Try this delicious and easy Thai crab fried rice recipe! Made with jasmine rice, succulent crab meat, and flavorful sauces, it's a popular dish in Thailand. Cooked to perfection in a wok, this fried rice is simple yet incredibly tasty.
If you love seafood and fried rice, this is your go-to dish. Quick and easy to put together in just 15 minutes!
Pair your crab-fried rice with Prik Nam Pla, a Thai green seafood sauce, for an extra kick.
Also, try this Thai crab stir fry using homemade yellow curry powder. Also, check out these delicious fried rice recipes with Thai shrimp fried rice, Thai basil fried rice, yellow curry fried rice, Thai green curry fried rice, and Thai pineapple fried rice.
Learn more about the different types of rice used in Thai cooking here, and then make the perfect jasmine rice using this recipe.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What is Khao Pad Boo, Thai Style Crab Fried Rice?
- Fun With Thai Words!
- Ingredients for Crab Fried Rice
- Where to Buy Crab Meat
- Tips for Non-Mushy Rice
- How to Make Thai Crab Fried Rice
- Garnishing Options for Crab Fried Rice
- What to Serve With Khao Pad Buu
- Helpful Kitchen Notes and Tips
- Helpful Kitchen Tools for Making Fried Rice
- Variations & Substitutes
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Thai Recipes You'll Love
- Easy Thai Crab Fried Rice Recipe (Khao Pad Buu)
- Related
You won't have to walk far to find this iconic Thai dish in Thailand. But Today, I'm sharing how to make this popular Thai-style crab fried rice dish in your kitchen!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's a great dish for special occasions using large lump crab meat.
- If you have leftover crab meat, this recipe is the perfect stir-fry dish to use up your seafood.
- Quick and easy – perfect for a weeknight delight.
- Better than all restaurant versions! You can be more generous with the amount of crab meat used than most Thai restaurants.
What is Khao Pad Boo, Thai Style Crab Fried Rice?
Khao Pad Boo, Thai Style Crab Fried Rice, is a popular fried rice dish that has the rich flavors of umami and the delicate sweetness of crab meat.
The cooking process is simple, using basic ingredients such as rice, vegetables, eggs, and a generous amount of crab meat. The combination of these ingredients creates a flavorful and satisfying meal that is loved by locals and visitors alike!
Fun With Thai Words!
The Thai word for crab is "Poo," with a snappy P sound. It's a hard sound to make, so Poo is the only English word to use. Go figure, right? So the next closet spelling is "Boo," but it's still not it.
You might see several spellings of this dish out there, like Thai Khao Phat Buu, Khao Pad Boo, and Kao pud poo. Go ahead and have a chuckle at the Poo. I totally did, too. (;
Ingredients for Crab Fried Rice
- Cooked rice. You'll want to use leftover rice, meaning cold rice cooked the day before. Fresh rice has too much moisture, creating mushy rice. Jasmine rice is preferred, but white rice can be substituted in a pinch.
- Crab meat. The star of the dish! Use real crab meat and not imitation crab meat.
- Garlic cloves for sauteeing with oil and onion for extra flavor.
- White or sweet onion sliced long and thin.
- Golden Mountain seasoning sauce. (Maggie sauce for substitute). This seasoning sauce has become increasingly common with Thai home cooks over the last few years.
- Eggs. The beaten eggs will be used for added protein and creamy umami flavors.
- Fish sauce. I used Squid premium fish sauce. Read more about the different types of Thai sauces and how they are used in Thai cooking.
- Soy sauce. Use Thai thin soy sauce.
- Sugar. Use white granulated sugar. Monk sugar can be substituted
- Ground white pepper. Black pepper is fine for use, too. Read more about Thai spices here.
- Spring onions (green onions). More on fresh common Thai herbs here.
- Fresh lime juice. For added slight tanginess.
- Oil. Use high smoking point cooking oil like vegetable avocado or canola oil.
Garnishes: Lime wedges, cucumber slices, chopped green onions, and cilantro leaves.
Choosing the Right Crab Meat
Selecting fresh crab meat is essential for an authentic Thai experience since it is the main ingredient in this recipe. Opt for Dungeness crab or blue crab for their delicate flavors.
I tested the recipe with whole Dungeness crab and the pre-shelled crab meat in a jar. The claw or lump crab meat will work, but the lump will be meatier.
If using whole crab, boil or steam it first before cutting into it to remove the meat.
Where to Buy Crab Meat
Check your local grocery store for whole crab and pre-shelled crab meat. Costco also carries a great selection of crab legs and seafood, especially around the holidays.
Also, check your local Asian markets. They are often available as frozen whole crab.
Tips for Non-Mushy Rice
For the best crab-fried rice, choose cold day-old rice cooked a day or two in advance to avoid mushy grains. But if you forget or need to make it last minute, here's a fail-proof tip.
The perfect water-to-rice ratio is crucial for achieving the best-fried rice. Using less water in a rice cooker is key; use a ratio of 1 cup of rice to 1 ⅛ cup of water.
You'll have an el dente rice that is perfect for fried rice. If you need to make more rice, simply multiply the ratio accordingly.
After cooking, spread the rice on a large plate and let it dry at room temperature before using.
