Thai Basil Fried Rice is a delicious and easy Asian-style rice dish made with jasmine rice, Thai basil, and sauces. It's prepared in an Instant Pot pressure cooker, making it ideal for a quick and healthy weeknight dinner. This vegan dish is also kid-approved!
If you enjoy Thai food and its flavors, you'll definitely love this homemade Thai-style vegan fried rice. Unlike Indian Chinese vegetable fried rice, this dish has its own unique flair. I've prepared it numerous times for potlucks, gatherings, and weeknight dinners, and my husband absolutely loves this.
Today I am sharing how to make Thai basil fried rice in the Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT Pressure Cooker. Basil fried rice is so easy to make in this Instant Pot and takes less than 20 minutes. My Other favorite Instant Pot Thai recipes are Thai red curry and Thai peanut noodles.
NO INSTANT POT? No problem! You can easily make this Thai fried rice recipe on the stovetop using leftover rice. Find the detailed recipe below.
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Ingredients
- Rice: Aromatic white or brown jasmine rice is perfect for this Thai basil rice recipe, but any short-grain rice can also be used.
- Onion: I used yellow onions, as they give sweetness to the dish. You can also use scallions.
- Garlic, ginger, and Thai chilies: I used freshly minced ginger and garlic. You can use either Thai red or green chilies.
- Vegetables: I used red bell pepper. To make it healthier, you can also add frozen carrots, beans, peas, or mushrooms.
- Soy sauce: Or tamari for gluten-free. Soy sauce adds extra zing to the dish.
- Herbs: Add roughly torn Thai basil and cilantro for authentic flavors. If Thai basil isn't available, regular basil works well too.
- Oil: Sesame oil tastes the best, but olive oil or coconut oil can also be used.
- Nuts: Cashews are added for crunch, but you can also use air fryer roasted peanuts. However, adding nuts is entirely optional.
- Hot sauce: Optional. Add sriracha or red chili sauce for the heat.
How to Make Thai Basil Fried Rice in Instant Pot
Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot. Add oil, and once it's hot, add minced garlic, ginger, and Thai chilies. Sauté for 30 seconds or until aromatic.
Next, add the onions and sauté for about 2 minutes until they turn soft.
Add the bell pepper, rinsed jasmine rice, water, and salt. Mix well and deglaze the pot by scraping any food particles sticking to the bottom to avoid a BURN alert.
Close the lid securely on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and adjust the timer to 4 minutes.
When the Instant Pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
Turn on the SAUTE mode. Push the cooked rice to the side and add soy sauce, sriracha, or red chili sauce. Mix to combine everything thoroughly.
Next, add roasted cashews (optional), cilantro (coriander leaves), Thai basil (roughly torn), black pepper, and salt. Toss everything well until the leaves wilt slightly.
Vegan Thai basil fried rice is ready. Enjoy!
Stovetop Pot Method
- In a large pan or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add minced garlic, ginger, and Thai chilies. Sauté for about 30 seconds or until aromatic.
- Next, add the onions and sauté for about 2 minutes until the onions are soft.
- Then add the veggies and stir-fry until they are tender but crisp.
- Then add soy sauce and sriracha. Sauté over high heat, stirring regularly to prevent burning.
- Add the cooked jasmine rice (or leftover rice), salt, and ground black pepper. Gently mix everything evenly.
- Lastly, add roasted cashews (optional), cilantro (coriander leaves), Thai basil leaves. Toss everything well until the leaves wilt. Let it cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes. Thai Basil Fried Rice is ready. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions for Thai Fried Rice
Vegetable Thai Basil fried rice is flavorful enough to be enjoyed on its own. However, you can also serve it alongside Thai curries such as vegetarian Thai red curry or Thai panang curry for a complete meal experience.
Variations
- Protein: You can stir in plant-based protein like air fryer tofu or scrambled eggs.
- Grain Alternatives: You can substitute jasmine rice with white basmati rice, brown basmati rice, millets, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for healthier options.
- Other Vegetables: Add vegetables of your choice, like broccoli, green peas, carrots, snap peas, and mushrooms.
Expert Tips
- Some people like adding soy sauce and sriracha before pressure cooking. But I recommend adding it after pressure cooking. Both methods work well.
- Opt for low-sodium soy sauce, and for a gluten-free option, use Tamari or Coconut Aminos instead of soy sauce for the best results!
Storage Suggestions
You can store the leftovers in an airtight container for about two days in the refrigerator.
FAQs
The choice of rice variety is crucial for this recipe. It uses long-grain aromatic rice like jasmine rice. Basmati rice (white or brown) can also be used as an alternative. However, sushi rice, risotto rice, or paella rice is not recommended for this dish.
You can also add the following vegetables after pressure cooking.
shredded cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, or snap peas.
More Vegetable Fried Rice Recipes
Instant Pot Thai Basil Fried Rice (Vegan)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil (Or olive oil)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ inch ginger minced
- 2 thai green or red chillies
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 medium red bell pepper cut into julianne
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha adjust to taste
- salt adjust to taste
- black pepper powder adjust to taste
- ¼ cup cilantro (coriander leaves)
- ½ cup thai basil
- 8-10 cashews optional
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot. Add oil, and once it's hot, add minced garlic, ginger, and Thai chilies. Sauté for 30 seconds or until aromatic.
- Next, add the onions and sauté for about 2 minutes until they turn soft.
- Add the bell pepper, rinsed jasmine rice, water, and salt. Mix well and deglaze the pot by scraping any food particles sticking to the bottom to avoid a BURN alert.
- Close the lid securely on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and adjust the timer to 4 minutes.When the Instant Pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
- Turn on the SAUTE mode. Push the cooked rice to the side and add soy sauce, sriracha, or red chili sauce. Mix to combine everything thoroughly.
- Next, add roasted cashews (optional), cilantro (coriander leaves), Thai basil (roughly torn), black pepper, and salt. Toss everything well until the leaves wilt slightly.
- Vegan Thai Basil Fried Rice is ready. Enjoy!
Stovetop Pot Method:
- In a large pan or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add minced garlic, ginger, and Thai chilies. Sauté for about 30 seconds or until aromatic.
- Next, add the onions and saute for about 2 minutes till the onions turn soft.
- Then add the veggies and stir fry until they are tender but crisp.
- Then add soy sauce and sriracha. Sauté over high heat, stirring regularly to prevent burning.
- Add the cooked or leftover rice, salt, and ground black pepper. Gently mix everything evenly.
- Lastly, add roasted cashews (optional), cilantro (coriander leaves), Thai basil. Toss everything well until the leaves wilt. Let it cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Thai Basil Fried Rice is ready. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Variations
- Protein: You can stir in plant-based protein like fried tofu or scrambled eggs.
- Grain Alternatives: You can substitute jasmine rice with white basmati rice, brown rice, millets, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for healthier options.
- Other Vegetables: Add vegetables of your choice, like broccoli, green peas, carrots, snap peas, and mushrooms.
Tips
- Some people like adding soy sauce and sriracha before pressure cooking. But I recommend adding it after pressure cooking. Both methods work well.
- Opt for low-sodium soy sauce, and for a gluten-free option, use Tamari or Coconut Aminos instead of soy sauce for the best results!
Nutrition
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