I always love to make this easy gluten free fried rice recipe whenever I’m craving Chinese takeout! Being gluten free and celiac, it is so hard to safely order chinese food. Making my favorite chinese takeout dishes at home also gives me peace of mind knowing it’s made with safe and allergy friendly certified gluten-free ingredients. This gluten free fried rice recipe is also naturally vegan, dairy-free, vegetarian, and nut-free!
This gluten free fried rice is quick and easy to make. It is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, perfect for meal prep and way faster than ordering takeout!
This gluten free fried rice is made in less than 30 minutes, just like my gluten free chili with red beans, turkey taco skillet and my one pan ravioli casserole.
What Makes this Gluten free Recipe Special?
- This homemade gluten free fried rice is simple and quick to make. Plus, it is the perfect way to use leftover rice if you have it. I always make a double batch of rice when I can to have leftovers to use throughout the week.
- The best part about this recipe is that it is a one pan meal…which means only one pan to make it and only one pan to clean up! My ideal situation since I hate doing dishes.
- This vegan fried rice recipe recipe is allergy friendly. This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy free and vegan! There is no gluten, no butter, no eggs and no meat!
- It’s an easy freezer friendly meal, which means it is a great option for a meal prep lunches or dinners! I love to have it ready to go when I need to just pull a dinner out of the freezer and heat it up quick.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Firm Tofu: Extra-firm tofu or even tempeh can be used as a substitute for firm tofu, providing a similar texture and protein content. If you don’t like either of these you can just omit it.
Organic Chopped Pineapple: Fresh or canned pineapple. mandarin oranges or even chunks of mango can be use.
Red Bell Pepper: I like red peppers the best but other bell peppers, such as yellow or orange can be used. Feel free to add in over vegetables like carrots or snap peas.
Gluten-Free Tamari: Gluten free soy sauce or coconut aminos can be used as a substitute. Both are safe gluten free options for this gluten free vegan fried rice recipe.
Toasted Sesame Oil: Regular sesame oil or another neutral oil like avocado oil or canola oil can be used instead of toasted sesame oil, but you’ll miss out on the distinct nutty flavor.
Peanut Butter: Other nut butters like almond butter or cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option, can be used as a substitute for peanut butter in this gluten free fried rice recipe.
How do I make this recipe?
First, I heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet. You can also use a wok if you have one. On medium-high heat, add the cubed tofu and cook until golden brown and crispy on all sides. This will take about about 8-10 minutes.
Then, I add the red bell pepper, onion and the white parts of the scallions. I cook for 3-4 minutes, until the pepper is slightly softened. I add the peas, minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
In a small bowl, I whisk together the gluten-free tamari, sesame oil and peanut butter until smooth.
Next, I add the cooked rice to the pan and break up any clumps. I pour the tamari-peanut butter sauce over the rice and stir well to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the rice to heat through and absorb the flavors.
I then add the chopped pineapple and cashews to the pan with the vegan fried rice recipe. Stir everything together and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
Sprinkle the Japanese nori seasoning over the gluten free fried rice recipe. I garnish with the green parts of the scallions. Serve and Enjoy!
Expert Tips & Tricks
For more veggies try adding shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, or edamame beans. This helps to make the meal feel bigger and packed with veggies.
To add protein to your gluten free fried rice, add in chicken, beef, or shrimp! I always cook my protein in a separate skillet or frying pan and add it last before serving so it does not overcook.
I always like to make sure my pan is hot and my oil is heated before adding the rest of the ingredients to the pan. You want to hear that classic hibachi style sizzle when they hit the pan!
What Kind of Rice Do I use?
I always like using leftover rice when making this gluten free fried rice recipe. Leftover rice it’s drier and less sticky so it is easier to create a stir-fry without turning the rice mushy. You can use white or brown rice, frozen rice or instant microwave rice but when I do this I let it cool fully before putting it in the pan. It usually takes about 30 minutes to cool down.
Do I need to use a wok?
Traditional fried rice recipes are made in woks. But this vegan fried rice recipe can also be made in a standard frying pan. If you have a wok, definitely use it to make this recipe more authentic! If not, use your largest frying pan like I did and it will taste just as good!
How Do I Serve this?
This gluten free fried rice recipe can be served with gluten free egg rolls, gluten free dumplings or even a side of sushi. I like peanut avocado rolls the best. I like to serve it hot right out of the skillet for the freshest taste.
How do I Store and Meal Prep this recipe?
To store, I let it cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to four days.
For longer storage, I love to portion the gluten free fried rice into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months.
To meal prep into individual portions, divide the vegan fried rice recipe into separate containers. These individual portions are my favorite for great grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners during the week.
How do I reheat leftovers?
To reheat leftover gluten free fried rice I either pop it in the microwave in a microwave safe container for 2-3 minutes. You can also add leftovers to a frying pan or skillet and reheat on medium heat untl fully warmed through. If your vegan fried rice recipe is frozen, make sure to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before adding to the pan.
Looking for more gluten free recipes?
If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along!
Gluten Free Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces firm tofu pressed and cubed
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup chopped pineapple fresh or canned, drained
- 1 teaspoon Japanese nori seasoning
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1/2 white onion chopped
- 3 scallions chopped (separate whites and greens)
- 1/4 cup Gluten-free tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter for richness and depth
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ginger powder or fresh ginger
- ¼ cup cashews
- ½ cup peas fresh or frozen
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp drizzle of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the cubed tofu and cook until golden brown and crispy on all sides, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the red bell pepper, onion and the white parts of the scallions. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the pepper is slightly softened. Add the peas, minced garlic and grated ginger and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
- In a small bowl, whisk together the gluten-free tamari, sesame oil and peanut butter until smooth.
- Add the cooked rice to the pan and break up any clumps. Pour the tamari-peanut butter sauce over the rice and stir well to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the rice to heat through and absorb the flavors.
- Add the chopped pineapple and cashews to the pan. Stir everything together and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
- Sprinkle the Japanese nori seasoning over the fried rice.
- Garnish with the green parts of the scallions.
- Serve and Enjoy!
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