Pineapple fried rice must have some thick pieces of pineapples and that bolt of Thai flavour. Therefore, fish sauce, turmeric powder and curry powder are tossed with rice over high heat to coat each grain with the seasoning. This is the secret to a mouth-watering plate of fried rice which is so popular in Thailand and even Malaysia. It's a favourite among kids and adults alike. So, it is not a surprise to find pineapple fried rice sold at a street food stall as well as being offered in the menu of a five-star hotel.
The cooking technique for pineapple fried rice does not differs much when compared to preparing other types of fried rice. It's all about the right portion of ingredients, heat and a few basic rules. Of course, it can be prepared easily on a weekday even without using overnight rice. If you are using the whole pineapple, don't throw away the skin but instead turn it into a pineapple bowl.
Overnight rice vs freshly cooked rice
Overnight rice is not really necessary to coming up with the perfect fried rice. Let's get over the reason to using cold overnight rice. It is used because it doesn't clump together as the grains lose their moisture when refrigerated. When cooking fried rice, high heat is used and this helps the moisture to evaporate from the rice. Before using, just allow the freshly cooked rice to rest for 5-10 minutes without the lid. Optionally, fluff the rice to speed up the cooling process.
Butter instead of oil
Instead of using vegetable oil, butter is the choice in this recipe. Besides the marvelous fragrance, it also adds a light creamy flavour that goes well with the curry powder.
Curry powder mixture
Sweet pineapples are delicious but when mixed with the earthy, mildly spiced curry powder, the sweetness and tanginess develop into a more complex and super delicious fusion. The curry powder used in this recipe is store-bought. It has a mix of spices such as chilli powder, ground coriander, ground cumin, ground ginger and others. You may look out for other types of curry powder or masala (preferably those meant for meat).
Turmeric for colouring
Unless you want a bright yellow plate of fried rice, turmeric is really optional in this recipe. It also depends on the curry powder you're using. A more yellow curry powder would most likely mean that it contains a higher percentage of turmeric. In this case, turmeric is not at all needed.
Fresh pineapple bowl
It's always fun to serve in style. Therefore, having your food in a beautiful fresh pineapple bowl is definitely eye-catching and rewarding. Although it takes a little effort, it is well worth the time. You are assured that the bowl is fresh and clean unlike the stories about eateries reusing the pineapple bowls.
Vegan pineapple fried rice
Fried rice dishes are so versatile. It's easy to swap ingredients to fit dietary requirements. To make this dish vegan, substitute butter with vegetable oil, oyster sauce with mushroom sauce and fish sauce with soy sauce. Be assured that you'll still be rewarded with a delicious plate of pineapple fried rice.
