Description
Garlic rice from the Philippines delivers bold, savory flavors with crispy texture. Comfort cuisine from Southeast Asia combines simple ingredients for a delicious side dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) white rice or grain of choice, cooked and cooled
- 1 head garlic, peeled and minced or roughly chopped
- 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) homemade chili oil or garlic chili oil with some sediment
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) salt or more to taste
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Meticulously separate cold rice from the previous day, breaking up any clusters to ensure individual grain integrity for optimal frying texture.
- Flavor Foundation: Heat a spacious wok or non-stick skillet over medium flame, introducing chili oil and salt to create a fragrant cooking base that will infuse the rice with complex flavor profiles.
- Garlic Transformation: Distribute minced garlic into the heated oil, carefully monitoring the cooking process to achieve a rich golden-brown coloration without scorching the delicate aromatics.
- Rice Integration: Disperse the loosened rice across the pan, pressing and turning to create a uniform coating of oil and garlic, allowing the grains to develop a crispy exterior and absorb the intense flavors.
- Final Seasoning: Enhance the rice with additional salt and chili oil, ensuring each grain is thoroughly coated and delivering a harmonious blend of spicy and savory notes.
- Presentation and Garnish: Transfer the golden-brown rice to a serving dish, artfully mounding it in an inverted bowl shape, then crown with freshly chopped cilantro to introduce a vibrant herbaceous element.
- Serving Suggestion: Complement the garlic rice with traditional Filipino accompaniments like Tofu Sisig, Adobo, or Mushroom Tocino for an authentic and satisfying culinary experience.
Notes
- Prep Rice Strategically: Day-old rice works best, as its drier texture prevents soggy, clumped results during frying.
- Control Garlic Carefully: Watch garlic closely while browning to achieve golden color without burning, which can create bitter undertones.
- Heat Management Matters: Maintain medium heat throughout cooking to ensure even crisping and prevent rice from becoming tough or dry.
- Garnish for Depth: Fresh cilantro adds brightness and cuts through the rich, savory flavors, elevating the overall dish’s complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Filipino
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg