Need a quick weeknight meal? Try this easy Tom Yum Fried Rice with shrimp that you can make using ingredients from your pantry and freezer. Easy, quick, and yummy! Also, learn how to make this with instant chili paste or cauliflower rice.
I enjoy cooking a lot. However, there are days when I just want something quick, fresh, and flavorful. This tom yum fried rice fits all those categories. And the best part is you can make it with chicken, seafood, or a vegetarian version.
My introduction to tom yum started back with a trip to Bangkok and enjoyed the best authentic tom yum like none before. My only regret was not taking my camera with me and relying heavily on my cell phone to take pictures because I knew I would be busy eating (yes to durian party)… and shopping. Anywho, they use authentic fresh Thai basil, lime leaves, and tamarind to make it extra flavorful. So, to satisfy my cravings, I made tom yum fried rice.
The ingredients
I know it’s quite lengthy; however, each ingredient brings a different flavor and aroma that you don’t want to miss. You will need:
- Rice. Be sure to use day old rice for the best result
- Peas or you can substitute with other vegetables, such as broccoli or diced carrot
- Lemongrass to give a refreshing, lingering lift
- Kaffir lime leaves to give fresh and citrus flavor that are almost required in Thai cooking. Be sure to use fresh leaves
- Onion as a base to make the fried rice intense. You can use either white onion or yellow onion
- Chili peppers for the paste
- Shallots, garlic are the most versatile in adding a mild, sweet flavor
- Shrimp, dry shrimp, shrimp paste. Not joking, but I use all three kinds of shrimps (four if you count fresh shrimps) in this recipe
- Tamarind juice (not tamarind concentrate) is a critical ingredient in many Thai foods, similar to ketchup or Worcesteshire sauce
- Salt, sugar, pepper to add flavors
- Fish sauce to add the umami factor to this dish
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How to cook tom yum fried rice
- First, make the chili paste by combining chili peppers, shallot, garlic, shrimp paste, dry shrimp, and oil in a blender. Add the rest of the oil to a pot and add the mixture. Stir fry for about 2-3 minutes, then add the rest of the ingredients and cook over medium heat until it forms a paste
- Second, cook the shrimp. Add the oil to a wok over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until they turn pink, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; then set aside
- To cook the fried rice: heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chili paste, lemongrass, onion, and kaffir lime leaves; and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Stir in peas and cook for another 1-2 minutes
- Raise the heat to high and stir in the chilled rice. Use the back of a spoon to break up any rice sticking together
- Add fish sauce and sugar. Stir quickly until the paste is blended with the rice
- Stir in shrimp and lime juice, and adjust the seasonings. Remove from heat and garnish with lime wedges
Best rice for fried rice
Long grain or Jasmine rice works the best for fried rice and you can read more about rice in this post.
Variations
Chicken or duck. You can make this fried rice with chicken or duck instead of shrimp.
More seafood by adding crab meat or scallops.
Vegetarian. Substitute shrimp with firm tofu or mushrooms. Omit shrimp paste and dry shrimp, and substitute fish sauce with tamari sauce or soy sauce.
Rice. No time to cook rice? You can use microwave rice! When using microwave rice for fried rice, you don’t need to heat it in the microwave. Instead, toss it with the paste and use it to replace day-old rice.
Tom yum cauliflower fried rice
If you’re looking for low-carb fried rice, use cauliflower rice or broccoli rice instead of white rice. Cooking time will take a little longer since you want to make sure cauliflower rice or broccoli rice are “dry” enough when done and not mushy.
Tom yum fried rice with instant paste
For a quick and short-cut version, you can use store-bought tom yum paste and skip making your own at home. This will save you some time and your meal can be ready in less than 30 minutes. And you can also use microwave rice to make this shrimp fried rice.
Best way to enjoy it
Adding fried egg is the easiest way to enjoy this shrimp fried rice or if you like spicy food, try adding chopped Thai chili peppers combined with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce.
Storing and freezing fried rice
This tom yum fried rice can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this in the freezer for up to 2 months. And when you’re ready to enjoy it, just thaw and throw into the skillet for 5-10 minutes.
