An authentic recipe for Thai fried rice – just like you get in Thailand and at Thai restaurants!
Make this with shrimp/prawns, chicken or any protein you wish. If you’re feeling inspired, indulge in a Thai banquet at home with Chicken Satay Skewers, Thai Fish Cakes, and a Thai Red Curry or Green Curry!
Thai Fried Rice
I’m pretty sure every Asian country has their version of Fried Rice, and this is how the Thais make it!
This is a regular when I go out for Thai. While the “normal” thing to do is to have Thai Red Curry or Green Curry with plain steamed jasmine rice, I just can’t resist ordering fried rice instead.
Actually, come to think of it, it’s not just restricted to Thai food… Chinese Fried Rice, Nasi Goreng Indonesian Fried Rice, Indian Biryani, Mexican Red Rice, Middle Eastern spiced pilaf…… I’m a big fan of flavoured rice dishes!
What’s the difference between Thai Fried Rice and Chinese Fried Rice?
Traditionally, Thai Fried Rice is not made with soy sauce. Purists will tell you that if you use soy sauce, it becomes Chinese Fried Rice.
Though this may be the case in the past, the reality is that soy sauce is sometimes used in Thai Fried Rice – both in Thailand and in restaurants outside of Thailand. Also, a few cookbooks I have by by Thai restaurateurs use soy sauce.
So I’ve provided a choice of three sauces to choose from. Which is handy – you can choose depending on what you have or can source.
The other difference is the rice – Thai Fried Rice is made with jasmine rice whereas Chinese fried rice is made with white long grain rice.
What you need
Here’s what goes in Thai Fried Rice.
Why cold cooked rice?
A must for any fried rice, from Chinese to Indonesian! Cold, day old cooked rice dries out so the grains are separate and easy to “stir fry” to make fried rice. Freshly cooked rice becomes gluey when stir fried.
For a truly authentic Thai Fried Rice, use Jasmine Rice.
How to make it
It’s a very straightforward recipe, all cooked up in a single wok or large skillet in a matter of 5 minutes or less.
A unique technique used in Thai cooking is the way the egg is cooked – the other ingredients are pushed to the side, then the egg is scrambled on the other side before tossing through the remaining ingredients.
This same technique is also used in Pad See Ew, a popular Thai Noodle dish.
How and what to serve with Thai Fried Rice
For a truly authentic experience, serve Thai Fried Rice simply with plain wedges of tomato and slices of cucumber. This is just how Thai Fried Rice is served in Thailand!
My favourite way to serve it at home is with Chicken Satay and Thai Fish Cakes. These are dishes usually served as starters at Thai restaurants, but by adding Thai Fried Rice, I make it into a meal.
Otherwise, serve it as part of a multi-dish banquet with a selection of your favourite Thai dishes, such as:
-
Grilled Marinated Thai Chicken (Gai Yang) or Southern Thai Tumeric Chicken (Grilled or Baked)
-
Pad Thai and Pad See Ew
For more ideas, have a browse of the Thai recipe collection!
– Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Thai Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (or canola or peanut oil)
- 2 large garlic cloves , very finely chopped
- 1/2 onion , diced
- 5 oz / 150 g small prawns/shrimp (cooked or raw) , or chicken breast thinly sliced (Note 1)
- 3 green onion (shallots) , cut into 1.5 "/4 cm pieces
- 2 eggs , lightly beaten
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice , cold (preferably refrigerated overnight) (Note 2)
- ONE Sauce Option (see below for options)
Sauce Option 1
- 1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
Sauce Option 2
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tsp sugar (any type)
Sauce Option 3
- 1 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp Thai Seasoning (Gold Mountain) (Note 4)
To Serve (optional)
- Tomato wedges
- Cucumber slices
- Fresh coriander
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large wok or a large skillet over medium high heat. (Add 1 tbsp extra oil if using a skillet)
- Add garlic and onion, stir fry for 30 seconds.
- Add prawns/shrimp and white part of green onion, stir fry for 1 minute.
- Push everything to the side and pour the egg onto the other side. Scramble it quickly - about 20 seconds.
- Add the rice and Sauce of choice. Stir fry for 2 minutes, adding green part of green onions halfway through, until all the rice is coated with the Sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh cilantro/coriander with tomato and cucumbers on the side. (See in post for more serving ideas)
Recipe Notes:
- Soy Sauce + Oyster Sauce is more akin to Thai home cooking
- Fish sauce + Oyster Sauce is the version that purists say is "real" Thai fried rice without soy sauce
- Sauce with Thai Seasoning Sauce is commonly used by Thai restaurants in Australia.
Nutrition Information:
Originally published September 2015. Updated with much needed new photos, brand new video, new writing, new process photos!
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Kay says
So glad to find this site. Husband lived in Thailand and we have been practicing recipes for 25 years. We are blessed to have Wat Carolina right near us. We visit and take food to the monks who live there. All the authentic hints are very helpful. Will not be using soy sauce. We love thai red curry paste and green curry paste and peanut sauce – all are ready to use and have a deep range of ingredients that are not in our local food stores. Near us are wonderful restaurants such as Thai Peppers in Southport, NC.
Nagi says
Ohhhhh wow Kay! I love reading this message, how wonderful that you take food to the monks!!❤️
Pengini says
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thai fried rice is probably my favourite Thai dish and this recipe is spot on authentic. Now I can recreate the taste of my last Thai holiday any night of the week! Just made this with leftover BBQ chicken and my husband licked his plate clean. So simple but absolutely scrumptious!!!
Nagi says
Woo hoo! SO GLAD you enjoyed this Pengini, THANK YOU for letting me know! N x
Kelly says
Delicious recipe. Quick and easy to prepare! Great flavours!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this too Kelly! Thanks so much for letting me know! N x
Lona @ thai food recipes says
Love this recipe Nagi , thank you. I like the relatively short ingredient list and it sounds more than do-able for a weeknight dinner. My hubby would love this…I gotta try it!
