Thai Fried Rice (Authentic & Easy)

Thai Fried Rice is a delicious and spicy rice recipe prepared using fresh basil leaves, vegetables of your choice, thai bird chillis, garlic, and sauces. If you have leftover rice, then this dish can be prepared in less than 15 minutes, and each generous serving will be under 500 calories.

If you love quick rice dishes, check out Thai Mango Fried Rice, Cilantro Lime Rice, and flavorful Murgh Chicken Pulao.

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• Ingredients for Spicy Thai Fried Rice
• Steps to Prepare Spicy Thai Fried Rice
• Expert Chef Tips
• FAQs
• More Thai Recipes to Love
• Recipe card
• User Reviews

I have tried to replicate the restaurant taste in my recipe. The vegetables are crisp, and the rice is very flavorful. For better texture, and for quick and easy Thai fried rice, use leftover rice for this recipe. Thai Fried Rice is the English name for Khao Pad or Khao Phat.

Ingredients for Spicy Thai Fried Rice

• For an authentic Thai Fried Rice flavor and texture, use Thai Jasmine Rice. If this variety is unavailable, use Jeera rice or long-grain rice such as Basmati, Brown rice, Sona Masoori, etc. Ensure the rice is not overcooked or mushy and completely cooled before adding it to the dish. If you are interested in knowing how to quickly cool down the rice, read the FAQ section below.
• Green chilli and Garlic cloves add spiciness and flavor to the dish. I like to use Thai Bird Chilies when available, as they are very spicy. For mild spiciness, you can use serrano pepper or jalapenos. You can use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic - but add garlic powder later along with salt.
• Black pepper powder adds an earthy flavor and mild spiciness to the fried rice. This can be substituted with white pepper powder.
• Soy Sauce adds a savory umami flavor to the homemade Thai fried rice. I sometimes substitute this with teriyaki sauce or fish sauce for a different flavor profile. Use tamari sauce or coconut aminos for a gluten-free alternative.
• I like the tanginess and light sweetness Worcestershire sauce adds to the dish. Substitute this with oyster sauce for traditional Thai street food or Thai restaurant flavor. Hoisin sauce is also a good substitute.
• Sugar and Salt to taste. Sauces have sodium, so adjust to taste and add salt only if needed. Sugar can be substituted with brown sugar or palm sugar/jaggery.
• Add fresh seasonal veggies of your choice. I have used Carrots, Broccoli, Beans, Onion, and Mushrooms. You can also add bell peppers, zucchini, snap peas, spring onions, baby corn, corn, bean sprouts, etc. Make sure not to overcook the veggies, as we want them to retain their crispiness.
• Fresh Thai Basil leaves add freshness and a distinct aroma to the dish. Substitute this with dried basil leaves or Italian Basil/cilantro/parsley.
• Roasted peanuts add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor to the fried rice. You can substitute this with other nuts, such as cashews or almonds. If you have nut allergies, toasted sesame seeds are a great alternative.
• Vegetable oil is used for flash cooking of the ingredients and adds a glossy appearance to the fried rice. Use any oil of your choice, such as canola oil, coconut oil, or sesame oil.

For a complete list of ingredients and their amounts, check the recipe card below.

Steps to Prepare Spicy Thai Fried Rice

Step 1: Cook the rice according to the package instructions. Drain and let it cool completely. If you are using leftover rice, ignore this step.

Step 2: Heat oil in a non-stick wok/pan. Add the crushed garlic and green chilli and saute till it becomes golden in color. If you are adding protein, such as chicken or shrimp or pork or beef, add at this point and allow it to cook.

Step 3: Add the veggies and flash-cook them on high heat for a minute. Now add the cooled cooked rice, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pepper powder, sugar, and salt to taste and mix as fast as you can for about 2 minutes. Make sure to keep tossing so that all ingredients are evenly cooked.

Step 4: Now add the basil leaves and mix for a few seconds. Spicy Thai Fried Rice is now ready. Garnish it with roasted peanuts, serve hot, and enjoy.

Expert Chef Tips

• You can substitute Worcestershire sauce with oyster sauce, and soy sauce with fish sauce if you like.
• Adjust the spices as per your taste. Two Thai chilies give it a mild spiciness, whereas 5 Thai bird-eye chilies make it extra hot.
• Toss and gently break the cooled cooked rice to separate its grains even before adding it to the wok/pan. The fried rice cooks fast (under 2-3 minutes) on high heat; therefore, there is little time to break the lumps of rice in the wok.
• This dish can be called Vegetarian Thai Fried Rice as it is prepared only using vegetables. For non-vegetarian protein-packed stir-fried rice, use meat cuts that can cook quickly, such as strips or mince of chicken, pork, or beef. For seafood fried rice, use shrimp/prawns or squid. For vegetarian protein options, use Tofu or Paneer.
• Vegans need to pay attention to the ingredients in the sauces, as Worcestershire and Oyster sauce contain seafood. Look for vegan-certified Worcestershire sauce available in supermarkets. If it is unavailable, skip it.
• Serving suggestion: Homemade Thai Fried Rice is delicious on its own, but you can serve it with additional side dishes like fresh spring rolls, Thai salads, or Fried Tofu for a complete meal. You can finish this meal with sweet and salty sticky rice with mangoes.

Storage and Make-ahead instructions:

Store leftover fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe dish for a minute before serving.

If you have leftover rice or you have cooked rice ahead of time, this dish hardly takes 10 minutes to put together. You can even chop vegetables ahead of time and refrigerate them in airtight containers.

FAQs

More Thai Recipes to Love

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Recipe card