Savoury tomato egg fried rice seasoned with aromatics and seasoning! This quick and easy Thai railway fried rice is ready in 30 minutes with leftover rice! A delicious meal or main dish for the whole family that comes together in one pan!
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What is Thai Railway Fried Rice?
Thai Railway Fried Rice is a delicious dish featuring jasmine rice stir fried with onions, tomatoes, egg in fish sauce and soy sauce with a hint of sweetness. It's served with fresh cucumbers and tomato slices.
This historic dish was served and sold on the railroads of Thailand, hence the name. Therefore, the ingredients had to be simple, affordable and accessible.
The Thai people would use what they had in the kitchen or in their pantry. It's delicious because you can’t go wrong with rice fried with tomatoes and eggs!
I love the story behind this dish and how simple the ingredients are! The fried rice is totally flavourful despite the minimal ingredients.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Cold Day-old cooked Jasmine rice: or substitute with any long grain white rice or brown rice. Avoid using short grain rice or basmati rice. See tips below on how to dry out fresh rice for this recipe.
- Garlic
- Red onion: or substitute with shallots or white onion
- Green onion
- Fish sauce: a common ingredient used in Southeast Asian cooking made of fish oils and salt that lends a very deep umami flavor!
- Regular soy sauce: or substitute with low sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. If you’re gluten-free, substitute with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce.
- Dark soy sauce: this is thicker and darker than regular soy sauce. But if you don’t have this, substitute with regular soy sauce.
- Eggs
- White granulated sugar
- Fresh Tomatoes
- Fresh Cucumber: ideally seedless cucumber like English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers.
Note: Your Asian grocery store will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients.
Best rice to use?
Use day old or leftover rice that has been sitting in the fridge. This is important if you want fluffy rice because the cold air removes excess moisture that is the leading factor to clumpy fried rice.
Also, choosing the right type of rice is equally important. I recommend jasmine rice or a long grain white rice.
Can I use same day cooked rice?
You may use same day warm cooked rice but it will create clumpy fried rice due to the excess moisture.
To fix this: Spread out the hot rice in a thin layer on a large baking sheet. Place it in the freezer for 45-60 minutes fully exposed. Then break up the rice with a rice paddle or clean hands moistened with neutral oil to prevent it from sticking.
Expert Tips
- Using day-old cold rice will yield fluffy fried rice.
- Break up the leftover rice with a rice paddle or clean hands to expose the separate grains! This allows for the grains to toast in the pan and become evenly seasoned.
- If you're making fresh rice for this recipe, use a few tablespoons less water to steam the rice. Make sure to also dry it out by referring to the instructions above.
- Use a carbon steel wok for that smoky flavor! This is the secret ingredient in most takeout! But if you don't have one a normal pan will work but you won't get that smoky flavor.
- Use medium-high heat for the best fried rice. This temperature toasts the rice and prevents moisture from building in the pan.
- Prepare your ingredients in advance for smooth and easy cooking.
- Do not skip the fish sauce as it gives this dish it’s signature Thai flavour.
- Garnish with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes for extra crunch and a refreshing flavour.
Instructions
- Break up your cold day-old rice with a rice paddle or with clean hands. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Fry red onions, garlic and green onions until fragrant and translucent.
- Add in your cooked rice along with regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and fish sauce. Toss until every grain is colored brown.
- Sweep your fried rice to the side and then fry your eggs. Scramble the eggs and break them apart into bite size pieces. Then toss with the rice.
- Sweep everything to the side and then toss in your tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes for 2-3 minutes until they have softened and mix into rice.
- Remove fried rice off heat and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Enjoy!
Storage
- Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat: microwave for 2-3 minutes until hot or reheat in a pan on medium heat.
- Freezer friendly? I don't recommend freezing this type of fried rice as the vegetables will become soggy overtime.
Pairing Suggestions
This Thai Railway fried rice serves well with:
- starters like egg rolls
- cooked protein like bang bang shrimp, crying tiger beef, Thai garlic shrimp, or pad kra pao
- noodle dishes like Thai Drunken Noodles, Pad See Ew, Chicken Pad Thai
- cooked vegetables like bok choy, spicy garlic bok choy, choy sum, gai lan, garlic green beans or stir fried snow pea leaves.
FAQ
This can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To enjoy, reheat it in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop on medium heat.
The fish sauce combined with the soy sauce give Thai fried rice its iconic taste. Fish sauce is very commonly used in Thai cuisine.
Yes, feel free to substitute the eggs with sliced chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or extra-firm tofu.
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📖 Recipe
Easy 25-min. Thai Railway Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice ideally cold day-old rice
- 4 large eggs beaten
- 2 small tomatoes chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 green onion finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
For serving:
- 1 seedless cucumber chopped
- 1 small tomato chopped into wedges
Instructions
- Break up your cold day-old rice with a rice paddle or with clean hands. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Fry red onions, garlic and green onions until fragrant and translucent.
- Add in your cooked rice along with regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and fish sauce. Toss until every grain is colored brown.
- Sweep your fried rice to the side and then fry your eggs. Scramble the eggs and break them apart into bite size pieces. Then toss with the rice.
- Sweep everything to the side and then toss in your tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes for 2-3 minutes until they have softened and mix into rice.
- Remove fried rice off heat and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Enjoy!
Mg lwin
I like this recipe.
Melinda
Son had three helpings and asked if there was leftovers for lunch tomorrow! We all loved it!
christieathome
Haha! I love that! I'm so happy to hear that you son enjoyed it that much! Thank you for making my recipe 🙂 Have a wonderful evening Melinda!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I already get a little weak in the knees just at the thought of fried rice, but this Thai railway version you've created is deliciousness defined!