Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

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Easy vegan pineapple fried rice made with perfectly stir fried veggies, a simple sweet and savory tamari sauce and tons of flavor. Healthy, filling, gluten free and makes perfect leftovers.

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Pineapple Fried Rice

Here’s to the perfect back pocket weeknight meal! Rain or shine, you know that a comforting bowl of pineapple vegetable packed vegan fried rice delivers like a boss!

Having fresh tropical fruit available year round I like to make use of it in some savory dishes as well. Not to worry if you don’t happen to live in the Tropics you can most certainly pick up some frozen pineapple at the grocery store for this dish.

About the Rice

Most any plain leftover chilled rice can be used here. I prefer to use a nutritious whole grain brown rice, sometimes short grain sometimes long grain depending what I have in the pantry. Black and red rice is also nice, we avoid all white rice so I never even have any in the kitchen anyways. It’s best to cook it the night before ands it as needed throughout the week.

The Pineapple

Fresh is best they say when it comes to pineapple but really frozen is just as good. Remember to thaw it out first of course and allow the juices to drain away so you can get a nice caramelization on the pineapple chunks while stir frying it.

About the Veggies

I love the combo of sweet bell peppers, red onion, purple cabbage and green peas. The flavors perfectly compliment the sweetness of the caramelized pineapple here, however there are many are delicious variations that will work here. Think broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, green string beans, whatever veggies rock your taste buds.

Stir-Fry Sauce

A simple mixture of tamari sauce, maple syrup, a touch of garlic and a little pinch of ginger. Add some heat with chili flakes or a little hot sauce, whichever you prefer.

Add In Ideas

  • tofu scramble for an egg-free eggy flavor
  • roasted broccoli or cauliflower wings
  • crispy tofu nuggets
  • peanut tofu
  • mung beans or green beans
  • smoky tempeh bits
  • sweet and sour tofu
  • soy curls carnitas
  • chickpeas or mushrooms
  • vegan chicken.

FAQ

  • What is fried rice? A rice dish of Chinese origins where leftover rice is mixed with stir fried vegetables and sauce to create a brand new hearty dish.
  • How do I make it oil-free WFPB and Plantricious compliant? Since we are using brown rice already (not white) all you need to adapt is to stir fry / sautee your veggies with a little drop of water or veggie broth instead of oil.
  • Can I make it soy free? Definitely, simply replace the tamari sauce with equal parts of coco aminos and don’t add any tofu to the recipe. Alternatively you can use this peanut sauce or make for my peanut noodle salad.

how to make vegan pineapple fried rice

  • STEP 1: Start with a hot cast iron skillet that has been seasoned well, this way you won’t need to even use any oil. Quickly sir-fry / the pineapple chunks until little caramelization takes place. Once the desire color is achieved transfer to a bowl.
  • STEP 2: Add the bell pepper and onion to the hot skillet stirring quickly until they start to get some color. Work quickly and take good care not to burn anything. If you feel the pan is getting too hot and anything sticks just add a little splash of water to get things moving. Scoop put the onion and pepper and reserve together with the pineapple.
  • STEP 3: In the same skillet add the purple cabbage and stir fry just a minute or so until it starts to wilt. Move it to the side and add a little drop of oil (use water for WFPB & Plantricious diets) and add the garlic. Cook until just fragrant quickly stirring so it won’t burn.
  • STEP 4: Add the cooked rice to the skillet together with the green peas and pour in the sauce. Remove from heat and the reserve veggies gently mixing everything.
  • STEP 5: Sprinkle in some fresh cilantro, scallions and sesame seeds and enjoy!

Rice Storage + Reheating

Rice dishes make really great leftovers that are easily stored up to 5 days in a lidded glass container. Can be reheated on the stove top on low heat adding a little bit of water or veggie stock to get things moving. A microwave works in a pinch as well, just don’t reheat in plastic.

Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (9)

5 from 6 votes

Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice

Easy vegan pineapple fried rice made with perfectly stir fried veggies, a simple sweet and savory tamari sauce and tons of flavor. Healthy, filling, gluten free and makes perfect leftovers.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 4-5 cups brown rice cooked and chilled
  • 2 cups pineapple chunks fresh or frozen
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 3/4 cup green peas (frozen & thawed in hot water)
  • 1 cup purple cabbage shredded
  • 1/2 red onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced

Stir Fry Sauce

Garnishes: scallions, sesame seeds, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, fresh chili peppers.

    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl whisk together all the stir-fry sauce ingredients and set aside.

