Cross-Cultural · Thailand

Thai Crab Fried Rice (ข้าวผัดปู)

Name: Thai Crab Fried Rice (ข้าวผัดปู)
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Yield: 2 to 3 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups cooked jasmine rice, day-old or cooled (350g); 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided; 1-3 Thai bird chilies, finely sliced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 large egg; 4 oz picked cooked crabmeat, 115g; 2 scallions, thinly sliced; 2 tsp fish sauce, plus more for serving; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, minced

Jasmine rice wok-fried with crab, garlic, Thai chilies, egg, and fish sauce, served with cucumber, lime, and fresh cilantro

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Jump to Recipe

Thai fried rice is simpler and lighter than its Chinese counterpart. Where Chinese fried rice builds layers of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and multiple proteins, Thai fried rice relies on fewer ingredients and lets each one speak clearly. This version uses crab, and the whole point is to taste the crab.

The rice must be cooked and cooled. Wet rice steams in the wok. Dry rice fries properly. The rice is cooked in two batches to avoid overcrowding. The egg is scrambled directly in the wok. The crab goes in last. White pepper rather than black is the traditional Thai seasoning. The plate comes with cucumber slices, lime wedges, and extra fish sauce on the side.

At a Glance

Yield

2 to 3 servings

Prep

10 minutes

Cook

10 minutes

Total

20 minutes

Difficulty

Easy

Ingredients

2 to 3 servings

2 cupscooked jasmine rice, day-old or cooled (350g)
1 1/2 tbspvegetable oil, divided
1-3Thai bird chilies, finely sliced
2garlic cloves, minced
1large egg
4 ozpicked cooked crabmeat, 115g
2scallions, thinly sliced
2 tspfish sauce, plus more for serving
1/4 cupfresh cilantro leaves, minced

Method

1
Fry rice in 2 batches over high heat, 3 min each until pale brown and chewy. Combine.
2
Push rice aside, scramble egg in oil, toss with rice.
3
Add crab, scallions, fish sauce. Toss 1 min. Season with white pepper, stir in cilantro.
4
Serve with cucumber, lime wedges, extra fish sauce, and sliced chilies.