An amalgamation of all flavors sweet, sour, spicy this pineapple basil fried rice is a quick meal. Perfect recipe for a weekday night. Serving it in a pineapple bowl adds a wow factor to the table.
How to make a Pineapple bowl?
Fresh pineapple not only adds the needed flavor to the fried rice but also used as a serving bowl. Fresh pineapple is slightly sweet and sour at the same time, so it balances all the flavors of this recipe.
It adds a nice elegance to the table too at the same time. Wash the pineapple well before cutting. Slice the pineapple length wise from the green top till the bottom making it to two halves.
Next slice along the edge using a pairing knife all around.
Mark the slices vertically and horizontally and lift them with a fork. Leave enough fruit on the edges and the bottom. wipe excess liquid with a a paper towel and set aside.
Ingredients to make Pineapple basil fried rice
Pineapple : Use fresh pineapple as it is slightly sour, sweet & cruncy. Canned pineapple is soaked in sugar syrup and make the fried rice much sweeter.
Basil Leaves : Use fresh basil leaves for a more authentic flavor of the recipe.
Cooked Rice : For a more enhanced Thai kind of flavor, Jasmine rice is preferred. It is slightly sticky in nature than regular rice.
Veggies : Carrot, Onions and red bell peppers are used here. Use any as per choice.
Red Chili Paste : Dried Red Chiles are soaked and crushed to a paste with garlic, this adds a punch to the recipe to balance the sweetness from the pineapple. Any red hot sauce can be used as an alternate.
Fried Tofu : Pan fry tofu in and add to the recipe. Tofu is a great protein source for vegetarians.
Edamame : Add cooked Edamame , can be alternated with green peas too.
Soy sauce, Vinegar : Soy sauce and vinegar adds a nice punch to the fried rice.
Pepper powder & Salt : Seasoning for the recipe.
How to make Pineapple Basil Fried Rice?
This fried rice comes pretty quickly so gather all ingredients in advance. Rice, Tofu and Edamame can be cooked ahead and saved.
To make the red chili paste, soak dried red chilies in hot water for 15 mins and drain excess water. In a motor and pestle crush garlic and soaked chili to a paste.
When all the ingredients are ready, it time to make the fried rice. Heat a wok or skillet and add oil. Saute onions till translucent, add crushed red chili paste and cook for minute.
Add diced carrots, sliced red bell peppers and cook till slightly tender. Add pineapple pieces and cook for 2 minutes stirring continuously.
Next add cooked edamame, fried tofu, salt pepper and sauces. Mix till everything is combined well. Finally add cooked rice and stir to mix all the sauces and other stuff.
Saute on high heat for 2 minutes add basil and turn off the heat.
Serve in the pineapple bowl and garnish with spring onions as needed.
Pineapple Basil Fried Rice (Thai)
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Rice Jasmine rice for additional flavor
- ½ cup Fried Tofu Add more if needed
- 1 cup Pineapple pieces
- ¼ cup cooked Edamame
- 1 tbsp Oil
- ½ Onion diced (1/3 cup)
- 4 garlic pods
- 5-6 Dried Chiles soak in hot water , reduce for less heat
- 1 small Carrot diced to 1/4 cup
- ½ Red pepper sliced
- 8- 10 Basil leaves
- 1 tsp Soy sauce
- 1 tsp Vinegar
- ½ tsp Pepper powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cook Edamame as per directions. Pan Fry tofu and set aside.
- Cook Rice and cool completely. Use left over rice for a fluffier fried rice.
- To make red paste. Soak dried red chiles in hot water, drain water and crush to a paste along with garlic and set aside.
- Heat a skillet , add oil and fry onions till slightly cooked. Add crushed red paste and sauce for minute. Add diced carrots, sliced bell peppers and sauce for a minute or two. Add pineapple pieces and cook for minute.
- Add cooked Edamame , fried tofu, salt, pepper, vinegar, soy sauce and mix well to combine.
- Now add cooked rice and mix well till combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add fresh basil leaves , mix and turn off the heat.
- Garnish with spring onions and transfer to the pineapple bowl or any serving bowl and Enjoy.
