Khao Pad (Thai Fried Rice)
Local name: ข้าวผัด
In short: Day-old jasmine rice wok-fried with chicken, egg, tomato and garlic, seasoned with fish sauce and white pepper and served with lime and cucumber. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 3 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 3
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 565 kcal
Khao pad is the everyday fried rice of Thailand, cooked at street stalls, in food courts and at home with leftover rice. It is lighter than many Chinese-style fried rices: garlic, egg, a protein, tomato and a splash of fish sauce, with white pepper for warmth. Serve it with cucumber slices, lime wedges and chilies in fish sauce, and let each person season their own plate.
Instructions
- Break up any clumps in the cold rice with your fingers so each grain is loose. Mix the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar and pepper in a small bowl.
- Heat the oil in a wok over high heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic and the spring onion whites and stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the chicken and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until browned and cooked through (74°C/165°F inside).
- Push the chicken aside, crack the eggs into the empty space and scramble for 30 seconds until just set, then mix them into the chicken.
- Add the rice and press it against the pan with your spatula, then toss. Repeat for 2 to 3 minutes until the rice is hot and dry and starts to bounce in the pan.
- Pour the sauce around the edge of the pan and toss for 1 minute. Add the tomato and the spring onion greens and toss for 30 seconds.
- Serve on plates with cucumber, lime and coriander, with the chilies in fish sauce for anyone who wants heat.
Tips
- Cold rice is essential. Freshly cooked rice is too wet and turns to paste, so cook it ahead and chill it uncovered for an hour, or overnight.
- Use shrimp, crab meat or pork instead of chicken. For a version without meat or fish, use firm tofu and swap the fish and oyster sauces for extra soy sauce.
Questions and answers
Why does fried rice need to be cold?
Chilled rice has dried a little and the grains are firm, so they fry and separate instead of clumping into a sticky mass in the wok.
What do you serve with Thai fried rice?
Cucumber slices, lime wedges and a small dish of chilies in fish sauce are the classic sides. A bowl of clear soup also goes well.
Can I make Thai fried rice without a wok?
Yes. Use your widest, heaviest skillet and cook in two batches, so the rice is spread thin and the pan stays hot enough to fry rather than steam.
How long does it take to make Khao Pad (Thai Fried Rice)?
About 25 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Khao Pad (Thai Fried Rice)?
About 565 kcal per serving, with 27 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 565 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 27 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
