Thai Fried Pineapple Rice - Part 1

. This is a good dish for when you have company or attend a potluck.
  • It is an attractive dish and most people really like it.
  • It can be cooked ahead and then warmed up before serving.
While this is not really a difficult dish to prepare, it is important that you plan ahead and are organized when you begin cooking. This post covers the advance preparation steps. Note: The white rice should be cooked and refrigerated at least one day in advance, and I actually prefer 2 or 3 days in advance.

Shopping or Inventory List:

A whole Fresh Pineapple
3 Cups Cooked rice (1 Cup raw, Thai Fragrant Jasmine preferred)
1 Cup small raw peanuts with husks - for garnish
1 Egg
¾ Cup Chinese style sausage
¾ Cup Shallots
1 clove Garlic finely chopped
¼ Cup Shrimp
½ Cup Luncheon Meat (Spam) – Optional
¼ Cup Frozen Petite Peas
Oils: Peanut (or vegetable) for frying, Sesame for flavor
3 teaspoons Fish Sauce (or Soy Sauce if you prefer)
1 Tablespoon Turmeric Powder
Salt or soy sauce (optional)
White pepper powder
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 pinch of Cinnamon Powder
Prawn Crackers make a nice accompaniment to the rice

Advance Preparation Steps:
  • Up to three days ahead (at least one day ahead): Cook the rice in advance and refrigerate
  • Up to two days ahead: fry ¼ Cup finely chopped shallots in 2 Tbsps of peanut oil until brown, reserve oil for other use and put shallots in an airtight container for garnish
  • Up to a day ahead: Make a boat (if desired). Discard core. Chop ½ cup of flesh and reserve, and ½ cup of ½ inch cubes to make sweet pineapple, save ½ cup of juice
  • Up to a day ahead: Make sweet pineapple by cooking ½ cup of cubed pineapple in a small pan with 1 Tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon, let cool
  • Fry peanuts (no need for oil) for about 5 minutes
Prior to cooking:
  • Cut sausage in half lengthwise then into ¼ inch slices
  • Cut luncheon meat into ¼ inch cubes
  • Mince the garlic
  • Finely chop remaining shallots
  • Measure other ingredients
  • If using them, fry the Prawn Crackers
Remaining steps will be covered in Part 2