Love Thai fried rice recipes? Enjoy this Easy Thai Vegetarian Fried Rice Recipe (with eggs) using minimal ingredients but has delightful flavors! It's fast and easy, ready to serve in 20 minutes.
Growing up in a small village in Surin, Thailand, I was immersed in authentic Thai cooking. After moving to the US to live with my American mom, a vegetarian for over 45 years, I learned how to balance meals for both meat-eaters and plant-based eaters. This Thai vegetarian fried rice has become one of my favorite quick and flavorful dishes, perfect for family, friends, or anyone craving a hearty, satisfying meal. I’m excited to share it with you!
Jump to:
- What is Thai fried rice?
- Why you'll love this Thai Style Fried Rice
- Thai Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients
- How to make Thai Fried Rice
- Garnishing options
- Tips for Authentic Thai Fried Rice
- Vegetarian Fried Rice Variations and Substitutions
- Storing Thai Style Fried Rice
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Authentic Thai Fried Rice with Eggs
- The sauce
- Related Recipes
- Pairing
What is Thai fried rice?
Thai fried rice, or Khao Pad, is known for its velvety umami flavors from Thai sauces and seasoning stir-fried together to make a delicious dish. The mild-tasting rice is perfect as a side dish to help buffer and soak up the spicy heat from other Thai dishes.
Thai fried rice can be served as a main dish or as a side dish with other Thai dishes, as seen in a family-style setting. This is the one dish that you will almost always find in Thai restaurants in Thailand to serve as a side dish.
Why you'll love this Thai Style Fried Rice
- It's an easy recipe and quick to put together for a busy weeknight dinner.
- This simple Thai fried rice is a great food to bring to a BBQ or have at dinner parties.
- Thai vegetarian fried rice is not spicy! Always a bonus for non-spicy food lovers!
- It's adaptable. You can add protein and more vegetables to fit your diet needs.
- Fried rice dishes are a great way to use up leftover rice, which is the best rice to use for stir-frying.
Thai Fried Rice Recipe Ingredients
- Cooked white rice. For best results, Thai Jasmine rice is preferred for this Thai white rice. Use day-old rice for all fried rice recipes. See notes below for more tips.
- Eggs. Adds a meaty protein flavor to the rice.
- Garlic. Use only fresh garlic for fried rice dishes to intensify flavors.
- Green onions. Adds a sweet aromatic flavor to the fried rice.
- Shallot. Substitute red or regular onions.
- Cilantro. Use as a garnish, or add a few pieces at the end of your stir fry for an extra touch of flavor.
- Red pepper. Use red bell pepper to add vibrant color to your stir fry. Use Thai chili peppers for added heat if you like your food spicy.
- Oil. Use neutral oil like vegetable, avocado, coconut, or canola oil.
The sauce
Most of these sauces can be found at your local Asian stores.
- Fish sauce. Adds a delicious umami flavor to the fried rice.
- Seasoning sauce. I used the Golden Mountain seasoning sauce. Maggie sauce is a perfect substitute.
- Oyster Sauce. Another delicious savory sauce that adds richness to the fried rice.
- Fresh lime juice. Rice vinegar is a perfect substitute.
- Sugar. It helps round out the salty flavors from the bottled sauces.
- Ground white pepper. This sets Thai stir fries and fried rice apart in authentic flavors. The white pepper adds extra fragrance and a peppery taste. Black pepper doesn't have the same flavor profile but will work as a substitute.
Helpful kitchen tools for this recipe
How to make Thai Fried Rice
Step 1. In a small bowl, make the sauce by adding the sauce ingredients together. (Oyster sauce, fish sauce, seasoning sauce, lime juice, sugar, and white pepper.) You should have a sweet, salty sauce for the fried rice.
Step 2. Add oil to a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add garlic, shallot, and fry for a few seconds until fragrant or light golden brown. (30-45 seconds).
Step 3. Add the cold rice to the wok. Spread the grains as thinly as possible in the wok or pan to ensure the rice gets evenly cooked. Stir, and cook for a few minutes until you hear some popping sound of the rice grains.
Step 4. Add the sauce, green onions, cilantro, and pepper to the pan. Stir well and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
Step 5. Add the eggs, scrambled for about 2-3 minutes. Leave the pieces large for an extra meaty flavor in your bites.
Step 6. Taste the fried rice and season it with more fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and ground white pepper. Serve right away with your favorite garnish, and enjoy!
Garnishing options
Garnish your fried rice with lime wedges, fish sauce, chopped cilantro or green onions, Thai chili flakes, ground white pepper, and some sugar. These garnishes allow each person to customize the flavors of the fried rice according to their taste buds!
Tips for Authentic Thai Fried Rice
- Use old rice, meaning rice cooked 1-3 days before for fried rice dishes. The old rice has less moisture and doesn't stick together as mushy rice when used for fried rice.
- Leftover rice is best for fried rice recipes. This means cooked rice from a day or two before. Day-old rice has less moisture, so it's less likely to get mushy in the pan when cooked.
- Jasmine rice is best used for Thai fried rice recipes. Though not ideal, brown rice or short-grain rice will work too.
- Sauces. In Thai cooking, fish sauce is used more often than soy sauce. In Chinese cooking, in stir fries and fried rice recipes, soy sauce is more common in recipes. If you don't have fish sauce, use soy sauce. You'll get a different flavor from the Chinese version, but it will still taste good. Use Thai brands of soy sauces if possible.
