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    Home » Recipes » Lunch Boxes

    Burnt Garlic Fried Rice

    October 27, 2022 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Burnt Garlic Fried Rice is a very popular Indo-Chinese Rice Dish in India. With just a handful of ingredients, you can turn left over rice into this glorious fried rice that taste amazing on its own, or pair it with several other dishes. 

    Burnt Garlic Rice

    Having some leftover rice always comes so handy on weekdays. I love making Kimchi fried rice or the Bengali fried rice that I love pairing with mutton curry. Rice can be transformed to so many delicious dishes. Fried rice has been my go to for ages now. 

    What is Burnt Garlic Fried Rice?

    If you are unaware of Indo-Chinese Cuisine, this dish might sound bizarre to you. How can anything burnt taste good?

    Let me clarify by saying that burnt garlic in this dish is not burnt-black-bitter-garlic! Burnt garlic in this dish is basically cooking the garlic a tad bit longer than usual, so it gets caramelized and crispy. The aroma is robust and anybody who loves garlic will love this dish.

    The dish pairs best with Gobi Manchurian

    Burnt garlic fried rice

    Ingredient Notes:

    Left over cold rice: Fried Rice should always be prepared with cooked cold rice. Left over rice from last night works best. If you use hot or warm rice, it will get soggy or mushy as you toss it in the wok. Cold rice will create the crispy, fluffy texture to the fried rice.

    Fresh Garlic: You need a lot of fresh garlic cloves. You could thinly slice or finely chop the garlic.

    Assorted Vegetables: Although adding veggies are not mandate, but I like to add some as it makes a complete meal on its own. You could either use fresh veggies or frozen veggies.

    Soya Sauce: To keep the fried rice simple, I used only soy sauce for that umami flavor.

    Green Onion: In my opinion, no Indo Chinese recipe will be complete with adding green onion in it.

    These are just the key ingredients for the simple burnt garlic fried rice recipe. You can definitely switch it up by adding some proteins to it like egg or shrimp or chicken.

    Steps to prepare:

    Fried Rice - step by step
    1. Slice a lot of fresh garlic. You can either thinly slice or finely chop.
    2. Fry the garlic chips or chopped garlic in oil. Here is a protip - for the best garlic flavor, drop the garlic while the oil is still cold, so the flavor starts to infuse slowly.
     step by step

    3. Add most of the green onions along with the garlic. Save some to garnish at the end.

    4. Don't fry the green onions for too long. You can also add shallots if you like.

    step by step

    5. Add assorted veggies. I used frozen veggies, you can use fresh veggies too.

    6. Add soy sauce. I kept it very simple with just soy sauce, but you can add white vinegar too and chili sauce for some heat.

    step by step

    7. Add the cold rice and toss it around to mix everything.

    8. Freshly cracked black pepper at the end adds a lovely pungent flavor and heat to the fried rice.

    9. Scatter extra garlic chips, few green onions and serve.

    Recipe Video:

    Variations you can add:

    You can toss some air fried tofu and veggies at the end to make it more filling. The dish goes very with shrimp or any other choice of protein.

    I kept this dish very mildly spiced, but you can add more heat by adding your choice of spicy sauce. For extra heat, try Bird’s Eye Chili Hot Sauce or mild but super flavorful, drizzle some Chili Oil on top.

    Add more vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and edamame.

    No matter what variations you add, the only point to keep in mind when cooking fried rice, is to always use cooked cold white rice. If you don't have left over rice, make fresh rice and then layer it on a plate and keep in the refrigerator to cool down completely.

    FAQs

    Won't burn garlic taste bitter?

    Although the dish says burnt garlic, what it typically means is cooking the garlic a tad bit longer for extra flavor. You make it crispy brown instead of burning it to black.

    How to get the best flavor of garlic in fried rice?

    Always use fresh garlic cloves and add in the oil while it's still cold. As the oil heats up, the garlic will start to release aroma and slowly change to brown color. This ensures maximum garlic flavor is infused.

    What rice works best for fried rice?

    Non-sticky rice works best for fluffy fried rice texture. Long grain rice gives a more beautiful overall look and that is typically used in India. But you can use short grains too.

    How is authentic Chinese fried rice different from Indo Chinese fried rice?

    The difference is mostly in seasoning that goes in. In authentic Chinese fried rice, you will get flavor of oyster sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil. Whereas in Indo Chinese version, soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce and sometimes ajinomoto is added.