So, there you go … a virtual trip to Thailand, ready in 15 minutes (unless you make your own paste).
Tom Yum Fried Rice
Ingredients
Thai chili paste
- ¼ cup large dry chili peppers
- 4 shallots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons shrimp paste
- 1 oz. dry shrimp
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 4 oz palm sugar
- 8 tablespoons tamarind juice (not tamarind concentrate)
Shrimp
- 10-15 large shrimps
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper or white pepper to taste
Fried rice
- 3 cups day-old jasmine rice chilled
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 3 stalks lemongrass remove the outer leaves, cut out the bulb, and slices up to 2/3 of the stalk
- 4 kaffir lime leaves
- 1/2 cup white onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Juice of half lime and more lime wedges for garnish
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
Instructions
Thai chili paste
- Mix chili peppers, shallot, garlic, shrimp paste, dry shrimp, and 2 tablespoons of oil in a blender. Add the rest of oil to a pot and add the mixture. Stir fry about 2-3 minutes. Then add the rest of the ingredients and cook over medium heat until it forms a paste
Shrimp
- Add 1 tablespoon oil to a wok over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until they turn pink, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; then set aside
Fried rice
- Add 2 tablespoons cooking oil to a wok over medium-high heat. Add the chili paste, lemongrass, onion, and kaffir lime leaves. Cook for about 2-3 minutes. Stir in peas and cook for another 1-2 minutes
- Raise heat to high and stir in the chilled rice. Use the back of a spoon to break up any rice sticking together
- Add fish sauce and sugar. Stir quickly until the paste is blended with the rice
- Stir in shrimp and lime juice, and adjust the seasonings. Remove from heat and garnish with lime wedges
Jolina says
I love Thai food! The simplicity but also the complexity of flavours blow my mind. I’ve been to Thailand a few times and the best food is street food, so authentic and so good. We only very rarely make Thai food at home (a failed Pad Thai incident dampened our spirits I think lol) but this looks so awesome and you make it look so easy that I think we’ll try again!
Linda says
Thailand’s street food was one of the highlights of my trip 😀 I believe you will make a delicious food out of this recipe! Don’t give up 😉
Kristen Kavan says
I am now officially starving. This looks so amazing. I love fried rice but I don’t think Ive had Tom Yum fried rice before. I cannot wait to try this out!
Linda says
Thank you, Kristen. Have fun with this recipe!
Madeline says
Fried rice is the best! i love the added shrimp too.
Linda says
Thank you, Madeline! Totally agree with you 🙂
Chelsea says
I go to Thailand in a month and I’m definitely going to try Tom Yum! This looks amazing!
Linda says
Thank you, Chelsea! Have a fantastic holiday and enjoy Thailand to the fullest 🙂
candy says
I will have to keep this and make it for my daughter. Shrimp is one of her favorite foods and she would love this dish.
Linda says
Thank you, Candy! I hope both of you and your daughter can enjoy this recipe.
Krysten says
I love fried rice, but every time that I have tried to make it myself I have horrible failed. I love this dish! I’m going to make it!
Linda says
Don’t give up, Krysten! I know you can do it 🙂
Berniedette of PetiteAndToned.com says
OMG, how have I never heard of tom yum fried rice? I grew up eating this similar Filipino soup called sinigang, but I love how the Thai version has that extra kick! Need to try this recipe!
xoxo,
Berniedette | PetiteAndToned.com
Linda says
Thank you, Berniedette! I hope you like it.
Nicole Parise says
This looks amazing! I love all fried rice recipes, and this one looks superb!
xx nicole
http://www.nicoleparise.com
Linda says
Thank you, Nicole!
Hannah says
Yumm this looks so good! I always order this when I’m out but Ive never tried making it
Linda says
Thank you, Hannah! You should try making it so you can eat it over and over again without the trip to the restaurants 😉
Sherry says
I made this fried rice recipe for my daughter and she loved, loved, loved it!! Thank you for the awesome recipe!
laura says
Perfect Fried Rice! Thanks so much!!
Jennifer says
Amazing! The fish sauce really added that “something special” to this dish!