Thai Fried Rice & Roasted pineapple

My first Thai cooking lesson was at the Mandarin Oriental Thai cooking School in Bangkok.  I made my way early in the morning to the Hotel.   I took the Sky train (BTS) to the Taksin bridge and then walked to the pier.  There was a beautiful hotel barge waiting for all the students that were joining me in the class.  We cruised along the majestic Chao Phraya River, I felt so blessed and lucky to have lived this moment.

It was a hands-on cooking class and for the first time I was introduced to the world of Thai ingredients, but I also thought that the dishes were beautifully served, so simple yet so elegant.  Very fitting for a five star hotel.

This fried rice is very Thai but the profile is very Chinese with  flavours of caramelized pineapple, Chinese sausage and soy sauce.  I heard that originally this rice was actually placed into a hollowed out pineapple and then baked in the oven.  The recipe I am using is the School recipe and beautifully served on a slice of caramelized pineapple.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons soybean oil
• 1 cup pineapple, cut into bite size chunks and caramelized
• 1/2 cup Chinese sausages, diced and fried
• 1 cup prawns, shelled deveined and diced
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• 3 cups steamed rice, pre-cooked and cold
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon white pepper
• 3 tablespoons crisp-fried shallots
• 1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts

Method

• Put one spoon of soybean oil into a wok and fry the Chinese sausage until it is cooked (about one minute) and then remove it from the oil and set aside.
• Heat the wok, put  the rest of the soybean oil and add in the pineapple, Chinese sausage and prawns.  Fry until the prawns are just cooked.

• Add the raisins and the pre-cooked rice and stir-fry until the rice is well covered in oil.
• Then Season with salt, sugar and soy sauce.

• Stir in  the white pepper and remove from the heat.
• To serve the rice on the pineapple you will need a small bowl, pour a few drops of oil and rub the oil all over the bowl.  Fill the cup with the rice and flatten it with the back of a spoon.
• Place the bowl upside down over the pineapple and slowly and gently lift the bowl.

• Sprinkle the top of the rice with crisp-fried shallots, cashew nuts and prawns.  Serve immediately.

Method for the Pineapple

Ingredients

• 1 small ripe pineapple
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Method

• Slice the pineapple crosswise.
• In a small bowl mix together butter and brown sugar.
• brush with the mixture on both sides of the pineapple .
• In a large non-stick skillet over high heat place the pineapple slices.  Cook turning them once until golden brown on both sides.

• Place each slice of pineapple on a serving plate and then top it with the fried rice.

Tips

• Rule number One –  The rice must be cold.  If you start with sticky, and warm rice the fried rice will turn soggy.  You can cook the rice a day ahead.
• You need to have all your ingredients ready because all the ingredients come together very quickly.
• I must tell you a secret, I always buy the crisp-fried shallots, I have tried many times to make them but somehow they always get burnt.
• Roasting pineapple is one of the most delicious ways to eat this fruit.  I like to roast my pineapple bite size chunks, this gives the rice a sweeter taste.  They are just Yummy!