Thai Railway Fried Rice. Savoury tomato egg fried rice seasoned with aromatics, soy sauce and fish sauce. A delicious and quick meal ready in 30 minutes with cooked rice.
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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 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. Essentially Thai people would use what they had in the kitchen or in their pantry. It's absolutely delicious because you can’t go wrong with tomato fried with egg and rice.
I love the story behind this dish and how simple it is. The fried rice is totally flavourful and tasty. A great meal if you’re craving something filling, easy to make and simple. It comes together very quickly in 30 minutes with leftover cooked rice.
Ingredients
Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.
Note: Your Asian grocery store will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients.
- Day old cooked jasmine rice
- Garlic
- Red onion
- Green onion
- Fish sauce
- 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 of your choice.
- Dark soy sauce: different than regular soy sauce as it's thicker and darker.
- Eggs
- White granulated sugar
- Tomatoes
- Cucumber
How to make Thai Railway Fried Rice
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium 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. Mix completely until every granule is brown.
- Sweep your fried rice to the side and then fry your eggs. Cook the eggs and break them apart into bite size pieces. Then mix into 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, cucumbers and green onions. Enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
This dish will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes or reheat on the stovetop in a pan on medium heat until hot.
Expert Tips
- Using day old cold rice will yield fluffy fried rice.
- Use a carbon steel wok for that smoky flavor
- 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
- When frying your eggs, make sure you cook them enough so that they develop shape. If you mix the rice when the eggs are still wet, the eggs will disintegrate into the rice unless you desire that.
- Garnish with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes for extra crunch and a refreshing flavour.
FAQ
Why does Thai fried rice taste different?
The fish sauce combined with the soy sauce give Thai fried rice its iconic taste. Fish sauce is very commonly used in Thai cuisine.
Other Thai recipes you may like!
- Thai Spicy Basil Fried Rice
- Nasi Goreng Spam
- Pad See Ew Woon Sen
- Chicken Pad See Ew
- Shrimp Pad Thai
- Thai Drunken Noodles
- Authentic Chicken Pad Thai
📖 Recipe
Quick Easy Thai Railway Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked jasmine rice day old
- 4 eggs beaten
- 2 small tomatoes chopped
- ½ tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 green onion finely sliced
- ½ tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
To serve
- 1 cucumber chopped for serving
- 1 small tomato chopped into wedges for serving
Instructions
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium 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. Mix completely until every granule is brown.
- Sweep your fried rice to the side and then fry your eggs. Cook the eggs and break them apart into bite size pieces. Then mix into 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, cucumbers and green onions. Enjoy!
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!