australia.

All are delicious, that I promise you!

4. Nutrition per serving, assuming 6 servings.