Read more about how to cook the perfect Thai jasmine rice here.
How to Make Thai Crab Fried Rice
Step 1. Begin by whisking the egg and preparing the sauce by combining fish, soy, Golden Mountain seasoning, sugar, lime juice, and white pepper. Set them aside for later use.
Step 2. In a well-seasoned wok or large skillet, over medium-high heat. Saute the minced garlic and onions in hot oil until fragrant. About 1 minute.
Step 3. Move the garlic onion mixture to one side of the pan, add a little bit of oil, around one tablespoon, to the wok, then pour the whisked eggs for a light scramble.
Step 4. Add the cooked jasmine rice to the wok. Spread the rice grain as an even layer on the work surface to help moisture escape.
Allow it to cook for 2-3 minutes.
Step 5. Next, add the crab meat, our star of the show! Gently stir crab meat in with the rice mixture. They break easily.
Step 6. Pour the prepared sauce, gently stir, and sprinkle in the green onions.
Adjust the flavors with a squeeze of lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, or white pepper according to your taste.
Garnishing Options for Crab Fried Rice
Serve with cucumber slices, sliced tomato pieces, lime wedges, or fresh coriander leaves.
What to Serve With Khao Pad Buu
- The perfect side sauce to serve this Thai crab fried rice with is Prik Nam Pla or Thai green chili sauce.
- Enjoy it as the main dish or as part of a Thai family-style meal.
- Add extra seasoning on the side to customize the flavors even more. Add chopped fresh chili pepper, chili flakes, chili oil, sugar, white pepper, or pickled Thai peppers.
Helpful Kitchen Notes and Tips
- If using whole crab, steam or boil it first before removing the meat.
- Be extra gentle when stirring the crab meat into the rice; they are fragile and break easily.
- The sauce can be made ahead of time! You can also double up on the sauce and use it for 2 recipes!
Helpful Kitchen Tools for Making Fried Rice
A wok or large skillet is helpful in making Thai fried rice recipes like this one.
Variations & Substitutes
Experiment with lobster, shrimp, or scallops as delightful alternatives to crab meat.
Storage
Fried rice is excellent as a leftover the next day. Store your leftover airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat for a quick and satisfying meal
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Steam or boil the crab, extract the meat and let it take center stage in your fried rice.
Yes, you can. Brown, white, or basmati rice works. The texture of the rice will be slightly different, but it will still be tasty.
Chinese style fried rice traditionally uses white rice, while Thai fried rice uses fragrant Thai jasmine rice.
Chinese fried rice commonly includes sesame oil, Shaoxing wine, and peanut oil, which are not frequently used in Thai fried rice recipes.
Additionally, Thai fried rice typically incorporates more fish sauce than the soy sauce commonly used in Chinese-style fried rice.
You can, but I highly discouraged it. Real crab meat elevates the dish with authentic textures and flavors unrivaled by the imitation alternative.
More Thai Recipes You'll Love
- Thai fried egg salad
- How to make Thai sticky rice
- Thai chilis sauce
- Easy vegetarian fried rice
- Lao green papaya salad
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Easy Thai Crab Fried Rice Recipe (Khao Pad Buu)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 people 1x
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
Try this delicious and easy Thai crab fried rice recipe! Made with jasmine rice, succulent crab meat, and flavorful sauces, it's a popular dish in Thailand. Cooked to perfection in a wok, this fried rice is simple yet incredibly tasty.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon golden mountain seasoning sauce. Maggie sauce for substitute
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 5 cloves garlic or 1.5 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 2.5 ounces (½ of a small onion) white or sweet onion. Sliced long and thin.
- 2 ½ cups cooked jasmine rice
- 8 ounces crab meat
- 2 stalks green onions
Instructions
- Begin by whisking the egg and preparing the sauce by combining fish, soy, Golden Mountain seasoning, sugar, lime juice, and white pepper. Set them aside for later use.
- In a well-seasoned wok or large skillet, over medium-high heat. Saute the minced garlic and onions in hot oil until fragrant—about 1 minute.
- Move the garlic onion mixture to one side of the pan, add a little bit of oil, around one tablespoon, to the wok, then pour the whisked eggs for a light scramble.
-
Add the cooked jasmine rice to the wok. Spread the rice grain as an even layer on the work surface to help moisture escape.
Allow it to cook for 2-3 minutes.
-
Next, add the crab meat, our star of the show! Gently stir crab meat in with the rice mixture. They break easily.
-
Pour the prepared sauce, gently stir, and sprinkle in the green onions. Adjust the flavors with a squeeze of lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, or white pepper according to your taste. Done.
Serve with cucumber slices, sliced tomato pieces, lime wedges, or fresh coriander leaves.
Notes
- If using whole crab, steam or boil it first before removing the meat.
- Be extra gentle when stirring the crab meat into the rice; they are fragile and break easily.
- The sauce can be made ahead of time! You can also double up on the sauce and use it for 2 recipes!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: fried rice
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
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Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these authentic Thai fried rice recipes.
Suwanee
Thank you so much, Colleen!
Colleen D
This recipe is AMAZING!!!!! Everyone LOVED it so much, and it was super easy to make! Definitely will be making this one again and again!!!!