Khao pad is a clasic Thai dish, commonly known as Thai fried rice. It’s made by stir frying cooked rice with a variety of ingredients like vegetables, eggs, meat, garlic, onion and soy sauce.
Khao pad or Thai fried rice, has arich history rooted in Thai culinary tradition. It is famous for delicious and satisfying flvors, which are achieved through the combination of aromatic spices, savory proteins and fresh vegetables. It is commonly found in street food stalls, in casual eateries and even in upscale restaurants throughout Thailand.
One of the thing that really makes this fried rice Thai (from other types of fried rice from around the world), is that Thai fried rice is served with a wedge of lime on the side, and something known as prik nam pla, which is a condiment of chillies and fish sauce to garnish the fried rice.
When it comes to rice for fried rice, it’s best to actually use day-old rice. That way, the rice is a little dried so it doesn’t get mushy or clump together when you stir fry it.
However if you must use freshly steamed rice, just try to make sure your bowl of rice has cooled off and that it’s somewhat dried out before you get started.
If you try to fry your rice when it’s still sticky and moist, it will stick to the pan a lot easier, and it also won’t give you that nice dry fried rice that you’re craving for.
Ingredients
Fried Rice with Shrimp
1.5 cups of cooked Jasmine rice cooled (or day old rice works well too) – Or just estimate about 1 normal bowl full
About 5 – 10 shrimp, head peeled, but tail on
1/2 of a small white onion
1 leaf of broccoli (or any crisp green leafy vegetable)
2 cloves garlic
1 egg
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
Pinch of sugar (optional)
1 tablespoon of oil for frying Prik Nam Pla (Chilies in Fish Sauce)
5 Thai chilies
3 tablespoons of fish sauce
1/2 of a lime
For making Prik Nam Pla (Chilies in Fish Sauce)
Add 3 tablespoons of fish sauce to a small bowl.
Slice about 5 Thai chilies (you can add more or less, up to you), and add them to the fish sauce.
Finally, a squeeze of about 1/2 of a lime (optional).
Give it a stir, and set it aside.
Instructions for Fried Rice
For the whole fresh shrimp pinch off the head, and peel the outer shell of the shrimp, leaving only the tail. (You can also remove the tail if you like.)
Peel 2 cloves of garlic, and then just finely mince them.
Slice 1/2 of a white onion into medium sized strips.
Finely dice about 3 – 4 green onions.
Take just 1 leaf of broccoli, slice it in half first along the spine, and then slice it into 1 centimeter sized strips.
Turn on the heat to medium high, heat up a wok (or frying pan), and add about 1 tablespoon of oil.
Once your oil is hot, add the garlic first, and stir fry continuously for about 15 seconds or so, until it gets nice and fragrant.
Next, toss in your shrimp, and fry for about 30 seconds – the shrimp should start to turn pink and feel more firm.
Add in a little less than 1/2 of your rice first. This is going to soak up all those delicious shrimp juices and oils and keep your rice nice and dry.
Stir fry for about 10 more seconds – This is a little known trick to make good rice, so it remains nice and dry.
Move all your rice to one side of the pan, and then crack in the egg into the empty side, whirl the egg up, let it cook for a few seconds, and then start to mix it up with the rice and shrimp.
Keep stir frying for about 20 seconds until the egg is fully cooked, and then add in the rest of your rice, and give it a quick stir.
Add 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of oyster sauce, just a pinch of sugar (optional), and continue stir frying your rice, making sure all the sauce get mixed in.
Then add your chopped broccoli leaves and onions, and stir fry for another 30 seconds until the vegetables wilt, but they should be crisp and not fully cooked.
Lastly, toss in your green onions, stir it a few more seconds, and it’s ready.
Immediately dish your fried rice onto a plate.
Slice off a wedge of lime, and serve it on the plate next to the rice.
For the final touch, sprinkle some freshly ground black pepper on top to give some extra flavor.
Enjoy! View more.
If you have tried and tasted the recipe, share your experience with us in the comment section below.
