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Vegetarian, South and Southeast Asian

Pineapple fried rice with cashews

Pineapple fried rice with cashews is a vegetarian dish with Thai inspiration, serving 4, ready in 30 minutes and rated easy, for about €3.00 per serving. The key to success is day old chilled rice, which separates in the wok instead of turning mushy, and the sweet and savory mix of pineapple, mild curry and raisins.

Tonight, a Thai style pineapple fried rice with mild curry, raisins and cashews, a true sweet and savory festival.

Pineapple fried rice with cashews
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
920 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

This fried rice plays on contrast, rice toasted in the wok, pineapple chunks that caramelize slightly, and crunchy cashews on top. Mild curry powder adds warmth without heat, soy sauce brings the salt, and raisins scatter little bursts of sweetness through every bite. It is a generous, colorful dish that breaks away from the usual stir fry routine.

Make this on a weeknight when you have leftover rice to use up, or on a relaxed Sunday evening when you want a full meal without meat. Kids usually love the sweetness from the pineapple and raisins, and you can adjust the curry to taste. Mon Chou suggests it as an easy way to shake up dinner without complicating the cooking.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Cold cooked jasmine riceoften in the pantry 600 g
  • Cashews 80 g
  • Raisins 40 g
  • Curry powderoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Fresh or canned pineapple 300 g
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Scallions 3

Dairy

  • Eggs 3

Allergens Eggs, Tree nuts, Soy

The step by step recipe

  1. Toast the cashews dry in a skillet until golden, then set aside. 3 min

    Stir constantly, they burn within seconds.

  2. Heat the oil in a wok, add the minced onion and garlic, then the eggs and scramble them quickly. 4 min

    Scramble the eggs into big chunks, they add texture.

  3. Add the rice, curry powder and soy sauce, and stir fry over high heat. 5 min

    Break up any rice clumps with the back of your spatula.

  4. Stir in the diced pineapple and raisins and let them caramelize a little. 3 min

    If using canned pineapple, drain it thoroughly.

  5. Scatter with cashews and scallions, and serve hot.

    Serve in a hollowed out pineapple half for presentation.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use a wok or a wide skillet rather than a saucepan, the rice needs room to toast instead of steaming in a crowded pan.
  • Have every ingredient prepped before you turn on the heat, once the rice hits the pan the cooking moves fast.
  • Taste before adding extra salt, soy sauce is already salty and the pineapple adds sweetness, the balance happens at this step.

The variations

  • Swap the cashews for unsalted peanuts if that is what you have on hand.
  • For an egg free version, replace the eggs with firm tofu cubes sautéed before you add the rice.
  • For rushed kids, cut the curry powder in half and skip the raw scallions, serving just rice, pineapple and cashews.

What to serve it with

  • A clear ginger soup to start
  • Steamed vegetables on the side
  • Unsweetened iced green tea

Storage

This fried rice keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in an airtight container. It freezes well for up to a month, thaw it in the fridge before reheating. Reheat it in a skillet with a little oil to bring back the crunch, the microwave tends to soften it too much.

Questions about this dish

Can I use regular white rice instead of jasmine rice?

Yes, any cooked and cooled long grain rice works. Jasmine just adds a more floral aroma, but basmati or plain white rice gives good results too.

Can I prepare this fried rice ahead of time?

You can cook the rice the day before, it is actually recommended. But do the full stir fry just before serving to keep the cashews and pineapple crunchy.

What if I don't have rice from the day before?

Cook the rice a few hours ahead and spread it on a tray so it cools and dries out a bit. Hot, moist rice will clump and turn mushy in the pan.

Can I use canned pineapple instead of fresh?

Yes, it is even handy when pineapple is out of season. Drain it well before adding it so the rice does not turn soggy.

How long does it take to make a pineapple fried rice with cashews?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a pineapple fried rice with cashews?

About 920 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a pineapple fried rice with cashews cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs, tree nuts, soy. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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