Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice

Aloha! Is that what this bowl of Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice is saying to you? This colorful, pretty little bowl is loaded with so many flavors. Sweet? Yup. Savory? Yeah. Umami? Oh boy!! All this from a few left over ingredients lying around your house.

How is that possible? This GORGEOUSNESS comes not from fancy stuff but some regular every day things. And this one is done in no time. Get ready to stir and fry and make this beauty happen. Right now… in your kitchen!!

Fried rice is hands-down one of my favorites! I mean, who doesn’t love a meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes, right? It’s my go-to when I want something fast but still packed with flavor. What I really love about it is how versatile it is! I can toss in whatever I’m in the mood for, or just use up all those random veggies and leftovers hiding in my fridge. It’s the ultimate clean-out-the-fridge dish! And honestly, those Asian flavors are irresistible. There’s just something about that mix of soy sauce, garlic, and veggies that always hits the spot. I can never say no to it!

Now, let’s make this even more interesting with a little sweet and salty touch. The sweetness comes from juicy ripe pineapple chunks and the saltiness from that divine ham. That’s all you need to give your regular fried a little island tweak!

So tell me about this Hawaiian version…

One fruit that comes in my mind when I think about Hawaii is pineapple. They have an abundance, so you will often find it in their food. Their cuisine is also heavily influenced by the wave of Asian immigrants who came to work on their pineapple and sugarcane plantations. Thus, Hawaiian fried rice!

Many Hawaiians use Spam in their fried rice, as it’s extremely popular in these islands. It was originally brought there by American G.I.s and it became an important source of protein for locals when fishing around the islands was prohibited during World War II.

You can choose to make your rice with Spam, or like me use that leftover ham I’ve had in my freezer since the holidays. Or you may use an entirely different protein, there are lots of variations noted below. Keep on reading…

Alpana’s Tips

1. Use appropriate pan. I always make sure to use the right pan for fried rice, and a wok is definitely my top choice. It’s perfect for anything that needs a quick stir-fry. I like to use a pretty good-sized one so I can easily toss all the veggies and rice without worrying about it spilling everywhere. In the case of no wok, use an oversized non stick skillet.
2. Use high heat. For the best stir-fry, I crank up the heat. Asian-style stir-fries really thrive on piping hot, high heat. It helps the veggies and rice fry quickly and keeps them crunchy. Before I even add the oil, I make sure the wok is hot. This little trick stops the food from sticking to the pan, which is a total game-changer.
3. Use the right kind of oil. Choosing the right oil is key too. I go for something with a high smoke point, like peanut oil. It’s great for stir-frying. But really, most common oils work well as long as they can handle the heat. I just stay away from extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, or butter, since they’ll burn and mess with the flavor. And even though I love sesame oil for that finishing touch, I always wait to add it at the end. It’s perfect for seasoning but not ideal for cooking at high temps.
4. Use cold rice. Fresh rice has too much moisture so won’t fry well and can turn clumpy and mushy. A day old or leftover rice is an ideal for your stir fries! No left over rice? Just plan a little ahead. Cook it in the morning and keep it in the refrigerator. Or if cooking only a few hours before, spread it evenly on a baking sheet and cool it in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes until it’s thoroughly chilled.
5. What rice? I feel basmati and jasmine rice are great options for fried rice. In a pinch you can use long grain, but you want your rice light and fluffy, not sticky and clumpy. Before stir frying, separate the grains with your hands just in case they clump together.
6. Prepare all the ingredients in advanced before you even heat up the wok. Stir-frying happens quickly, so it’s important to finish the dish before the veggies turn mushy. To keep things smooth, I always make sure to have everything prepped ahead of time. That means mixing the sauce, whisking the eggs, and cutting all the veggies, aromatics (like ginger and garlic), and proteins before even heating up the wok. This way, everything is ready to sizzle, and I can keep the stir-fry moving without any delays or overcooked ingredients.
7. Use plenty of veggies and protein. You need to add flavors to get flavors out of your food. These different colored veggies not only adds so much color and vibrancy to this tropical dish, but adds so many layers of flavors.
8. Use mix of soy + oyster + sesame oil. I swear by oyster sauce and sesame oil in our Asian food. Please try and note the difference when you have these in addition to just say sauce. You just need a small dash of sesame oil, as it goes a long ways. You can customize how much soy sauce you want in your pot. You can always add more to your bowl according to your own sodium tolerance or preference.

OK… you’re still with me… great. You must really love me or want to make some killer fried rice!

