Thai Fried Rice with Tofu
If you are planning for a tempting Thai lunch or dinner, then Thai fried rice is a must have item in it. There are many variants of this rice recipe which include the use of meat, chicken, seafood or eggs. However, this particular recipe is a pure vegetarian recipe and uses thai red curry paste and fresh vegetables along with steamed rice.
| Ingredients: |
| 2½-3 cups cooked steamed Rice |
| 7 oz (200 gms) Extra firm Tofu, cut into small cubes |
| 2 tablespoons Oil |
| 1-2 tablespoons Thai Red Curry Paste (or Green Curry Paste) |
| 4 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped or crushed |
| 2-3 stalks Spring Onion, only green part (green onion) (approx. 1/4 cup) |
| 1/2 Red Bell Pepper (red capsicum), cut into long strips |
| 1/2 Green Bell Pepper (green capsicum), cut into long strips |
| 1 tablespoon Soy sauce |
| 1/2 cup loosely packed Thai Basil Leaves |
| Salt, to taste |
Directions:
Note: If you want to make green fried rice, use Thai green curry paste. In this recipe, Thai red curry paste is used.
- Leftover or pre-cooked rice works best for this recipe. If you are using freshly cooked rice, spread it in a tray and place in the freezer for 10 minutes before using it in the recipe. That will prevent them from breaking and turning mushy. Cut red and green bell pepper into thin slices.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or a frying pan over medium flame. Add 7 oz (200gms) tofu cubes and saute until they turn light golden. Remove them to a plate.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons red curry paste and 1 tablespoon chopped or crushed garlic. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until oil starts to separate.
- Add sliced green bell pepper, sliced red bell pepper, 1/4 cup chopped spring onion (only green part) and salt. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Stir and cook for a minute.
- Add stir fried tofu. Stir and cook for a minute.
- Add 2½-3 cups steamed rice and 1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves. Mix gently. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until all ingredients are well mixed.
- Turn off the flame. Transfer it to a serving bowl. Serve red Thai Fried Rice with vegetable soup or thai red curry.
Tips and Variations:
- Leftover steamed rice or previously cooked rice works well for this recipe. If you are using fresh rice, place it in the freezer for 10 minutes before using it to prevent fried rice from turning mushy.
- While mixing steamed rice, stir gently to prevent them from turning mushy.
- For spicy fried rice, add crushed or sliced green chili or red chili in step-3.
- For variation, add sliced tomatoes to make it more tangy.
- Use jasmine or brown jasmine rice for a nice flavor.
- You can also add vegetables of your choice to make it tastier and healthier.
Taste: Spicy
Serving Ideas: Serve veg thai fried rice for lunch or dinner.