Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Fried Rice

A quick, vegetarian Thai-inspired fried rice with juicy pineapple, crunchy cashews, and a hint of chili—perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner.

This vibrant fried rice brings together the sweetness of pineapple, the crunch of cashews, and a gentle kick of chili for a balanced, satisfying dish. It's a fantastic way to use up leftover rice, and it comes together in minutes.

Make sure your ingredients are prepped and ready before you start cooking, as the process is quick. Chilled, leftover rice works best—it fries up beautifully without turning mushy.

Ingredients

Servings 4

Converted amounts are rounded.

Method

  1. Heat a large wok, cast iron skillet, or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and place an empty serving bowl nearby. Once the pan is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles on contact, add 1 teaspoon of the oil. Pour in the beaten eggs and cook, stirring frequently, until they are scrambled and lightly set, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer the eggs to the empty bowl. Wipe out the pan if necessary with a paper towel (careful, it's hot!).
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add the pineapple and red bell pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid has evaporated and the pineapple is caramelized on the edges, about 3 to 5 minutes. Then add the green onions and garlic. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Transfer the contents of the pan to the bowl with the eggs.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil to the pan. Add the cashews and cook until fragrant, stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Add the rice to the pan and stir to combine. Cook until the rice is hot, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.
  4. Pour the contents of the bowl back into the pan and stir to combine, breaking up the scrambled eggs with your spoon. Cook until everything is warmed through, then remove the pan from the heat. Add the tamari and chili garlic sauce, to taste. Squeeze the juice of half the lime over the dish and stir to combine. Season with salt to taste and set aside.
  5. Slice the remaining half lime into 4 wedges. Transfer the fried rice to individual serving bowls and garnish each bowl with a lime wedge and a light sprinkle of cilantro. Serve with extra tamari and chili garlic sauce or sriracha on the side, for those who want to add more to their bowls.

💡 Tips

  • Use chilled, leftover rice for best results—freshly cooked rice can turn sticky.
  • If you don't have tamari, regular soy sauce works, but reduce the added salt.
  • Adjust the chili garlic sauce to your preferred spice level.

Inspired by a recipe from Cookie and Kate

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