Ingredients Needed

• Pineapple – Yup. Trust me when I say it goes beautifully in your fried rice. Especially when paired with some salty protein. Asian flavorings enhances the sweet juicy fruit. I used fresh. Canned works great too, but rinse the syrup off first so it doesn’t make your rice too sweet.
• Ham – I am sure you have some leftovers in your freezer. If not, any good quality deli ham will do. Then, there’s always Spam.
• Cooked, chilled rice – Leftover is the best. You can experiment with brown rice too. My choice is jasmine or basmati.
• Veggies – Today I am using a few bell papers like red and green(you can use any color), carrots, peas, onion and green onion. The white and green portions of the green onion will be used separately, so keep them divided.
• Garlic – Any Asian dish is incomplete without it.
• Ginger – Same here.
• Eggs – Imagine soft, luscious scrambled eggs mixed in with your rice… great flavor and texture.
• Soy sauce – A fried rice staple.
• Oyster sauce – For an added layer of flavor.
• Sesame oil – That toasty flavor is amazing!
• Cooking oil – Something with a high smoke point like peanut, vegetable or soybean.

Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe

Did you prep all your ingredients in advance like I told you earlier? If not, go ahead and do that, this will fry up quick!

I get my wok or large skillet sizzling hot over high heat. Once it’s ready, I add about 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. When the oil is nice and hot (it’ll have that thin, watery look), I toss in the peppers, onions, and the white part of the green onions. I give them a quick toss for about a minute. Then, I add the carrots, ginger, garlic, and ham, stirring and frying everything for 2-3 minutes. Next, I throw in the peas, give it all another quick stir, and push everything to one side of the pan.

On the now empty side of the pan, I add another tablespoon of oil. I pour in the whisked eggs and scramble them until they’re soft and luscious. Once they’re ready, I mix everything together, then add the rice and sauces. I stir-fry it all for about 1-2 minutes, letting the rice soak up those amazing flavors. Finally, I toss in the pineapple and stir everything together one last time. Now it’s ready to serve! I dish out the fried rice and garnish it with the green parts of the green onions for that fresh, finishing touch.

Variations:

You can test the level of your creativity when it comes to simple fried rice. Please don’t skip the pineapple in this one, as this is my Hawaiian version. But you can…

1. Swap the protein. No ham? No spam ? No sweat. Try chicken or shrimp or even steak in your fried rice instead. Always sauté your protein and cook it almost full before mixing in with your rice. Use shredded rotisserie chicken if you want to take a huge short cut.
2. Eliminate the protein. Want to go vegetarian or vegan? It’s still tastes great without protein or eggs.
3. More veggies to add. How about some broccoli, snow peas, mushrooms, corn, green beans, zucchini, cauliflower. All have the potential to make fabulous fried rice (but my husband says please don’t use all at once).
4. Want to add little crunch? Add cashews to your stir fry. I also love peanuts, sliced almonds, water chestnuts… all so good… yum.
5. Crave some spice there? Add a dash, or tons, of sriracha or red pepper flakes… whatever you heart is demanding.

Make this Ham + Pineapple “winning pair” in your fried rice, and chow down on this tropical island style dish. My Hawaiian Pineapple fried rice! Aloha!

Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice, on my Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

Enjoy our other easy and tasty stir frys!
Thai Basil Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
Mongolian Beef
Chicken Ramen Stir Fry
Korean Ground Beef
Kung Pao Chicken
Hunan Shrimp

Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Add some island flair to your fried rice. This quick and easy one pot meal is loaded with flavors and whips up in 20 minutes or less!

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Ingredients

• 4 cups cooked rice (basmati)
• 2 cups chopped cooked ham
• 1/2 cup carrot, chopped
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1/2 cup onions
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 Tbsp chopped ginger
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 cup chopped pineapple
• 3 eggs
• 4 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp oyster sauce
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 4 Tbsp cooking oil, divided

Instructions

1. Chop ham and all vegetables, along with garlic and ginger. Whisk eggs in a bowl.
2. Heat wok or large skillet over large heat. Add 3 Tbsp cooking oil. Once hot, add onion, white parts of green onions, and peppers. Sauté 1 minute.
3. Add carrots, ginger, garlic and ham. Stir fry 2-3 minutes. Add peas, stir and move everything to one side of pan.
4. Add remaining 1 Tbsp cooking oil to empty side of pan. Once hot, add whisked eggs and scramble until cooked but still soft. Mix all ingredients in pan together.
5. Add rice along with soy sauce, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Mix well and stir fry 1-2 minutes.
6. Add pineapple, mix well and remove from heat. Serve and garnish with green portion of green onions.

Notes

Leftovers: Generally, this can be refrigerated 3-4 days in an airtight container. But please note, if using leftover ham, it must be used within seven days (not including frozen time) of when the ham was cooked.

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 376Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 122mgSodium 1124mgCarbohydrates 42gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 18g

Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.

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Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.