This Thai green curry fried rice recipe is quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. It’s a great dish for a Thai dinner at home, and the leftovers are ideal for lunch the next day. You can easily customize this kao pad gaeng keow wan with your favorite vegetables and protein, and you can also adjust the spiciness to taste!

Thai green curry fried rice, or gaeng keow wan, served in a white dish.

The best green curry stir-fry is made with my homemade authentic green curry paste. You can also use it to make my recipes for Thai green curry chicken stir-fry, Thai green curry pork, and vegetarian Thai green curry.

In this recipe, I’ll give you plenty of information about which vegetables and proteins you can use to adapt this green Thai rice to your taste. If you’d prefer to skip straight to the instructions, you can do that below!

What is Thai green curry fried rice

Thai green curry fried rice, or kao pad gaeng keow wan, is stir-fried jasmine rice with spicy green curry paste, vegetables, and optionally proteins like chicken or pork. It’s a quick main dish with a balanced mix of sweet, salty, and spicy Thai flavors.

Kao pad gaeng keow wan

Kao pad or khao pad means fried rice in Thai. Gaeng keow wan or gang kiew wan translates to green curry.

This fried rice green curry is a real flavor bomb! It’s more suitable for adults and less so for children, as the curry paste and chilies add spiciness. For the kids, you can use a milder fried rice recipe, like chicken pineapple fried rice.

Close-up of Thai green curry fried rice, also known as kao pad gaeng keow wan gai.

In my earlier recipes, I’ve mentioned that fried rice isn’t necessarily my favorite dish, but this green Thai curry rice always hits the spot. The curry paste adds a tremendous amount of flavor to the dish that’s just so, so delicious.

Some other favorite Thai rice dishes you can bookmark for later include khao pad krapow with holy basil and tom yum fried rice!

In Thailand, this dish isn’t commonly ordered and isn’t available at the street food markets where I live. However, it was a real hit in my Thai restaurant, along with variations using red curry paste and yellow curry paste.

After the instructions, I’ll share some tips on how best to serve Thai green curry rice, and how you can customize the dish to your liking, so be sure to keep reading!

Ingredients

Green curry fried rice ingredients can be sourced at Asian grocery stores and Asian markets.
The exact measurements are in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Steamed rice – In Thai cuisine, we often use jasmine rice, but other types can work too. For the best fried rice, it’s ideal to use day old rice that’s been cooked and cooled for a day.
Green curry paste – For truly flavorful results, try my homemade green curry paste. If you’re buying from a store, Maesri or Mae Ploy brands are great choices, and you can find them on Amazon.
Thai eggplants, pea eggplants – These are my go-to green vegetables for this dish. Feel free to customize with your favorite veggies, I’ve listed many options below the instructions.
Sweet basil – Sweet basil adds freshness and aroma.
Prik chi fa – This type of Thai chili pepper adds a mild to moderate heat with lots of chili flavor without overwhelming the dish.
Fish sauce – Fish sauce is a staple in Thai cooking, adding a salty umami-rich flavor.
Oyster sauce – Oyster sauce is a common ingredient in Thai stir-fries, providing a savory, slightly sweet flavor that’s perfect for making fried rice.
White sugar – A small amount of white or brown sugar is a must for balancing the saltiness and heat. Balancing out the flavors is a bit part of cooking Thai food!
Oil – Use a neutral-flavored oil like vegetable or canola, which has a high smoke point perfect for frying without overpowering the dish’s flavors.

How to make fried rice green curry

Step 1: Heat oil in your wok and add green curry paste. Fry until fragrant, about 20 seconds.

Step 2: Add steamed rice and mix it well with the curry paste. Then, add sugar, oyster sauce, and fish sauce and toss to mix.

Kao pad gaeng keow wan, green fried rice, ready in a wok.

Step 3: Add all vegetables – Thai eggplants and pea eggplants – and stir-fry until the vegetables are soft to your liking. Finish by adding sweet basil and sliced chilies, giving it one more gentle mix. Serve your green fried rice hot and enjoy!

Kitchenware

Here’s what you’ll need to make this green curry fried rice recipe:

Measuring spoons and cups
Knife and cutting board
Rice cooker or pot
Wok or cast iron skillet
Spatula or stirring spoon

Thai curry fried rice recipe variations

You can make different variations of this recipe, with each version offering a unique taste!

Curry paste variations: Try making red curry fried rice, using my spicy red curry paste recipe, or try a milder dish like yellow curry fried rice.

Vegetables: There are many vegetables that go well in fried rice. Some great options include broccoli, carrots, green beans, baby corn, bamboo shoots, bell peppers, cauliflower, zucchini, and snap peas.

Proteins: Try making green curry chicken fried rice, or use pork or beef, or a seafood mix like shrimp and squid.

Vegetarian: Vegetarians can opt for tofu and use a vegetarian fish sauce & oyster sauce alternative for a gluten-free plant based rice meal. (Or just try my vegetarian Thai fried rice recipe!)

What to serve kao pad with

In Thailand, kao pad is often served with the Thai table condiment prik nam pla. It’s also commonly served as a side dish with other meals, like som tum Thai (papaya salad). Since this is a meat-free fried rice, you can pair it with Thai chicken wings for added protein.

How to store and reheat

Storing: To keep your leftovers fresh, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3–4 days. Make sure the rice has cooled to room temperature before sealing it.

Reheating: When you’re ready to enjoy your green curry paste fried rice again, the best way to reheat it is in a skillet over medium heat. If you’re in a hurry, you can also microwave it until it’s hot, stirring halfway through.

Authentic Thai curry recipes

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