This Thai tom yum fried rice is aromatic and lightly tangy with a gentle kick coming from the chilies. A quick 15-minute recipe that is easy to make and requires minimal prep.
We love recreating classic Thai dishes at home, with some of our other favorites including tofu pad Thai, vegan pad kra pow, and vegetable yellow curry!
Fried rice is one of our back-pocket recipes as it's quick and satisfying with endless variations. Lately, we have been loving Thai-inspired fried rice, including green curry fried rice, Thai vegetable fried rice, and our current favorite: tom yum fried rice.
If you prefer the classic Chinese-style fried rice, I recommend checking out my vegan egg fried rice instead.
💚Why you will love tom yum fried rice
- A unique spin on the classic fried rice that is citrusy, lightly spicy, and incredibly flavorful
- Customizable - You can swap the vegetables or add protein of choice!
- Great way to use up leftover rice
- Low effort and ready in 15 minutes
🍚What you will need
- Rice - I prefer the heartier texture of brown rice, but you can do Jasmine rice if it's more of your thing! Refrigerated rice is preferable. If using freshly cooked rice, spread it out on a large plate and allow it to cool completely before use.
- Bird's eye chilies - I deseed them for less spice, but you can leave them in for a spicier dish. For a milder version, omit the chilies.
- Tom yum paste - Keep this recipe plant-based by using vegan tom yum paste. Or make your own tom yum paste (Replace fish sauce with soy sauce to keep it vegan).
- Vegetables - You can swap in other vegetables, including frozen vegetable mix, chopped mushrooms, French beans, or bell peppers.
- Kaffir lime leaves (optional) - Add an aromatic, citrusy flavor found in classic tom yum. It is a little challenging to find, but some groceries and most Asian markets carry it.
- Other aromatics - To further enhance the flavors, you can also add some thinly-sliced lemongrass or galangal!
🔪How to make tom yum fried rice
Step 1: Heat some oil in a pan, then add garlic, chilies, kaffir lime leaves, and tom yum paste. Sauté until fragrant, around 1 minute.
Step 2: Add carrots and cook for 2-3 minutes.
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Step 3: Stir in peas and rice, and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the ingredients are hot.
Step 4: Remove from heat, then stir in green onion, soy sauce, and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Enjoy the tom yum fried rice while it's hot!
✔Helpful tips
- Tip on using freshly cooked rice - Spread it out on a plate and allow to cool completely before using. This helps prevent rice from clumping together when frying.
- Use a large pan or wok - Overcrowding the pan will cause the rice to steam rather than fry, which might yield soggy fried rice.
- Serving suggestion - Although great on its own, we love serving it with pad pak Thai (Thai stir-fry vegetables) or curries like tofu red curry or vegan Massaman curry. It is also great served with a fried egg!
❄️Storing suggestions
Storing - Leftover tom yum fried rice can be refrigerated for 3-4 days, or frozen for 3 months. Portion out fried rice before freezing using freezer bags or souper cubes.
Reheating - Allow frozen fried rice to thaw overnight in the fridge, or at room temperature for an hour. Heat it up on the stove or in the microwave.
📖 Recipe
Tom Yum Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 kaffir lime leaves roughly chopped (optional)
- 2 bird's eye chilies sliced (deseed for less heat)
- 1 medium carrot diced
- 3 cup cooked rice refrigerated or freshly cooked (see notes)*
- ½ cup frozen green peas
- 1-2 tablespoon tom yum paste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 stalk green onion chopped
- lime juice to serve
Instructions
- Heat up a tablespoon of oil in a cast iron skillet or non-stick pan on medium high heat. Start by sauteing garlic, chili and kaffir lime leaves for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.3 cloves garlic, 2 bird's eye chilies, 2 kaffir lime leaves
- Add in the carrot next. Cook until they have slightly softened, for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.1 medium carrot
- Now, add in rice, peas and tom yum paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until everything is thoroughly heated. Break any clumps of rice by pressing them with the back of your spatula.3 cup cooked rice, ½ cup frozen green peas, 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- Stir in soy sauce, chopped green onions, and a squeeze of lime juice. Your tom yum fried rice is ready to be served.1 stalk green onion, lime juice
Notes
- Customize the seasonings - Add other aromatics, such as galangal and lemongrass, to enhance the aroma of your fried rice.
- Add a source of protein - Shrimp, diced chicken, or squid are some great choices. Do sear them beforehand. Vegetarian options like pan-fried tofu, seitan, or scrambled eggs will also work.
- Make it milder - Omit the bird's eye chilies for a milder version of tom yum fried rice.
- Use a large pan or wok - Overcrowding the pan will cause the rice to steam rather than fry, which might yield soggy fried rice.
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Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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