I think for a lot of us around the world, fried is the most common dish that’s eaten on a busy day. There are so many different ways it can be made and you can create your own version from your local ingredients. I have already shared a couple of fried rice recipes on my blog like edamame fried rice, peanut butter rice, paneer fried rice, and corn fried rice. Today I am sharing another very interesting and tasty fried rice recipe called pineapple fried rice. It’s the vegan version of a very popular Hawaiian fried rice recipe. The vegan version of Hawaiian fried rice is quite similar to the pineapple fried rice which is made in some Asian countries like Thai pineapple fried rice. Just the addition of juicy and sweet pineapple chunks makes this dish very different from regular vegetable fried rice. This dish can be prepared in just 20 minutes and is another great recipe for a busy weeknight dinner. It’s also perfect to be packed in your tiffin box.
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
Cooked rice: Use precooked rice with medium grains. My favorite rice to make fried rice is jasmine rice but you can also use basmati rice or regular white rice. Leftover brown rice can be used too. Make sure that rice has been cooked a couple of hours in advance and if possible refrigerated for at least 2 hours. Pineapple: Though juicy fresh pineapple tastes the best, canned or frozen pineapple can be used too. Onion: Preferably red but if you don’t have that use white or brown onion. Green peas: Fresh, frozen, or canned, all are fine. I have used frozen peas, fresh peas will take slightly longer to get cooked. Sweet corn kernels: I have used frozen corn but you can use fresh or canned too. If using fresh, it’s better to boil them first before using in fried rice. Ginger powder: Instead of ginger powder, you can also use finely chopped fresh ginger. Hot sauce: I have used red chili sauce, feel free to use any Asian hot sauce of your choice like green chili sauce, sambal oelek, or sriracha. Soy sauce: Use tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free version. Vegetable oil: Oils like sesame oil or canola oil can be used too.
Other ingredient details and nutritional information are given in the recipe card ahead.
How to serve vegan Hawaiian fried rice?
Serve it warm or at room temperature as a light meal or as a side dish. For a fancy presentation, you can serve it in a hollow pineapple bowl. Step 1: Prepare the fried rice sauce by mixing soy sauce, hot sauce, ginger powder, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet or wok. Add chopped onion and garlic. Saute on high flame until the onion turns translucent. Step 3: Add chopped carrot and cook on high heat for 3-4 minutes. Step 4: Add green peas, corn kernels, and chopped bell pepper. Saute on high heat for another 3-4 minutes. The vegetables should be cooked but stay crunchy. Step 5: Add rice, chopped spring onion, pineapple, and the sauce blend. Step 6: Mix everything and stir fry on high heat for 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat. Garnish with chopped green onions. Your vegetable fried rice with pineapple is ready to be served! You can pair it up with a fresh salad like tropical fruit salad or any stir-fried dish of your choice. Other side dishes that go well with it are grilled vegetables, tropical salsa, coconut-crusted tofu, etc.
Leftover storing, freezing, and reheating tips
You can store the leftover fried rice in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. It can be frozen too in airtight, freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags for up to 3 months. To reheat, if the pineapple fried rice is frozen, thaw it first. After that, add a splash of water then either microwave until heated well or reheat tightly covered in a pan on the stovetop. Keep stirring in between to make sure it’s not burning or sticking to the pan.
Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
For any fried rice recipe, use rice that has been cooked a few hours in advance and preferably refrigerated for at least 2 hours. Freshly cooked rice will make mushy fried rice. A type of rice with medium rice grains like jasmine rice is the best to make fried rice Use a large skillet or wok to make fried rice so that the ingredients can be stirred easily. Always make fried rice on medium-high heat. I have used frozen green peas and frozen corn kernels in this pineapple fried rice. They get cooked very fast. If you are using fresh green peas and corn kernels, cook them for a longer time. You can also boil them separately and then use in the recipe. Feel free to use vegetables of your choice in this dish. Other vegetables that go well in it are green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and snow peas. Ingredients like edamame or tofu can be added too. You can also use frozen vegetables. I enjoy large chunks of pineapple in this fried rice so I cut the pineapple into bite-size pieces. You can also chop it into smaller pieces if don’t want large pineapple pieces in fried rice. To make this dish more flavorful, cook the rice with a mixture of coconut milk and coconut water instead of using plain water. Leftover coconut rice can also be used to make this dish. You can also add a few tablespoons of pineapple juice to the sauce blend to get a richer pineapple flavor. Add some toasted crunchy cashews on top of this fried rice before serving to add an interesting texture to the rice.
Frequently asked questions
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