KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — My favourite order at any Japanese restaurant would have to be Garlic Fried Rice. Eat it on its own or accompany it with delectable Japanese dishes such as Teriyaki beef or Teppanyaki chicken.
Of course the main ingredient for this dish is garlic, the breath stinking ingredient that every chef can’t live without! Its almost like a love and hate relationship with this plant.
This species of the onion family has gained immense popularity. From being a regular ingredient for seasoning during cooking, the garlic is now having its useful oils being extracted and encased in small capsules to be consumed by health-conscious people.
The “stinking rose” is a natural antibiotic with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. It is said to be able to lower high blood pressure and reduce the buildup of harmful plaque in our arteries, thus reducing the chances of a heart attack.
Besides that, garlic has the ability to help manage high cholesterol levels. Stronger tasting garlic is said to have more medicinal value compared to those with a milder taste.
The strength of the garlic taste depends on the sulphur content in them; the higher the sulphur content, the stronger the garlic tastes, and thus the medicinal value is higher.
To prepare this dish, or any fried rice dish in fact, there is one rule you have to follow—use old rice. It doesn’t really matter if it is a day old or has been stored in the refrigerator for a few days, it should not be newly cooked rice.
Old rice would have lost some of its moisture, so the rice would not stick together much, allowing the ingredients added to it to coat each and every grain of rice evenly.
Of course it isn’t garlic fried rice without heaps of garlic, so be generous when using them. The initial spiciness of the raw garlic will mellow and slightly sweeten when cooked, giving the rice a pungent, irresistible aroma and an addictive, garlicky taste.
You could also add in other ingredients if you wish to, like some scrambled eggs to top it off before serving. Quick, easy and tasty, just what a plate of home-cooked goodness should.
Garlic fried rice
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Serves 2
Ingreadients
2 cups overnight cooked rice
2 garlic bulbs, skin removed and finely chopped
2 teaspoons teriyaki sauce
1 chicken egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
pepper and salt for taste
spring onions, finely chopped for garnish
Directions
1. Heat oil over high heat.
2. Add chopped garlic and stir fry for approximately 5 minutes over medium heat until golden brown.
3. Remove garlic from the oil and put aside.
4. Using the same oil the garlic was cooked in, add cooked rice, teriyaki sauce and stir fry over high heat for 5 minutes.
5. Add eggs and continue stir frying.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Garnish with spring onions.