Nagi says
Hope you do Lona!! Really is DELISH! N x
Lora says
Great recipe
Nagi says
Thank you Lora! N x
Douglas Russell says
I made this last night with the fish sauce + oyster sauce combo. It was delicious!
I actually used cooked chicken leftover from a roast at the weekend and that seemed to work just fine and it didn’t dry out. I also added a chopped red chilli at the same time as the spring onions and chicken to give it a little heat.
Nagi says
I am SO GLAD you enjoyed this Douglas! ? Thank you so much for coming back to let me know!!
Trupti says
Ohh Nagi…… Thanks a ton for the recipe. My family loved it and more over my 2yr kid he loved it the most. We had tried this fired rice in Spain in one of the Thai restaurant & we were completely fallen for it, since then I was hunting for the recipe and finally my search ends here. Thanks again for the lovely recipe.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Trupti!!! Especially glad your 2yo loved it!
Camille says
Hi! This looks amazing! Can you tell me how the taste changes with the different sauces? I love the fried rice from this one restaurant in San Francisco but it’s 40 minutes away from me. So if I could re-create it myself and have it anytime I want, I’d be in heaven 🙂
Also, I’ve been making fried rice with oyster sauce and soy sauce and it doesn’t taste like what I’ve had at Thai restaurants, so maybe they go the fish sauce route?
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Honestly? The difference is small. If you read Note 3, it will describe the difference. The Thai Seasoning one is definitely the most “restaurant” like, but all 3 are similar and it’s about which is best suited to ingredients you have access to!
Sara says
This is absolutely delicious. I make it everytime I miss real thai food. My kids and husband love it too.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
THANK YOU SARA!! I miss real Thai food too…. 🙁
Sara says
5 star
Shalryn says
It’s gonna be forever before I try the one with the Gold Mountain Thai seasoning. On Amazon.ca, it’s called “Golden Mountain” and costs roughly $75 per 740ml bottle! Ack! Here’s to hoping I can find some that doesn’t require gold to buy it! LOL If you have suggestions for alternatives that taste like the Thai seasoning, please let me know.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Oh my gosh, you’re kidding!!! Do you have an Asian grocery store in your area?? You’ll find it at any Asian store 🙂 (PS It costs $2 at mine!)
Charisse says
Just tried this recipe. Easy to make and absolutely Delicious!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
YAY! So glad you loved it Charisse, thanks so much for taking the time to come back and let me know! 🙂
Nancy | Plus Ate Six says
Fly & Flop !! Haha I love that. Sadly my husband hates beach holidays but it means we end up exploring interesting places eating lots of weird and wonderful food instead. I love Thai food too – but I must admit a use soy sauce in everything I didn’t realise that made it Chinese. Oops!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Isn’t that the best? Going off the beaten track! And there’s no “oops” about using soy sauce!! Honestly, 2 of the best Thai restauranteurs in the WORLD use soy sauce in their fried rice. 🙂
Sabrina says
This rice sounds great! I love making fried rice with leftover rice. I’ll have to try this 🙂
THE HUNGRY MUM says
I don’t think I’ve ever had a ‘fly and flop’ holiday – it is always Disneyland this / Kyoto that. Not complaining but good lord I need a break where I veg out and eat and chill. Can’t see it happening soon… In other news this fried rice looks totally action packed. What a great meal.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Oh no! You MUST have one!! 🙂 Very soon!!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
What a great shot of you! I wish I was relaxing cocktail in hand right now.. and such a delicious recipe as well Nagi – nothing beats a classic Asian fried rice dish.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Ha! Thanks Thalia!! 🙂
Katalina @ Peas and Peonies says
oh yeah keep showing me Thailand photos, massage parlors and cocktails on the beach while I sit in my NYC office freezing, that’s all really cool! kidding here 🙂 but in all seriousness I love Thai food and fried rice is a staple in or house, its such a quick and easy dish, and also he leftovers are great!
Bam's Kitchen says
Love your photo of yourself by the beach…we all need to self medicate with delicious beverages by the beach more often. Doctors orders!!! Thailand has the best street food ever! Have you ever been to Hua Hin, a must visit place for a foodie and relaxation getaway. However, I love Ching Mai’s cuisine the best… you know it is always about the food and your delicious Thai Fried rice is something I could eat every day…
Tania @My Kitchen Stories says
So so love Thailand Nagi. Really…really?Why on earth would you go on holidays to be anything but a lazy bum. That’s what holidays are for!. Love this rice well I love any rice as my waistband will attest.
easypeasy says
Now I want lots of Thai food!!! Thank goodness for this recipe it sounds fabulous! 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
I ALWAYS want lots of Thai food! 😉
laraaaa says
how do you cook the jasmine rice?
Nagi says
Hi Laraaaa! The packet should tell you, typically it is 1 cup of rice to 1 1/2 cups of water, lid on in a saucepan over medium heat for around 12 minutes, or until water is soaked in. Then rest for 10 minutes, then cool to use it in this recipe!
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
Everyone I talk to who has traveled to Thailand (and these are well traveled people) they all say the same thing. It’s the BEST! The food, the people, I’ve never heard a bad thing about it! Which is why it’s on my bucket list of places to see. So with that in mind, I’ve better try this real-deal Thai fried rice to get myself well acquainted if I’m going to travel there! Btw, love the pic of your lounging on the beach with a cocktail in hand… my kinda girl 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
OMG I can’t believe you haven’t been to Thailand! OK, you need to try the second honeymoon card. Surely Mr HNN can’t say NO to that!!