I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the garlic fried rice recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete preparation process of garlic fried rice. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Garlic Fried Rice?
Garlic fried rice is an easy and great dish from Asian cuisine, particularly famous in the Philippines where it is popular by the name ‘Sinangag’. To prepare it, you can cook garlic in oil until it smells good, then mix it with the leftover rice. You can fry the rice with the garlic until it’s a little bit crispy and hot.
You can serve garlic fried rice as a side dish or as a base for other meals. It is famous for breakfast and enjoyed with fried eggs or sausages. The taste comes from garlic, which provides a savoury and rich flavour to the rice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: If you are craving something quick for a busy morning, it is a meal that you can quickly prepare.
- Minimal Ingredients: You can prepare this recipe with just some basic ingredients like oil, garlic, rice etc. You can make a dish which is both tasty and budget-friendly.
- Garlic Lovers’ Delight: If you love consuming garlic, this recipe is sure to please your taste buds with garlic’s aromatic and bold flavour.
- Versatile: It is a versatile dish that you can enjoy on its own or as toppings such as meats, veggies or eggs, making it great for other dishes.
Tips
- Use Day-Old Rice: For better texture, ensure to use the rice which has been cooled and cooked for at least a few hours, or preferably overnight. Moist, sticky and freshly cooked rice are great for garlic-fried rice.
- Don’t Skimp on Garlic: Use garlic in a generous amount. You can also adjust the amount of garlic as per your preference, but more garlic indicates a better flavour.
- Fry the garlic gently: Cook the garlic over medium flame until smells nice and golden brown. Cooking it too fast over a high flame can burn it and make the taste bitter.
- Separate the Rice: Ensure to break the lumps using a spoon before putting the rice into the pan, it ensures that the rice is cooked evenly.
- Season Lightly: You can start by adding a little amount of seasoning and adjust as you go. Ensure that the garlic flavour stands out, so prevent a lot of seasoning.
Variations
- Garlic Butter Fried Rice: It is creamy and rich because it contains butter instead of oil, offering a delicious and savoury flavour. You can also add parmesan cheese to make it taste better.
- Garlic and Egg Fried Rice: Mix the scrambled eggs into the rice, providing more protein and a soft texture. A bit of soy sauce can also improve the flavour.
- Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice: Shrimps cooked with garlic provide a seafood flavour, making it filling and delicious. You can also add a splash of lime on top for a zesty touch.
- Garlic and Bacon Fried Rice: Crispy bacon bits provide a savoury and smoky flavour to the garlic-fried rice. You can also add green onion for a refreshing touch.
- Garlic and Mushroom Fried Rice: Cooked mushroom with garlic gives a savoury and rich flavour. You can also add fresh herbs such as parsley, and thyme for more flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Shrimp or Fish: You can try shrimp or fish provides a mild seafood flavour that helps balance the strong flavour of the garlic.
- Stir-Fried Vegetables: You can try stir-fried veggies such as bell peppers, and broccoli which provide a crunchy and refreshing touch to the meal.
- Gyoza (Dumplings): You can also try dumplings containing veggies or meat as a delicious and bite-sized addition to the rice.
- Grilled Chicken: You can also try grilled or marinated meats which provide a savory and smoky flavor that works well with the garlic rice.
- Cucumber Salad: You can try cucumber salad as a refreshing and light side dish which balances the strong flavour of the garlic.
Storing and Freezing
Storing (Short term storage)
- Let the garlic fried rice cool at room temperature within 2 hours of cooking to avoid the growth of bacteria.
- Ensure to transfer the rice to an airtight container. It helps maintain freshness and prevents it from absorbing odours from other available foods.
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let the rice cool at room temperature.
- Ensure to divide the rice into suitable portions. It helps you to use the required amount you need.
- You can also use freezer-safe containers or bags. Remove as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn.
- Label the bags or containers with the date to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, garlic fried rice is not just a side dish, it is an easy meal that feels comforting and satisfying. You can prepare it with some basic ingredients and some simple steps. Whether are you planning to save it for later or make it fresh, it will always give you savoury and delicious flavour.
So next time you are craving a quick meal or want to prepare something ahead of time, you can try garlic fried rice. It is full of flavour making each bite tasteful.
Read More:- Steak Fried Rice Recipe
Garlic Fried Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked and cooled rice preferably day-old
- 6-8 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce optional, for seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 green onions chopped (for garnish)
- Fried eggs optional, for serving
- Sliced cucumbers or tomatoes optional, for serving
Instructions
- First of all, cook the rice and let it cool completely. Choose the day-old rice which are less sticky and works well for fried rice.
- In a large pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.Add the minced garlic and cook until smells nice and golden brown, it may take around 1-2 minutes. Avoid burning the garlic.
- Add the cooled rice into the pan and increase the flame to medium to high heat. In case of any clumps, you can use spoon or spatula to break them
- Pour the soy sauce over rice and add salt and pepper. Now, stir-fry the rice for around 5-7 minutes by ensuring the rice is thoroughly heated and the garlic is mixed in.
- Once the rice is little crispy and well mixed remove it from the heat. You can garnish it with green onion.
- It’s time to serve the garlic fried rice.
I’m so glad I came across this post! The tips and advice you’ve shared are just what I needed – practical, informative,
and super on-point for anyone who is focused on their health.
I’ll be sharing this with my blog about healthy eating because this is exactly the kind of content
they need. Thanks for your great work!