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Hawaiian Fried Rice ~ the classic combination of sweet pineapple with salty ham is a winner in this traditional fried rice.
We have one of those refrigerators with the big freezer drawer on the bottom. I love it, especially since I’m not very tall. I can actually find things buried in the bottom with ease. However, it feels a little like dumpster diving when I go in search of items that may have been missed. Thus is the story of the leftover Christmas ham. I portioned it out into single servings and bagged it up for my husband to grab and go to the office for lunch. Unfortunately (for him) he forgot about the ham, and so did I. So when I found it well preserved in the bottom of the drawer, I knew it was immediately going in this fried rice!
Loaded with vegetables, you’ll love this easy meal and may find yourself enjoying leftovers for breakfast!
This recipes makes a big skillet full of Hawaiian Fried Rice and since it’s so filling, we were able to enjoy it for several days. Traveling husband even took some to work for his lunch too. This made him very happy since he thought he’d missed his opportunity for a ham filled lunch! My husband does love a good ham.
The sweet pineapple is fabulous in this dish especially when combined with a sauce of fresh ginger, garlic, and my favorite dry Sriracha seasoning.
If you have a rice cooker, this is a breeze. Cold rice is better for making fried rice, so make it the day before and you’re almost done. Substitute deli ham if you can’t find any in the bottom of your freezer, it’s all good! Once you have your rice ready and the vegetables prepped, this one skillet meal comes together in 15 minutes.
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Hawaiian Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry Sriracha seasoning
- 2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1 cup chopped ham
- 1 red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
- 6 scallions, white parts minced and green parts cut into ½-inch pieces, divided
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
- 4 cups cooked long-grain white rice, cold
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 1 cup pineapple chunks, about ½-inch in size
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil and Sriracha seasoning. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ham, bell pepper, scallion whites, and onion and cook until starting to brown, about 9-10 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove the vegetables from the skillet to a plate and keep warm.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil in the skillet. Add the rice and cook, until the clumps are broken up and the rice is heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Push the rice to the sides of the skillet, leaving a hole in the center. Add the remaining ½ tablespoon of oil and then add the eggs. Cook the eggs until set, then stir until cooked through. Stir to combine the eggs and rice, then add the reserved vegetables. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the rice and stir until combined.
- Remove from the heat and add the pineapple and green scallion pieces. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Base fried rice recipe adapted from April/May 2013 Cook's Country Magazine
Nutrition
If you don’t have a rice cooker – check out our favorite by clicking on the photo:
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Pineapple is such a wonderful, delicious treat and very affordable too. We love it on pizza (my favorite!), in Pineapple Salsa, Pineapple Pound Cake and these yummy Coconut Pineapple Popsicles. This is a great time of year to try these super easy Grilled Pineapple Ham Kabobs ~ from She Wears Many Hats. And check out this brilliant Campfire Recipe for Cheesy Ham and Pineapple Sandwiches ~ from Well Plated. I’m making these next time we go camping! And here’s another creative recipe from Spend With Pennies for Hawaiian Pasta Salad – great for a picnic!
Are you ready for the weekend? Happy Mother’s Day to all the ladies out there who have ever mothered anybody, including fur children! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
mary
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I have a jar of Sriracha Sauce. Could I use this instead of the dry Sriracha seasoning?
Tricia Buice
Yes you can Mary! Enjoy 🙂
Karen
Can you make this recipe ahead of time and just reheat it?
Tricia Buice
Hi Karen! Yes you can. It rewarms beautifully. Enjoy!
Kelly
Made this as a side dish tonight with some bbq pineapple pulled chicken and it was AMAZING. I received rave reviews from everyone and my husband was upset he didn’t have any left overs. I substituted the ham with SPAM which was the perfect touch of Hawaii with the pineapple. I will definitely be making this again in the future. Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Kelly! My husband loves this too and SPAM is the perfect add-in! Bravo 🙂
Gerlinde
My husband loves fried rice and your recipe looks delicious. I love the combination . I used to eat something called Hawaiian toast, which was ham and pineapple on a toast grilled.