Quick Cheat for rice needed for fried rice
Here is a quick tip if you don't have old rice or forget to make rice the night before.
Tip one, use less water in the rice cooker or pot when making rice.
Tip two, with fresh rice, scoop some out from your rice cooker and spread the grains out on a thin layer on a large platter or a baking pan. Leave the rice at room temperature for at least one hour. You can do this while prepping the ingredients and or setting the table.
Vegetarian Fried Rice Variations and Substitutions
- For vegetarian options, omit the eggs and fish sauce. Use tofu and soy sauce instead.
- Add more vegetables to your next time making this dish using these vegetables. Bell peppers, onions, carrots, pea pods, green peas, baby corn, green beans, bean sprouts, and broccoli.
- Protein for this simple fried rice is tofu, shrimp, and crab meat. Fish is not recommended. If using heavier protein like chicken, pork, or beef, slice the pieces small and thin for a quick cooking time.
- Add some sesame seeds or crunchy cashews to garnish for more nutty flavors.
- Golden Mountain is the Thai brand I used for the seasoning sauce, but Maggie seasoning sauce is the other brand you can use. It's just as good. Use soy sauce instead if you can't find seasoning sauce.
- Use vegetarian oyster sauce instead of regular soy sauce to make it a vegan recipe.
- Use liquid aminos instead of soy sauce if you can't have fish or soy sauce.
Storing Thai Style Fried Rice
- This fried rice dish is great for refrigerator or freezer leftovers! Keep in an airtight container for 3 days in the fridge and 2 months in the freezer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fried rice in Thai food uses fish sauce more, whereas Chinese fried rice recipes use more soy sauce and sesame oil. Thai cooking uses lower heat, such as medium to medium heat, in making stir fries than the Chinese style of using a high flame.
Thai and Chinese fried rice have different flavors from the different ingredients used. Both are delicious. Thai fried rice uses fish sauce with a lighter and umami flavor, while Chinese fried rice uses soy sauce with a mild salty taste.
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Authentic Thai Fried Rice with Eggs
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Love Thai fried rice recipes? Enjoy this Easy Thai Vegetarian Fried Rice Recipe (with eggs) using minimal ingredients but has delightful flavors! It's fast and easy, ready to serve in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups cooked white rice
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ tablespoons garlic, minced
- ¼ cup green onions, sliced into 2-inch pieces
- 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 red pepper, chopped small. Use Thai peppers for a spicy flavor and red bell pepper for a mild flavor.
- 2 tablespoons oil
The sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon seasoning sauce. Use Golden Mountain Seasoning or Maggie sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce.
- 1 ½ teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- ½-1 teaspoon ground white pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, make the sauce by adding the sauce ingredients together. (Oyster sauce, fish sauce, seasoning sauce, lime juice, sugar, and white pepper.) You should have a sweet, salty sauce for the fried rice.
- Add oil to a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add garlic and fry until fragrant or light golden brown.
- Add the cold rice to the wok. Spread the grains as thinly as possible in the wok or pan to ensure the rice gets evenly cooked. Stir, and cook for a few minutes until you hear some popping sound of the rice grains.
- Add the sauce, green onions, cilantro, and pepper to the pan. Stir well and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Add the eggs, scrambled for about 2-3 minutes. Leave the pieces large for an extra meaty flavor in your bites.
- Taste the fried rice and season it with more fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and maybe more ground white pepper. Serve right away with your favorite garnish, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use old rice, meaning rice cooked 1-3 days before for fried rice dishes. The old rice has less moisture and doesn't stick together as mushy rice when used for fried rice.
- Leftover rice is best for fried rice recipes. This means cooked rice from a day or two before. Day-old rice has less moisture, so it's less likely to get mushy in the pan when cooked.
- Jasmine rice is best used for Thai fried rice recipes. Though not ideal, brown rice or short-grain rice will work too.
- Sauces. In Thai cooking, fish sauce is used more often than soy sauce. In Chinese cooking, in stir fries and fried rice recipes, soy sauce is more common in recipes. If you don't have fish sauce, use soy sauce. You'll get a different flavor from the Chinese version, but it will still taste good. Use Thai brands of soy sauces if possible.
** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Fried Rice
- Method: Stir fried
- Cuisine: Thai
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Pairing
These are my favorite drinks to serve with Thai fried rice
Suwanee says
Hi, Susan! Yes, I'd use the cilantro stems! I actually love them and use them quick a bit in my Thai cooking. They have allot of flavors and the crunch doesn't bother me at all. If you prefer, you can chop them small. Enjoy your fried rice!
Susan says
Here I am again, making your fried rice! I have a cooked pork chop I’m going to cut up and put in it too. My question for you is - Do you use the cilantro stems when you chop up your cilantro? It seems since it’s going to be cooked a bit and will be soft, the tender stems won’t be a problem but could add a good flavor. Mine are fresh out of the garden pot. What do you think?? 😋
Suwanee says
You've become quite a Thai food chef! Love it so much! So glad you're enjoying these recipes!
susan says
I was in a hurry tonight with only some of the ingredients, so I didn't do the recipe exactly , but made a wonderful fried rice based on this recipe! You put me on to using white pepper more in another recipe and in this one i could really taste it - the difference between black pepper and white pepper. So nice!