    Burnt Garlic Fried Rice

    Other rice dishes you can try:

     Kimchi Fried Rice

    Bengali Fried Rice

    Kala Chana Pulao

    Tomato Rice

    Basanti Pulao

    Burnt Garlic Fried Rice

    Kankana Saxena
    Burnt Garlic Fried Rice is a very popular Indo-Chinese Rice Dish in India. With just a handful of ingredients, you can turn left over rice into this glorious fried rice that taste amazing on its own, or pair it with several other dishes. 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Rice Dishes
    Cuisine Indian

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 cups cooked cold rice
    • 1 cup chopped assorted veggies (fresh or frozen)
    • 10 cloves garlic (thinly sliced or chopped)
    • 1 bunch green onion (chopped)
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
    • freshly cracked black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • In a wok pour the oil and while the oil is still cold add the chopped garlic. As the oil heats up, the garlic will start to infuse the oil and start to get golden. Once done, take off some of the garlic chips to add as garnish.
    • Immediately add the green onion and stir for a few seconds.
    • Add the assorted veggies and toss it around. Add soy sauce, salt, sugar and cook for a few minutes. Depending on the size of the veggies and the quantity, it might take more or less time.
    • Finally, add the rice and mix it around to incorporate everything. Toss it around for a couple minute.
    • Add freshly cracked black pepper, taste for salt and add more if needed.
    • Garnish with extra garlic chips and more green onion.

    Notes

    Variations you can add:

    You can toss some air fried tofu and veggies at the end to make it more filling. The dish goes very with shrimp or any other choice of protein.
    I kept this dish very mildly spiced, but you can add more heat by adding your choice of spicy sauce. For extra heat, try Bird’s Eye Chili Hot Sauce or mild but super flavorful, drizzle some Chili Oil on top.
    Add more vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and edamame.

    Pro Tip:

    No matter what variations you add, the only point to keep in mind when cooking fried rice, is to always use cooked cold white rice. If you don’t have left over rice, make fresh rice and then layer it on a plate and keep in the refrigerator to cool down completely.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Servings
    Keyword easy weeknight dinner, Indo Chinese, quick meal, rice dish

    More Lunch Boxes

    • Spiced Shredded Chicken Wrap
    • Tuna Sandwich
    • Mushroom Spinach Pinwheel

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Food Frenzy

      February 24, 2012 at 5:16 pm

      Congratulations! We wanted to inform you that this post has been selected as the Archive Featured Post of the week on Food Frenzy.

    2. Miriam Barton

      February 17, 2011 at 7:27 pm

      Love the fried rice, SO cute :). [email protected]Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

    3. aipi

      February 17, 2011 at 7:08 pm

      That is so beautifully presented..loved both the recipes!

      US Masala

    4. Manu

      February 17, 2011 at 6:13 pm

      I really like your fried rice: very good variation! And the way you presented it was really nice too! As for the award... it was a pleasure, I really think you deserve it! 🙂

    5. tigerfish

      February 17, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      Love the spices used in the fish fry and I heart the fried rice too 🙂

    6. yummychunklet

      February 17, 2011 at 1:14 pm

      Your heart-shaped rice is so cute! It all looks delicious. Congrats on your award! Definitely well-deserved.

    7. Couscous & Consciousness

      February 17, 2011 at 1:03 pm

      Hi, thanks for stopping by my Make it with ... Mondays post - yes, linking up archived posts is absolutely fine, and you can link up as many as you like 🙂

      This dish loks positively wonderful - I am away out of town at the moment, but can't wait to come back and have a good lok at the rest of your blog - looks fabulous.

      Sue 🙂

    8. briarrose

      February 17, 2011 at 12:21 pm

      Love the heart! That is just too cute.

    9. Christina

      February 17, 2011 at 12:11 pm

      This sounds so yummy and I love the heart shaped rice!

    10. alyce

      February 17, 2011 at 11:56 am

      I like how you shaped the rice!

    11. Leanna @ Raptortoe.com

      February 17, 2011 at 11:52 am

      Also yum! I Love when people form their rice dishes, the heart is so adorable! Have to put a ton of love in your food 🙂

    12. Anu

      February 17, 2011 at 11:06 am

      Like the heart shaped fried rice !!

    13. Kate @ Diethood.com

      February 17, 2011 at 10:38 am

      I love the look and sound of the fried rice!! Great job!

    14. Miz Helen

      February 17, 2011 at 9:34 am

      Love, Love, Love, the fish looks amazing and the heart of rice is a great presentation. I can almost taste this plate of goodness. Thank you so much for bringing it to Full Plate Thursday and please come back!

    15. torviewtoronto

      February 17, 2011 at 9:16 am

      beautiful presentation
      delicious combination

    16. Vimitha

      February 17, 2011 at 9:11 am

      Looks colory and delicious. A lovely valentine's day meal...

    17. amelia

      February 17, 2011 at 6:03 am

      This sounds delicious...love the heart shaped fried rice!

    18. Priya

      February 17, 2011 at 12:52 am

      Everytime u come up with delicious dishes dear, this fish fry and fried rice seriously makes me hungry..

    19. DOMO!

      February 16, 2011 at 11:06 pm

      Aww.. how sweet! <3

    20. Priyanka

      February 16, 2011 at 8:57 pm

      me too love the heart shaped rice.....awesome recipe....love u both 🙂

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