This Pineapple Fried Rice recipe is easy to make with juicy pineapple, savory ham, vegetables, fluffy scrambled eggs, and crispy rice all tossed in a savory sauce!
Note 1: This recipe uses 3 cups of leftover rice. See notes section for how I like to cook 3 cups of rice for this recipe. Day-old rice is drier, which makes it crispier and more ideal for fried rice.
Note 2: A wide skillet with a lot of surface area is recommended for frying the rice.
Prep Work
Combine the sauce ingredients and set aside. Drain the pineapple and cut into smaller chunks if desired. Use paper towels to remove excess liquid. Measure out remaining ingredients before beginning.
Scramble the Eggs
Melt butter over medium-low heat and add the whisked eggs. Cook/scramble until just cooked through, then remove and set aside. (I like to use an 8-inch nonstick skillet when I make fluffy scrambled eggs.)
Stir Fry
Add up to 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat and add the diced ham. Cook for about 3 minutes, until a little more color has developed on the outside of the ham. Set aside and turn heat off.
Add the wine and set the heat to medium. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom and sides of the pan and let the liquid reduce by half, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the onions and soften for 3 minutes. Add the carrots, bell peppers, and garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
Add the chilled rice along with the sauce. Increase heat to medium-high and toss continuously for about 3 minutes, until most of the liquid from the sauce is absorbed.
Reduce heat to medium and add the ham, pineapple, and eggs, and toss to coat and heat through. Remove from heat, garnish with green onions and cashews and serve!
Notes
Making Perfectly Cooked Rice:
Bring 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil.
Add 1 cup of white long grain rice and let the liquid come back up to a boil.
Cover tightly and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it stand in the pot for 10 minutes with the lid on, any rice stuck to the bottom will release.
This yields 3 cups of flavorful, perfectly cooked rice. I use a Dutch oven for this which conducts heat well.
Note that other varieties of rice may require different liquid measurements and/or cooking times.
Pro Tips
For the Rice:
Dry Rice is Key: Cold leftover rice works best for fried rice. If cooking it fresh, you’d ideally lay it on a tray for a few hours (over overnight) before frying. Dry rice absorbs the sauce while remaining crisp.
Rinsing Rice: There is debate as to if rinsing rice is necessary to remove excess starch, I prefer the consistency when I don’t rinse it. 🙂 Feel free to rinse if preferred!
I like to use long grain white rice for this. The consistency is much better than Instant Rice. (But instant can be used if needed!)
Cauliflower Rice: 3 cups of uncooked cauliflower rice can be added at the end, instead of cooked rice. Cook it for 5 minutes in the sauce, then add the ham/pineapple/eggs/green onions, and cook for up to 3 more minutes. You may want to partially cover the skillet to allow it to steam slightly.
1-2 cups of shredded green cabbage is a wonderful addition to this, it adds another element of flavor, texture, and nutrition. It will make the rice a little less crispy, but I'm okay with that sacrifice!
Wine:Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc are great in this recipe. Chinese cooking wine (Shaoxing cooking wine) can also be used, (only 2 TBSP. should be used). Chicken broth can also be used if you don’t cook with wine.
Pineapples: Remove as much excess moisture from them as you can (I roll them up in a few layers of paper towels), so that the rice stays crispy.