Caribbean-inspired fried rice with shrimp and pineapple offers a burst of tropical flavors your taste buds are going to love!
This delicious recipe features a medley of peppers, onions, shrimp, and sweet pineapple that is not only visually appealing but also very tasty!
Caribbean fried rice is a spin-off of Asian fry rice with Caribbean flavors. It is made from leftover or day old rice and aromatic spices.
Ingredients For Caribbean Rice
- Coconut oil
- Onion
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Fresh ginger root
- Sweet peppers (red pepper, yellow pepper, orange pepper)
- Green bell pepper
- Hot pepper (see Variations and Top Tip)
- Cooked rice
- Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Celery
- Cooked shrimp
- Pineapple
- Green onions
- Parsley
- Salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
Helpful Equipment / Tools
- Large deep skillet / 12-inch nonstick skillet
- Cutting board
- Large kitchen knife
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Vegetable peeler
- Garlic press
How To Make Caribbean Rice With Shrimp And Pineapple
This tasty dish is very easy to assemble and the total cook time is about 10 minutes. The prep time of chopping, dicing, and mincing is the most time consuming step, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Gather and prep ingredients –
- Chopped, diced, minced, and measured before starting.
- Heat coconut oil.
- Add onion and cook until translucent.
- Stir in garlic and ginger.
- Add peppers (red, yellow, orange, and green), carrots, hot pepper (if using), a little bit of salt and black pepper.
- Cook, stirring often.
- Add cooked rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
- Stir until throughly combined.
- Cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in shrimp and pineapple tidbits.
- Cook for a couple of minutes.
- Stir in chopped parsley, celery, and scallions.
- Stir in chopped parsley, celery, and scallions.
- Give the pan one good final stir.
- Serve and enjoy!
Let’s Look At The Main Ingredients
Cooked Rice – There are a variety of rice grains that can be used: Jasmine rice, white rice, brown rice to name a few.
This is a great way to use leftover rice!
Coconut Oil – The coconut palm was considered the “staff of life” for centuries in the Caribbean. Coconut oil is the cooking oil of choice – It has a high smoke point and great flavor.
Olive oil or vegetable oil can be used. Olive oil is a healthier alternative but will also change the flavor of this dish.
Peppers – The medley of peppers are wonderful flavors in this dish. The red, yellow, and orange add a sweet mild taste while the green bell pepper adds a little bitter and grassy flavor.
For those who love spicy food, add a finely minced jalapeno pepper or if you want add a super hot pepper, use either a half of habanero or scotch bonnet. (see FAQ’s)
Onion – For this recipe I used a yellow onion. Red onion or white onion can be substituted.
Garlic – There is a lot of fresh garlic in this dish which I love! You can adjust the amount to your liking.
Fresh garlic is better than garlic powder for this recipe.
Soy Sauce – There is a difference between light and dark soy sauce. Dark base soy sauce which has a more intense flavor and is more saltier in taste is perfect for this recipe.
Sesame seed oil – This oil adds a savory flavor to rice when it is fried.
Vegetables – Chopped carrots and celery add texture and layers of flavor.
Pineapple – I love adding pineapple to this spicy rice dish. It balances the peppers so nicely. Fresh or frozen (that has been thawed).
Variations For Caribbean-Style Fried Rice With Shrimp And Pineapple
It’s easy to make this vegetarian fried rice dish a complete meal by adding a combination of proteins like, black beans, chunks of shrimps, diced ham, scrambled eggs, or even bite size pieces of rotisserie chicken.
Popular spices to add are cayenne pepper (for heat), ground cumin, curry powder, green seasoning (see FAQ’s), and paprika.
Often beef flavor bouillon or chicken broth are added. Bean sprouts and cabbage are also great vegetables to use.
Top Tip
Wear gloves when working with peppers and wash your hands with soap and water after.
The capsaicin (what makes peppers hot) can still be on your skin and can easily be transferred to other places.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Scotch Bonnet Pepper?
The Scotch Bonnet is a type of chili pepper named for its resemblance to a Scottish tam o’ shanter bonnet. It can be found everywhere in West Africa and the Caribbean.
Scotch Bonnets are routinely ranked among the world’s hottest hot peppers. Use cautiously!
What Is Green Seasoning?
Almost every island country has their own blend of this seasoning, and it’s believed that Trinidad is the home base for this creation.
Caribbean Green Seasoning can be made with just a few simple ingredients like onion, garlic, peppers, ginger, and a few herbs.
If you like this dish, check out a few more delicious recipes from Join Me In The Kitchen!
Caribbean Fried Rice With Shrimp And Pineapple Recipe
This delicious recipe features a medley of peppers, onions, shrimp, and sweet pineapple that is not only visually appealing but also very satisfying.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion (approximately 1 small onion)
- 6 - 8 minced garlic cloves (approximately 3 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon fresh finely chopped ginger
- 1 small red bell pepper (3/4 cup - diced)
- 1 small orange bell pepper (3/4 cup - diced)
- 1 small yellow bell pepper (3/4 cup - diced)
- 1 small green pepper (3/4cup - diced)
- 1 small hot pepper - seeded and finely minced (see Variations and Top Tip)
- 1/2 cup diced carrots (approximately 1 large carrot)
- 2 cups cooked day old rice
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1 pound boiled peeled shrimp (cut into pieces)
- 1/2 cup pineapple (chopped)
- 3 green onions - sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley - chopped
- A pinch of salt - to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Prep all the ingredients - This is the most time consuming step of the recipe but you want to have all the ingredients chopped, diced, minced, and measured before starting. Allow about 45 minutes for this.
- Heat coconut oil in large deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes or until translucent. Stir in garlic and ginger. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add peppers (red, yellow, orange, and green), carrots, hot pepper (if using), a small amount of salt and black pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Stirring often.
- Add 2 -3 cups of cooked rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Stir until throughly combined. Cook for 2 minutes, scraping up the bottom of the pan so that the rice does not stick.
- Stir in shrimp and pineapple tidbits. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in chopped parsley, celery, and scallions.
- Taste and add more soy sauce or sesame oil if preferred.
- Give the pan one good final stir. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Add your own personal twist on this recipe by trying different seasonings.
Popular spices to add are cayenne pepper (for heat), ground cumin, curry powder, green seasoning (see FAQ's), and paprika.
Often beef flavor bouillon or chicken broth are added. Bean sprouts and cabbage are also great vegetables to use.
Top Tip
You should wear gloves when working with peppers and wash your hands with soap and water after.
Angie Dittmar
Saturday 22nd of July 2023
This recipe is AMAZING!
Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Monday 24th of July 2023
Thank you so much Angie! I'm glad you liked it.
Cooper Evans
Sunday 16th of July 2023
This was the best, great and flavorful!