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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Mira says
I’ve never been to Thailand, but I love Thai food! Love this rice, pinning to try it! Love the post and the photo of you!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Mira, you will LOVE Thailand! You must go!!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I’ve never been to Thailand but David Thompson’s Thai Food is my go-to bible. This rice looks so good. I often eat the rice and leave the meat just so I can get more rice in.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
ME TOO!! Well, it was. Right now, Spice I Am is my bible!
Elisa Phillips-Turner says
Hi Nagi!
Could you make this with brown rice instead?
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Hi Elisa! You sure can. 🙂
Mel says
Out of all the places Hubby and I went to, Thailand was probably our favourite. Street food is amazing, the people nice and helpful and it is a happy place. Your Thai Fried Rice with chicken looks gorgeous. Mouth watering!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
I know, the street food is amazing amazing!! Doesn’t this remind you of how they serve it at those tiny restaurants??
Susan says
Don’t you just love Phuket? We’ll be going back in early spring for our third visit (via cruise ship). I also spent some time in Bangkok and loved it. The Thais are amazing people and amazing cooks. So of course I will want to try this recipe. I’m grateful that we took a Thai cooking class the last time we were in Phuket, because my husband is now better with Thai food than he was when we got married (I can still see the look on his face when I fed him Green Chicken Curry, the first thing I ever cooked for him; the look of distaste was pretty spectacular). I am sorry to hear that the King banished the beach shack restaurants; it’s surprising to me because he is so well loved by the people.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
No way! Via Cruise ship? I didn’t know! I love Bangkok too, the hustle and bustle. Where I struggle is the poverty on the streets. Breaks my heart. I plan to take a cooking class every time I go but never do!!! You’ve inspired me to put it at the top of my list for the next time I visit. 🙂
Susan says
Yes, the poverty in Bangkok is heartbreaking, just as it is in cities like Chennai & Mumbai in India. But the people in both places are wonderful.
I’m sure you would do better in the Thai cooking class that I did – I was pretty much overwhelmed, even though I had been cooking for 50 years or so at the time. Even my husband who doesn’t cook much was less overwhelmed than I was, or at least it seemed that way. You can get information about where we went from http://www.phuketthaicookery.com. I would definitely recommend them. And hope you enjoy the class when you take it.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thank you for the recommendation Susan! I will file that away! 🙂
Abbe @ This is How I Cook says
Fly and Flop? That is the perfect description for my favorite vacays! I am so ready for one! I love oyster sauce in fried rice and though I could go for a bowl right now, I’d much rather have massage. Now you’ve got me thinking that I should get in the car and go to my local Chinese joint!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Yes you SHOULD! Asian massages are the best! 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Oh no! So sad that the King of Thailand banished those beach shack restaurants just because they didn’t look good! Guess he should have eaten at one of them first! I am usually “go, go, go” too – but one place I went to that I totally became a “lazy bum” at was San Diego. A friend told me of these little hole-in-the-wall restaurants that had the best food and boy-o-boy, Nagi, was the food so darn good! Not sure if I’ll make it to Thailand – but I can console myself with this scrumptious chicken fried rice!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Oooh really? I LOVE HOLE IN THE WALL RESTAURANTS!! I always swear that’s where the best food is – forget posh restaurants!! I never thought of San Diego as a flopping place, I must visit!
Rhonda says
Thanks Nagi, I’m taking this (with a couple other recipes from you) and traveling north a couple of hours to visit with the BFF, and make her family dinner on Friday! Will just make the rice at home the night before, cool it and ZipLock it! Yay!!!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Ooh yay! This reheats fabulously, I just had it last night for dinner! N x Have fun at the dinner!
mila furman says
Hahah I love this post Nagi!!! Do more like this! I love hearing about the awesome places you have been to! And I totally love that pic of you!!!!! I am JUST as lazy! In my recent trip to Miami…we had a condo so the most strenuous things I did was create omelettes for the hubs and one large seafood dinner for our friends!!! But the beach.. that’s where I open up my Kindle and read until the sun goes down…with many breaks for ocean time and cigarettes. Ahhh this is the life! I never knew the real difference in Thai fried rice and classic fried rice…and Nagi meat-free…am I rubbing off on you 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Meat free? Bah! No!!! There’s chicken in mine! 😉 How good are holidays when you can READ? I can’t remember the last time I read a novel! Nowadays I find myself reading cookbooks in bed!! N x
Margaret says
Thanks for sharing! Always enjoy your post and sharing them with friends and family!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thanks Margaret! I’m so glad you enjoy my recipes! N x
Becky Chaffee says
Thanks Nagi – printed it out, but probably won’t make it until Friday! Now I don’t have to think about dinner for the rest of the week. Shopped for Monday thru Wed. Thursday will probably be leftovers. – Voila – now Friday is taken care of! Yeah.
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Oooh! This is SUCH great Friday night food cause it’s fast and you can eat it out of a bowl in front of the TV!! 😉
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong says
This Chicken thai fried rice looks delicious.. I make thai fried rice at home quite frequently but this version sounds way better. . Gonna try this soon!! Lovely share, Nagi!! 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Thanks Arpita! It’s pretty simple but so yum! And authentic too 🙂 N x
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Nagi! This looks amazing! I love fried rice and can’t stop feeding my face until it’s gone! You look quite relaxed on that beach! I don’t like “structured” vacations – I like spontaneous! 🙂
Nagi | RecipeTin says
Hi Dorothy! Fried rice is my nemesis – I can eat WAY too much of it!! I serve myself a huge bowl and eat it with a spoon, and it always alarms me how much I manage to eat without even thinking about it!! And YES I certainly was relaxed on the beach, that’s for sure!! Hope you had a fabulous weekend Dorothy! N x
Helen @ scrummy lane says
Oh Nagi, I’m totally with you on this one!
I once squeezed in a sneaky 3-day trip to Thailand on my way to Perth to see the man – all by myself (bliss!)
Two of my favourite foodie experiences were watching a lady make a huge pan of pad thai in the street, and eating a noodle soup at a random shack. Just loved it!
I’d love to try this rice of yours. Think I’d go for the soy and oyster, but really I bet all the options are amazing!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
How good are the random shacks?! I always hunt down ones with lots of locals where I can’t read the menu. And I just point at what someone else is eating to order!!
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
I want to come on holiday with you!!!! That sounds pure bliss!
Sadly I have never been to Thailand, but I love the food. This rice looks delicious, and I love the different sauce options. Now I have the perfect reason to make this 3 times to see which I like best!
Nagi | RecipeTin says
We would cause havoc if we ever went on a holiday together! Can you imagine? It would be nuts!
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
Haha, we would!!!