Mimi
This is really lovely!! And healthy! But you forgot the Macadamia nuts!!!
Tricia Buice
Wow Mimi – what a great addition that would be. Thank you! That’s a must try 🙂
Susan
So colorful and delicious! We don’t eat rice often but fried rice is definitely a favorite 🙂 I think I could eat the whole bowl myself!
Tricia Buice
We don’t eat rice often either Susan – but I’m always glad when I do make it. Such a shame about those carbs 🙂
sippitysup
While I must disagree about pineapple on pizza I will say I love it here in Fried Rice. GREG
Tricia Buice
Thanks for stopping by Greg! Pineapple in fried rice is pretty terrific – hope you get to try it sometime 🙂
Robyn
I don’t eat ham very often but I sure would like it in this dish. So many lovely colours and flavours, Tricia! That’s definitely a Friday sort of dish.
Tricia Buice
We don’t eat ham very much anymore either – but when we do, my husband loves it. Ham is perfect in this fried rice however – so tasty! Thanks Robyn
Larry
Looks delicious Tricia but I must admit to expecting Spam rather than ham 🙂
Tricia Buice
Haha – my husband probably would not care if I had made a spam version of this. We had Honey Baked Ham at Christmas so this is the leftovers 🙂 Hope you and Bev enjoy a nice weekend and please wish a Happy Mother’s Day from us!
cheri
What a flavor busting combination of flavors that you have combined here, I bet this is delicious. We don’t eat as many leftovers as we used to, because I finally started cutting back the amount of food I was preparing but there is always leftover ham;)
Tricia Buice
Thanks Cheri! When I cook, I like to make enough so I don’t have to make a meal everyday. I think that’s why I love soup so much. Make a big pot and eat all week! Have a happy Mother’s Day!
Wendy
All of the colors make this fried rice so bright and cheerful! I think people who don’t eat left-overs are missing out, but that just leaves more for me! 🙂 Using ready-to-go ingredients helps make this rice a great weeknight dinner. Though you are emphasizing a great use for your ham, I am imagining using left-over chicken or browned tofu cubes!
Tricia Buice
You are right Wendy. There are no leftovers safe in our house. My husband loves leftovers. I like your idea of chicken and tofu – as I rarely eat ham anymore. Thanks for stopping by!
Monique
I have that fridge too and ♥ it!
This looks so good..as Sue said:”chunky”:)
Love the sesame oil add in.
Tricia Buice
Lots of texture and flavor Monique. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
So chunky and delicious looking Tricia ~ I think I’m going to make this for dinner tonight! I just happen to have half a pineapple lying around, too, lucky me!
Tricia Buice
You’re going to love this Sue! Thanks so much and Happy Mother’s Day!
Monica
This goes straight to my heart (and I wish it could go straight into my stomach!). I love a good fried rice and seriously, I love ham! My husband loves pineapple and who doesn’t love that sweet and salty combo. Tricia, I am so hungry now even though I just had breakfast. Everyone should be so lucky to freezer dive and turn it into something this tasty! : )
Tricia Buice
This is great for breakfast Monica – because it does have eggs in it – haha. Happy Mother’s Day lady!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Perfect timing! I’ve been looking for inspiration for the ham in my freezer right now and this is definitely going to happen. Love fried rice and the pineapple and ham sounds delicious 🙂
Tricia Buice
It really is wonderful Jennifer – hope you get the chance to try it. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Chris Scheuer
Haha! I just happen to have some of that long lost ham in my freezer too! Now I know what to do with it. This sounds wonderful. I love Hawaiian pizza but never thought of using that combination in fried rice. Brilliant!
Tricia Buice
You’re going to love this Chris – so much flavor and it all blends very well. Thanks!
tanna
Sweet and salty. My favorite combination!! =) blessings ~ tanna
Tricia Buice
Thanks Tanna!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Easy to make, filling and so delicious…a perfect workday lunch!
Tricia Buice
Works for us Angie! Have a great weekend.