I love Filipino Garlic Fried Rice for its delightful simplicity. With leftover rice, garlic, vegetable oil, salt, and pepper, every bite reveals a satisfying balance of flavor. This garlic fried rice pairs well with grilled meats and fish, offering a fantastic side dish for your meal. I am eager to share this delight.

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I’m excited to share my take on Filipino Garlic Fried Rice, a simple dish that turns leftover rice into something really amazing. All you need is about 4 cups of day-old rice, 8 cloves of garlic (smashed or minced, whichever you prefer), 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil, a pinch of salt, and a dash of ground pepper.

I first discovered that a few tweaks can make your rice hit a whole new level – kinda like when you’ve tried a twist on Japanese Garlic Fried Rice or even that burnt garlic style recipe that everyone seems to talk about. This dish reminds me of those recipes you find on Easy Fried Rice sites and my own take on that Rice Side Dishes craze.

If you have some leftovers and a bit of garlic flair, you’re in for a tasty treat that’s both practical and delicious. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked.

Why I Like this Recipe

I really like this recipe cuz it helps me use up leftover rice so nothing goes to waste. I also love how the garlic gets fried in oil until it smells amazing, makin the whole kitchen feel warm and inviting. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up even on a busy day and you can add extra salt or pepper if youre feelin adventurous. And honestly, it goes great with any meat or fish dish I have on hand, so it’s really versatile.

Ingredients

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Day-old rice gives needed carbohydrates and a perfect texture for even, crispy sinangag.
Garlic adds bold flavor and some good health benefits, helping boost your immune system.
Vegetable oil helps fry ingredients evenly, creating a crispy bite though adding extra fat.
A pinch of salt enhances flavors without masking the natural garlic and rice taste.
A dash of pepper adds subtle heat balancing the garlic aroma, cleansing your palate.
Together these ingredients create a simple, comforting Filipino dish thats very versatile.
Extra garlic and leftover rice upgrades can personalize the flavor intensity to your liking.

Ingredient Quantities

4 cups leftover rice (day-old rice works best)

8 cloves garlic, smashed or minced

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

A pinch of salt (or to taste)

A dash of ground pepper (or to taste)

How to Make this

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1. Break apart your leftover rice so there are no big lumps

2. Peel and smash or mince your garlic cloves

3. Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat

4. Toss the garlic into the oil and fry it until it turns light golden and smells amazing

5. Add the rice to the pan and stir it well to coat it all with garlic oil

6. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and a dash of ground pepper over the rice

7. Stir everything constantly so the rice heats evenly and the garlic doesn’t burn

8. Let the rice fry for about 3 to 5 minutes so the flavors blend nicely

9. Taste it and adjust the salt or pepper if needed, then serve hot and enjoy!

Equipment Needed

1. Stove – for heating the pan
2. Frying pan – to fry the garlic and rice
3. Knife – for mincing or smashing the garlic
4. Cutting board – to safely work the garlic on
5. Spatula or wooden spoon – to toss and stir the garlic and rice
6. Fork – to break apart the leftover rice into smaller pieces
7. Measuring spoons – to measure out the vegetable oil, salt and pepper

FAQ

Q: What kind of rice works best for sinangag?

A: Leftover rice is the way to go, especially day-old rice thats a bit drier. It keeps the fried rice from getting too mushy.

Q: How should I prep the garlic?

A: You can either smash or mince the garlic. Just be careful not to burn it otherwise it will turn bitter.

Q: Can I use fresh rice if I dont have leftover rice?

A: Freshly cooked rice tends to be too moist and sticky so if you must use it, cool it in the fridge for a few hours before frying.

Q: Is medium-high heat the right setting?

A: Yup, medium-high heat is ideal. It cooks the garlic fast so you dont risk burning it while still heating the rice properly.

Q: Can I add other ingredients like eggs or veggies?

A: Sure you can! That will change it up a bit, but traditional sinangag is all about the garlic rice. Feel free to experiment if you like.

Filipino Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag) Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Rice: You can use any type of leftover white rice like jasmine rice. If you don’t have day-old rice, cook extra rice and let it cool spread out for a few hours so it gets a bit dry.
Garlic: Instead of fresh garlic, you could use garlic powder, but use less since it’s more concentrated.
Vegetable oil: If you are out of vegetable oil, canola or sunflower oil works just as fine.
Salt: If you dont have table salt, you can substitute sea salt or kosher salt and adjust the quantity to your taste.
Pepper: If you dont have ground black pepper, freshly cracked white pepper or even a pinch of red pepper flakes can be used for a different kick.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure you use day old rice or let fresh rice sit out for a bit so it dries out and isn’t all mushy when you fry it up.
2. Watch your garlic real close because once it starts turnin golden its done – burnt garlic can give a bitter flavor and nobody wants that.
3. If you wanna mix things up, try tossing in some chopped veggies like green onions or even a handful of peas for extra flavor and color.
4. Stir the rice steadily and keep the heat medium so that every grain gets properly coated in the garlicky oil, helps prevent any burning and makes the flavor stick better.

Filipino Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag) Recipe

Recipe by Pho Tsventsi

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

250

kcal

Equipment: 1. Stove – for heating the pan
2. Frying pan – to fry the garlic and rice
3. Knife – for mincing or smashing the garlic
4. Cutting board – to safely work the garlic on
5. Spatula or wooden spoon – to toss and stir the garlic and rice
6. Fork – to break apart the leftover rice into smaller pieces
7. Measuring spoons – to measure out the vegetable oil, salt and pepper

Ingredients

4 cups leftover rice (day-old rice works best)
8 cloves garlic, smashed or minced
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
A pinch of salt (or to taste)
A dash of ground pepper (or to taste)

Directions

Break apart your leftover rice so there are no big lumps
Peel and smash or mince your garlic cloves
Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat
Toss the garlic into the oil and fry it until it turns light golden and smells amazing
Add the rice to the pan and stir it well to coat it all with garlic oil
Sprinkle a pinch of salt and a dash of ground pepper over the rice
Stir everything constantly so the rice heats evenly and the garlic doesn't burn
Let the rice fry for about 3 to 5 minutes so the flavors blend nicely
Taste it and adjust the salt or pepper if needed, then serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.