    • Start with a hot cast iron skillet that has been seasoned well, this way you won’t need to even use any oil. Quickly sir-fry / the pineapple chunks until little caramelization takes place. Once the desire color is achieved transfer to a bowl. (If you don't have a seasoned cast iron skillet use whatever skillet you have available with a drizzle of sesame oil or a drop of water).

    • Add the bell pepper and onion to the hot skillet stirring quickly until they start to get some color. Work quickly and take good care not to burn anything. If you feel the pan is getting too hot and anything sticks just add a little splash of water to get things moving. Scoop out the onion and pepper and reserve together with the pineapple.

    • In the same skillet add the purple cabbage and stir fry just a minute or so until it starts to wilt. Move it to the side and add a little drop of oil (use water for WFPB & Plantricious diets) and add the garlic. Cook until just fragrant quickly stirring so it won’t burn.

    • Add the cooked rice to the skillet together with the green peas and pour in the sauce. Remove from heat and add in the reserve veggies gently mixing everything.

    • Sprinkle in some fresh cilantro, scallions and sesame seeds and enjoy with a fresh squeeze of lime!!

    Video

    Notes

    • To make it oil-free WFPB and Plantricious compliant all you need to adapt the recipe is to stir fry / sautee your veggies with a little drop of water or veggie broth instead of oil. Make sure to use a whole grain rice like brown, black or red.
    • Make it soy-free by replacing the tamari sauce with equal parts of coco aminos and don’t add any tofu to the recipe. Alternatively you can use this peanut sauce i make for my ramen noodle salad.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 557kcal | Carbohydrates: 119g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 633mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 966IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 3mg

    Course: Main Course

    Cuisine: Chinese

    Keyword: fried rice, plant based, vegan,, wfpb

    Servings: 6 people

    Calories: 557kcal

    Author: Florentina

    Plant-Based Recipes:

    Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

    The presence of sugar or another sweet substitute can help bring balance to the salty, savory elements in your meal, and if you're creating a fried rice recipe with kimchi, the sweetness can complement some of the sour elements from the fermented ingredient.

    Why does Chinese restaurant fried rice taste better? ›

    The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

    What is the best oil for fried rice? ›

    It is key to the authentic flavor of this dish. Peanut oil. this is another ingredient that adds authentic flavor to this recipe, but if you have a peanut allergy in your household you can substitute canola oil or additional sesame oil for the peanut oil.

    Why is pineapple fried rice so good? ›

    Pineapple is a common ingredient in many fried rice recipes, particularly in Southeast Asian cuisine. The sweetness of pineapple can balance the savory flavors in the dish, providing a delicious and unique taste.

    Which country invented pineapple fried rice? ›

    iterations of it all around the world. While some. recipes use little more than a dash of soy sauce, this.

    What is the origin of pineapple fried rice? ›

    from Chinese people living in Thailand.

    Should you cool rice before making fried rice? ›

    Use COLD day old rice: For best results! Cold rice will crisp up in the hot oil. Warm rice will not toast and can even become mushy. If you are in a pinch make the rice first and spread it out onto a baking sheet in a single layer.

    What gives Chinese fried rice its color? ›

    Dark mushroom soy sauce is what gives this fried rice its rich brown/caramel colour. This soy sauce doesn't add much to the saltiness but is used to give dishes that nice caramel brown colour. Dark mushroom soy sauce also adds a hint of umami to a dish, but not much saltiness.

    Do you have to let rice cool before making fried rice? ›

    Fresh-cooked: So long as you spread the rice out on a plate or tray while it's still hot and give it a few minutes to allow some surface moisture to evaporate, you can make excellent fried rice with fresh rice. Day-old rice: Day-old rice tends to clump, so you'll need to break it up by hand before stir-frying.

    Is MSG the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

    We all know soy sauce and MSG play a role in making delicious fried rice, but did you know a secret ingredient hailing from Japan can elevate your homemade fried rice? And that ingredient, while it might not be in your pantry yet, is mirin.

    How does Gordon Ramsay make fried rice? ›

    ✨Gordon Ramsay's Fried Rice Recipe: Garlic Ginger Chilis Green Onion Spring Greens 2 Heads Broccoli 2 Eggs Peanut Oil Fish sauce Directions: 1. Add oil to hot wok, and stir fry garlic, ginger, chili, spring greens, and broccoli. 2. Add cooked rice (day old) and fry.

    What is the difference between fried rice and Chinese fried rice? ›

    The usage of rice

    But in Chinese rice, it is suggested to use leftover cooked rice to avoid the rice from being sticky. In Fried Rice, most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) use long-grain white rice like Basmati, whereas Jasmine Rice is used in Chinese Rice.

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