Authentic Thai Fried Rice in 30 Min – VIDEO

Ingredients (+ Substitutions)

Note: A few of the ingredients you need to make authentic Thai Fried Rice will require a visit to your local Asian grocery store. In the event that you cannot find them, I provided substitutions below. Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!

• protein – I used shrimp but you can use chicken, beef, crab, or even tofu.
• basmati or Jasmine rice – I recommend long grain white rice for this recipe due to the lower moisture content. Use old rice, as fresh rice will be too moist and the fried rice will turn out soggy.
• Thai basil – Thai Basil is different than regular basil – it’s a bit spicy and savory, and adds so much to dishes. However, I know it can be hard to come by at times – if you can’t find it, use regular basil.
• Thai chili peppers – Thai chili peppers are very spicy, so you only need a little bit (if you are sensitive to heat, I’d recommend using less). If you can’t find them, use serrano peppers- they’re not as spicy, so you may want to increase the amount.
• palm sugar – Palm sugar are sold in circular discs and are less processed than white or brown sugar – they’re used in a lot of Southeast Asian cooking and have a nutty, caramel-y flavor. If you can’t find it, use brown sugar.
• MSG – I use MSG in moderation as an optional flavor enhancer.

How to Make Thai Fried Rice

Marinate Shrimp, Mix The Chili Garlic Paste, and Sauce – In a bowl, add the peeled and deveined shrimp along with soy sauce, salt, white pepper, neutral oil, baking soda and cornstarch. Mix until combined and marinate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine garlic and thai chili peppers into a paste and set aside. Alternatively, chop the garlic and peppers and scrape alongside a cutting board and the flat edge of a knife to form a paste. In a small bowl, mix together oyster sauce, light soy sauce, fish sauce, palm sugar, white pepper, and msg to make the sauce.

Cook the Shrimp and Aromatics – Add the neutral oil over high heat in a wok or large pan until just smoking. Add the shrimp and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until cooked through. Remove and set aside, leaving the residual oil in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium high. In the same pan, fry the garlic/chili paste for 15 seconds until fragrant, then immediately add shallots and onion. Stir fry for 1 minute until the onions are softened.

Add Eggs, Rice, Sauce, Shrimp, and Thai Basil – Push the ingredients to the side, then add eggs and scramble (add 1 tbsp more oil if needed to cook the eggs). Mix together. Turn the heat to high, then add the day old rice and mix together over high heat, stir frying until the rice is toasted and relatively dry. Add the premixed sauce and combine, stir frying for another 2-3 minutes until the rice has absorbed the sauce. Add shrimp and basil and stir fry for another 1-2 minutes. Garnish with limes, chili flakes and more basil and enjoy!

If you tried this Thai Fried Rice or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!