Filipino Garlic Fried Rice

Almost all Filipino’s love rice, and make it a staple with most of their meals.  Filipino’s (and many Asian’s) cannot live without it.  I love garlic too, and the combination of garlic and rice makes a mouth watering delicacy known as Sinangag na Kanin or Garlic Fried Rice — a simple, quick, and flavorful dish that is partnered with any Filipino (Philippine) breakfast meal.

Fairfax Inn Restaurant offers the option of plain rice or garlic rice with many of our Philippine breakfast entrées.  Many of our customers love our unique and flavorful Sinangag.  Try it and you will love this delicious addition to any Philippine breakfast.

If you try making Philippine Garlic Rice at home, here are a couple of secrets:

1) Making delicious Garlic Rice is obtained by achieving a delicate balance of rice, garlic and salt.  Use well crushed garlic.  Be careful not to burn or overcook the garlic.  Burnt garlic is bitter and will ruin the flavor. Golden brown is what you are looking for.

2) Many Filipino cooks experiment with the type and amount of salt. Many use sea salt, some use rock salt, however, most use regular table salt.  Do not use too much as it will overwhelm instead of enhance the flavor.  You can also try Kosher or Pickling salt.  Kosher got its name from its use in curing kosher meats in ancient times.  Picking Salt is far more concentrated than the more commonly used kosher salt, so make sure to use less.

3) It is best to use a large wok on medium to medium high heat, sauté the garlic first to golden brown with cooking oil or olive oil.  Then add rice.  Stir quickly to keep the garlic from burning and to ensure the garlic is spread evenly in the rice. Season with salt and pepper.  Cook for about 5-7 minutes with constant stirring.

4) Do not overcook. Overcooking leads to dryness, the hardening of the rice, lumpiness and/or a burning of the garlic.  Cook only until the rice is golden brown and hot, not hard.

5) The salt and any other spices or seasonings should be added in the last three or four minutes of cooking.  Add each slowly to ensure a good mix while stirring.  The completed dish should be a flavorful medium brown. For extra variety, some recipes also include finely chopped onions, green and red peppers or bits of scrambled eggs.

6) Most Filipino recipes use cooking oil.  Olive oil can be used for a slightly different taste.  However, avoid the use of any garlic flavored oils.

Sinangag (Garlic Fried Rice) is one of our signature dishes at Fairfax Inn Restaurant, a small Filipino diner/restaurant located just outside Washington, D.C. in Falls Church, Virginia.  We serve Philippine (Filipino) Breakfast and Lunch daily.

Salamat Po!!