Thai Green Curry Fried Rice

What to expect from this recipe?

Native to central Thailand, green curry is a popular dish in Thai cooking. It is a fragrant dish made with a base of green curry paste and enhanced with several herbs, spices, vegetables, and sometimes protein. 

It is not uncommon to find green curry on your Thai takeout menu, but often the flavor can be overpowering: It is either too sweet, salty, or spicy. But with this creamy green curry fried rice recipe, you can quickly make your own at home, just as you like!

Here’s why you’ll love this vegan green curry fried rice recipe:

• It is super easy to make, using leftover rice and simple ingredients that you can find in your neighborhood grocery store.
• You can whip it up in only 30 minutes, making it a great last-minute lunch or dinner.
• It is very aromatic and pleasing to taste, combining sweet, citrusy, and savory flavors.
• It is customizable to your taste and preferences.
• It is incredibly versatile and easily made into other new recipes!

Ingredients

Green curry is made from a combination of curry paste, vegetables, and spices that you can easily find in your local store or any Asian supermarket. We have also provided a few substitutes below for the ingredients that you may not have available:

Instructions

Preparing the ingredients

The key to making green curry fried rice in just a half-hour is to have all of your ingredients prepared and ready to go before you cook them.

1. Start by peeling and chopping the onion into small pieces.
2. Next, peel and cut the sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces, approximately ½-inch (1cm) cubes.
3. Measure out the remaining ingredients in the recipe and put them to the side.

Making green curry fried rice

To make this recipe, you will add many ingredients over several steps. In addition, you will need to stir it frequently to avoid burning, so try not to walk away as it cooks.

1. Before starting, pre-heat the wok over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the coconut oil.
2. Add the chopped onion to the wok and sautee for approximately three minutes.
3. Stir in the green curry paste and continue stirring for 1-2 minutes.

4. Add in the sugar, soy sauce, and kaffir lime leaves. Stir the mixture well for one minute.

5. Next, add the full-fat coconut cream and bring it to a boil. Once it starts to boil, continue cooking for two minutes.

6. Add the sweet potatoes and green beans, then cook until they are almost done. To speed up the process, use a lid and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Add salt to taste.

7. Stir in the leftover rice. Fry it for approximately 2-3 minutes, stirring the mixture well.

8. Remove the wok from the heat. Last but not least, add the basil leaves and stir well. Take the kaffir lime leaves out before serving and enjoy!

Cooking tips

• Use day-old rice versus freshly made rice – The best part about fried rice is that it cooks and tastes better with leftover rice, making whipping up new dishes a breeze! When you add freshly cooked rice to a hot wok, it turns out sticky and soggy and is more susceptible to burning. Cooled rice or rice made the day prior prevents the above and results in the perfect texture and taste.
• Always fry using high heat – The goal is to fry the rice, not sautee it! The higher the heat, the crunchier your vegetables will be, and the quicker your dish will cook!

Variations

• Different types of rice – Substitute the jasmine rice for other aromatic, long-grain rice such as basmati rice or traditional long-grain white rice. For a lower-calorie alternative, you can use brown rice. Or, use quinoa in place of rice.
• Other vegetables to use – Add or substitute the veggies in this recipe with crunchy ones such as colorful red bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, bamboo shoots, or broccoli, as in our broccoli lentil stir-fry. Or, you can use softer vegetables such as Thai eggplant or winter melon. You can even experiment with other veggies– there’s no wrong answer when it comes to curry!
• Other protein sources – You can top your curry with vegan-friendly proteins such as chickpeas, oyster mushrooms, or fried tofu, like this simple teriyaki tofu.
• Kid-friendly options – To make your curry more kid-friendly, consider using milder ingredients, such as mild curry paste, to cut back on the spice level.

Serving ideas

One of the best parts about green curry fried rice is that it is entirely customizable to fit your taste and preferences! Spice up your meatless curry a notch with one or more of these additional toppings:

• roasted peanuts, a popular addition to fried rice recipes
• chopped cucumber for a little extra crunch
• Thai chili peppers to kick up the heat a notch
• squeezed lime wedges to add a more tangy flavor
• spring onion or salted fried onion for different flavors and texture
• coriander or cilantro for added flavor
• pineapple or sliced banana for a subtle taste of sweetness
• sesame oil to drizzle on top

Equipment

• Wok – A wok is critical to cooking an excellent stir-fry for several reasons: It quickly and evenly generates the heat required to cook the dish efficiently, its oversized shape and sloping sides help to move the food around easily as it cooks without burning or spilling, it requires less cooking oil than a regular frying pan, and it fits more food.
• Cast-iron skillet – If you don’t have a wok, use a cast-iron skillet or frying pan. We recommend the cast-iron Skillet by UnoCasa, which is great for evenly cooking high-heat dishes. It also helps to retain the heat during and after the cooking process.

Storing tips

• Refrigerator – Although a plant-based food, rice is highly susceptible to bacteria when left out at room temperature for longer than necessary. Once the dish has cooled, immediately store the leftover green curry fried rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The sooner you use it, the better, as the rice will dry out over time.
• Freezer – While some recipes say that you can freeze green curry fried rice for up to a month or more without a problem, we don’t recommend it since it already uses leftover rice. Additionally, freezing will affect the texture of the vegetables.
• Reheating – This green curry fried rice recipe can be reheated on the stove, in the microwave, or in the oven. Before reheating, add some water to give moisture to the rice. Make sure the rice is piping hot before you serve it to ensure any surviving bacteria is killed. Only reheat the ice once.

More Thai stir-fry recipes