Hawaiian Fried Rice with ham and pineapple is an easy side dish to make when you’re in the mood for Chinese takeout but need to keep an eye on your spending. Great way to use up leftover ham!
Is it too early to talk about Easter leftovers when it’s still two weeks away? Surely by now you have the whole meal planned – the ham, the lamb, the au gratin potatoes, the hot cross buns, the dessert. But what about the Monday after? Who else finds themselves with leftover ham? There’s usually enough ham to make one, possibly even two, extra meals. The good news is you’re halfway finished with menu planning! The bad news is what do you make besides ham and cheese soup?
I know there’s this big debate on ham and pineapple together, especially on pizza. I personally love the sweet, salty, and savory combination, like with my Hawaiian Pizza Pasta. How about you? If you said yes, then you’ll be excited over this Hawaiian Fried Rice recipe! If you said no, I suppose you can leave out the pineapple ;) It’s an easy side dish you can throw together when you’re in the mood for Chinese takeout but need to keep your wallet on lockdown. It reminds me of a challenge on Food Network where amateur cooks had to make Chinese food in the same amount of time it took to order delivery. Even though that was television with their editing, I give you my word you can certainly beat the delivery driver with this one.
This dish cooks quickly, so make sure you have all of your mise en place (fancy term for prepping your ingredients, including chopping) ready to go before you turn on your skillet. You won’t have time to stop and chop anything once you start.
The key to making fried rice is using leftover cooked rice. However, I rarely have leftover rice on hand. That’s where Veetee Rice comes in handy. Usually you microwave a tray in 2 minutes, but you can also cook it directly in the skillet without precooking. Crumble it up into the pan, let it cook for a few minutes, and you’re on your way to dinner. I used their white long grain rice, which you can find near you via their store locator.
I like to eat several big helpings of fried rice as my main course. However, you can pair it up with General Tso’s Chicken Baked Wontons to make it a more substantial meal.
No leftover holiday ham? No problem! Nowadays you can buy small slices of ham to chop up or even buy pre-chopped ham. And if you find yourself with leftover lamb, you’re one step closer to making Gyro Rice Bowls.
Hawaiian Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter (add pinch of salt if unsalted)
- 1 green onion, chopped white part only (reserve green for garnish)
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup diced ham
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger paste or minced ginger
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup shelled peas (frozen or fresh)
- 1/2 cup canned pineapple tidbits, juice drained
- 1 tray Veetee Dine-In Long Grain White Rice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 egg
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter. Add the white part of the green onion and carrots. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until softened.
- Add the ham, ginger, garlic, peas, and pineapple. Cook 1 minute.
- Crumble the rice into the pan. Stir to coat and cook for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Add the soy sauce.
- Push the rice mixture to one side of the skillet. Add the egg to the gap and scramble it into the rice. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the egg is cooked.
- Stir in the green part of the onion and serve.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Veetee Rice. Thank you for supporting me and the companies I work with as sponsored posts help pay for the costs of running Chocolate Moosey, including website hosting and groceries for recipe development.
Cheryl Illinois says
Sounds good . think I will try it.
Carla says
Let me know how it turns out if you do!
Cheryl Illinois says
Just an FYI the pineapple fried rice is on the menu this week along with teriyaki meatballs. Thought they might go well together.
Carla says
Oh I think both go well together! Enjoy
Wilma Manasse says
Will make that tonight. No special rice called for in the recipe of Hawaiian Fried Rice, but I’ll use what I have. Love Fried rice and that’s sounds especially good.
Love all the recipes for 2 and one. Go to them often. Everything I’ve tried are very good. Thank you for Sharing them for us oldies that live alone.
Carla says
Glad you’re enjoying my recipes! Make sure to cook the rice separately then add the already-cooked rice to the recipe. If you use regular dry rice in the recipe, it won’t cook properly.
Wilma Manasse says
Yes, I did cook the rice before hand then added it last. I thought the recipe was delicious and so did my son, Mark. First thing I’ve had that I liked for a long time. Nothing has tasted good lately. I thought my taste buds had died. Now I know they haven’t, because tonight’s dinner was very tasty.
Thank You for the recipe. As I said, I love stir fry’s and this one was one to keep.
William Ha says
Awesome. I think my wife love it. I try in this summer.
Thank you for your recipe and please keep it up.
Carla says
Hope you and your wife enjoy it! Let me know how it goes.
William Ha says
Today, she love it. My family very fun. Thanks Carla
jade edward says
looks simple but still tempting :)