You would think that I had started cooking since I was young, but the truth is, I didn’t really get into it until my early twenties. Back then, I didn’t really venture to far away from what I knew and loved, which was Chinese food, a staple in my family, or at least, I stuck within the Asian cuisine. Pineapple fried rice was one of the few things I learned how to cook. My mom taught me a few things here and there, and I would sometimes watch her as she cooked, but the majority of my cooking I had learned on my own.
The main flavours that goes into my version of pineapple fried rice is the sweetness from the pieces of pineapple and also from the fresh pineapple juice. It will also be seasoned with fish sauce, a typical sauce used in Thai cuisine, and curry powder.
How authentic this recipe may be to the ones they make in Thailand, I cannot guarantee, but I believe it is just as delicious, and I hope you’ll enjoy my version of it.
INGREDIENTS
1 whole pineapple, 1/4 of side removed and inside hollowed out
2 tablespoons of pineapple, cut into small chunks
8-10 pieces of shrimp, peeled with tail on and deveined
1/4 of chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1-2 teaspoons of fresh pineapple juice
1 teaspoon of hot curry powder
1-2 teaspoons of fish sauce
1 egg
1+1/2 cups of day old rice
1 shallot, minced
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 stalks of scallion, finely chopped
Cilantro, leaves only
Crushed peanuts
Raisins
Once all your ingredients have been prepared, start cooking! First you’ll need a wok or a large skillet, and bring to medium-heat. Once the pan is hot, drizzle in a large tablespoon of olive oil, then add in your garlic and shallots. Sauté the garlic and shallots until it becomes fragrant, and then add in your chicken and shrimp. Cook the chicken and shrimp until the shrimp has curled and the chicken is cooked through.
Next, move all of your cooked ingredients to one side of the wok or skillet, and crack in an egg. Allow the egg to set for a bit before scrambling it, and after, climbing it with the shrimp and chicken. Now, add in your rice, and try to flatten the rice as much as you can, so that you won’t have large clumps of rice. Add in your curry powder, fish sauce, and pineapple juice at this, and ensure that the rice is completely coated. At this time, taste the rice for additional seasoning.
Finally, add in part of the crushed peanuts, raisins, cilantro and scallion, and toss together well. Scoop the the fried rice into your prepares pineapple shell, and top with additional peanuts, raisins, cilantro and scallion.
O Z M U N D A R E G A L I S 