Pineapple Fried Rice

Content… Why You’ll Love It Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Out-of-This-World Rice Recipes to Try

Why You’ll Love Pineapple Fried Rice

The addition of pineapple brings that little sunshine for a tropical vibe. The sweet, tangy flavor fits perfectly with the savory soy sauce and aromatic ginger. Not to mention how well it complements the shrimp—a match made in heaven, similar to teriyaki flavors.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Shrimp – Fresh, succulent shrimp is the star protein. Look for raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp to make this recipe easier and faster.
2. Pineapple – Sweet, juicy pineapple adds flavor and color. Use this simple How to Pick a Pineapple guide to find one that’s ripe and fresh!
3. Seasonings – Soy sauce lends a rich, umami savoriness. Minced ginger and curry powder add mouthwatering flavors and aromas.
4. Veggies – Onion, garlic, green onions, peas, and carrots are my veggies of choice for color and added nutrients. But feel free to add broccoli, cauliflower, and celery.
5. Eggs – Scrambled eggs add texture and extra protein to the rice.
6. Rice – Day-old long-grain rice works best because it’s drier and takes on the sauce flavors. I use white or brown basmati, whatever I have.

How to Make Pineapple Fried Rice

• Oil – Heat a large wok or skillet with a tablespoon of oil on medium-high heat.
• Shrimp – Add shrimp and stir fry for 3-4 minutes or until slightly pink. Remove them and set aside. (Photo 1)
• Veggies – Add another tablespoon of oil and the pineapple, ginger, onions, green onions, garlic, and curry powder. Stir fry for 3-4 minutes, then push vegetables to the side. (Photos 2-4)
• Eggs – Add a little more oil, then add lightly beaten eggs. Allow to cook without stirring for 5-10 seconds or until the eggs are slightly cooked and set on the bottom. (Photo 5)
• Rice – Add rice and cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly. (Photos 6-7)
• Combine – Return cooked shrimp, peas, carrots, soy sauce, and hot sauce to the pan. Continue stirring until ingredients have heated through. (Photo 8)
• Season – Adjust seasoning salt, pepper, and soy sauce to taste.
• Serve – Remove from heat and garnish with sliced green onions and cilantro. Serve hot with lime wedges.

Recipe Alternatives

1. Protein – You can substitute shrimp with chicken or go with both. Just cook the chicken first since it takes longer to cook than shrimp. Or make this dish vegetarian by replacing the shrimp with diced tofu.
2. Pineapple – Fresh pineapple is heavenly in this recipe, but canned pineapple is equally tasty.
3. Rice – Replace the basmati rice with plain white or brown rice, jasmine rice, or coconut rice.
4. Veggies – Add green or red bell peppers, edamame, broccoli, or water chestnuts for extra nutrients and crunch.
5. Thai Twist – Add some lemongrass and a dash of fish sauce for Thai pineapple fried rice. Thinly slice the white parts and toss it in with the garlic.

Tips and Tricks

1. Leftover rice is the better choice for fried rice because it’s drier. Fresh hot rice tends to turn mushy when you add it to a wok with the rest of the ingredients.
2. Spread hot rice on a baking sheet and refrigerate it for about an hour if you don’t have leftovers.
3. A heavy-bottomed skillet will give you the same results if you don’t have a wok.
4. Stir-fry dishes cook best over high heat, so make sure your pan is hot before adding the ingredients. This dish comes together quickly, so you’ll want to keep your eye on the skillet.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This dish is an excellent make-ahead because it’s tastiest with leftover rice. Cook the rice the day before and refrigerate it until ready to cook. On the other hand, you can cook the fried rice a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator overnight. It reheats well and tastes great the next day!

Serving and Storage Instructions

Pineapple fried rice is simply delish hot from the skillet and sprinkled with fresh cilantro or a squeeze of lime juice.

Leftovers are easy to store. Transfer them to an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to three days or freezer for up to three months.

Reheat it in a skillet over medium until warmed through. Or zap it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. You may want to sprinkle a little water over it before reheating to keep it moist.

Perfect Pineapple Fried Rice Pairings

Pineapple fried rice is flavorful and satisfying as a meal all on its own. But it’s also great with side dishes like pulled pork spring rolls, spicy green beans, or pineapple ginger-glazed carrots.

More Out-of-This-World Rice Recipes to Try

1. Rice Pilaf
2. Coconut Fried Rice
3. Charleston Red Rice
4. Stick of Butter Rice

This blog post was originally published in November 2017 and has been updated with additional tips and gorgeous photos