A couple of months ago I was invited by the lovely Katie, of Epicurean Mom, to guest post for her while she was away. The recipe I’m sharing with you today is the recipe I shared on Katie’s blog. This fried rice is one we eat often so I just had to add it to my archives and share it with you guys. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Today I want to share a recipe with you for fried rice. It isn’t an ordinary fried rice but rather one bursting with the flavors of Thai cuisine. The really great things about this recipe are that it is very quick and easy to make, you don’t have to have a wok to prepare it and it is a great way of using up leftover rice. As a matter of fact leftover rice is what you want for fried rice.
I think some people are intimidated by making their own homemade fried rice. Perhaps the intimidation is brought on from kitchen failure, one that happens to many on their first fried rice attempt. You see the secret to good results in fried rice is using leftover rice, or day old rice. Using leftover rice prevents the rice from sticking or becoming soggy. The leftover rice is drier so it will still absorb the flavors but not turn soft. As to what type of rice to use, Jasmine rice is a good choice. But I’ll tell you a secret I’ve used long grain rice too, shh don’t tell anyone. The most important thing is to try and make sure it is day old rice. If the craving strikes you and you haven’t any day old rice then there is another way to satisfy the craving. Steam the rice to be used in the fried rice at least two hours before you cook it. This should still give you a dry texture and prevent soggy fried rice.
I don’t own a wok so instead I use a large pan. It just needs to be a heavy pan or frying pan that won’t stick. This curried rice is a little spicy but no need to worry as you can adjust it to your personal taste. I like to use my homemade red curry paste (recipe here: http://www.spiciefoodie.com/2009/09/04/red-thai-curry-paste-krung-kaeng-phed-2/ ) but commercial will also due. If using commercial curry paste be aware that different brands are different levels of spicy. You’ll want to taste the paste then decide how much to add. Same goes for the fresh chiles, adjust to your taste.
You could also turn this fried rice into a vegetable or chicken fried rice by swapping out the fish. The possibilities are endless. So go on and turn boring ordinary fried rice into a scrumptious Thai curried fried rice.
(If you would like to publish my recipe on your website please contact me first. I don’t bite :) )
Thai Curried Fried Rice with Fish
serves 2-3 as main dish
Ingredients :
3 cups day old cooked rice, Jasmine Rice
2 firm fish fillet, roughly chopped
1 tbsp finely chopped ginger
3 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 hot chile peppers, finely chopped
2 stalks of bamboo, thinly sliced
3 green onions, roughly chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1-2 tbsp Thai red curry paste, adjust to taste
1 tbsp light soy sauce, adjust to taste
1.5 tbsp fish sauce
roughly chopped cilantro, mint leaves and basil, about 1 large handful each
lime
crushed peanuts, optional
1. Heat the oil in a wok or a large frying pan. Once warm add the fish and cook all the way through. Next add the ginger, garlic, chile peppers, onion and carrots. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring often. Next add the bamboo shoots, curry paste, soy sauce and fish sauce, cook for a minute or until the paste has dissolved. Turn the heat to high and add the cooked rice. Stir often to prevent burning and until all ingredients are combined.
2. Turn heat off. Toss in the chopped cilantro, mint and basil leaves making sure to well distribute them around the rice. Serve topped with crushed peanuts and lime wedges if desired.
Check out these great fried rice recipes:
– My Mother’s Shrimp Fried Rice by Joylicious
– Thai Pineapple Fried Rice by Vrinda
– Stir Fried Rice Cake with Spring Greens and Pork by Egg Wan’s Food Odyssey
– Kimchi fried rice (kimchi bokkeumbap) by Herbivoracious
– Stir fried rice – vegan style! by PeaSoupEats
– Nasi Goreng Indonesian Fried Rice from the Spicie Foodie archives
A delicious looking and sounding dish! I love stir-fried rice and Thai flavors.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa!
Oh, such gorgeous photos, Nancy!!! Your work always amazes me…but I should not be surprised! Both beautiful and delicious…mmmmmm.
Aww, thank you so much Liz :)
I love Thai food.. yours really look fabulous and delicious… fried rice is my fav food, I always trying to made it anytime, and day old cooked rice is so true to make the rice not too sticky when we cook it
cheers
So you know already know the secret to great fried rice :)
I could eat that entire pot for breakfast, lunch and dinner!! I love Thai food and I think the flavors you have going on here are amazing!! Really well done!! ~ Ramona
I also go crazy for Thai food, just hard to resist any time of day. Thanks Ramona!
I am forever on the search for the perfect fried rice recipe! This may be the winner. Beautiful photos, too!
Thanks and I hope you try it soon!
Spicy flavorful rice served in a bowl for dinner is one of my favorites and I love your addition of fresh fish! Gorgeous photos, love the fresh herbs;-)
You are just like me hubby, he loves rice dinners too :) Thanks Patty!
Oh my, this looks so, so delicious! I love curried fish, and this fried rice recipe sounds like a crowd pleaser :) Lovely recipe!
Thank you, so far it has yet to disappoint. Hopefully it won’t start, lol :)
Is there anything more beautiful than that? I think not!
Thank you Priscilla :)
I love that last photo…so pretty! The flavors in here are great…and I have all ingredients on hand. Even better!
Thanks Nicole! Great, I hope you try it soon.
Such a beautiful fried-rice dish! I am sure it’s super delicious too with all those flavors.
Thanks, it did taste pretty good :)
Yummy! I don’t have much luck with fried rice recipes… This looks great! I must try this… Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
Too bad, but next time try the tips with the rice. It should work for you :)
I love fried rice and this version not only sounds delicious but not oily. I make jasmine rice all the time in my rice cooker. Now I know what to do with it when I have leftovers. Thank you for sharing. Sounds yummy!
Hi Vicki, I cannot stand greasy fried rice. That is why I try using the least amount of oil, the flavor should come from the other ingredients not shadowed by the oil.
Fried rice is very popular at our house and this sounds absolutely delicious! A perfect dinner with lovely flavours!
Thanks Anna, hope you try it sometime.
I love making fried rice, though I haven’t done it with fish – this looks great! And I will keep it nice and spicy. : ) You are SO right about the day old thing, it makes ALL the difference.
Fish was just a way of trying something different. I know I can count of you for the nice and spicy part :)
I love thai flavors and this fried rice looks delicious! Your photos are so beautiful that not just by words description but visually I’m becoming way too hungry and it’s almost bed time…(kind of like opposite situation you had last night. haha).
Thank you Nami! That is a good thing then. Hehe!
Beautiful and flavorful rice dish! And the photos are just wonderful, as always!
Thank you Alisha my number 1 supporter :)
Yummy!!!! Your dish look fantastic!
Thanks Sandra!
I found this recipe on pinterest and my husband and I loved it. Thanks so much! Will be making this again for sure :)
Hi Grace,
That’s great. Thanks for letting me know and I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe. :)
Since i ran out of red curry paste, I made this using yellow curry paste .. It was simply awesome.. all of us loved it.. This surely is going to be a keeper :)Thank you sharing such a wonderful recipe. Would you mind me sharing this recipe on my page
Hi Deepthi,
Good for you, the recipe will work with green and massaman curry paste too. Thank you and glad to hear you loved it.
Sure, but please I ask you to link back to my website or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpicieFoodie.FanPage
Thanks! ~Nancy
Sure.. Thanks Nancy !
To be honest, I’m interested in your photography … fried rice can wait. Let me savor your gorgeous, glamorous photos first :)