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    Home » Recipes » Philippine

    Filipino Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag)

    Published: May 22, 2022 by Jocelyn | JOZmahal· This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · 4 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Garlic Fried Rice for Pinterest.

    Wondering what to do with leftover rice? This Filipino recipe for garlic fried rice called Sinangag, could not be any simpler and more delicious! Don't let the plain and simple look of this dish trick your mind into thinking there could possibly be no flavor in thaaaat! Hah! Think again! All you need to transform your day-old rice into a magnificent dish that you will crave again and again and again...is GARLIC! But there's a trick to making this the most flavorful ever and texture-perfect! So keep reading please and I'll show you. 😉

    Garlic fried rice in a black bowl. this recipe for later

    But first, it's not pronounced, si-nan-gag. It's more like si‧na‧ngag. Easier said than done, and you thought rolling the "r" in some Latin words is difficult? Try doing the "ng" sound... It comes from the back of your throat. 🤔

    Anyway, this is inspired by my Bacon and Egg Fried Rice recipe on this site, and pairs really well with any grilled meats with a side of this amazing Chili Cucumber Salad recipe.

    Jump to:
    • What Is Garlic Fried Rice
    • What Would Pair Well With This Recipe
    • Ingredients Needed
    • 4 Easy Steps How to Make The Perfect Garlic Fried Rice
    • How To Serve
    • What Other Ingredients Can You Add
    • Equipment to Use
    • What Goes With Garlic Fried Rice
    • 📖 Recipe Card
    • Tips for Making the Perfect Garlic Fried Rice
    • FAQ
    • 💬 Reviews

    What Is Garlic Fried Rice

    Unlike the typical Chinese fried rice that calls for loads of ingredients, this Filipino fried rice recipe only calls for garlic (preferably fresh), a little bit of oil, and salt. That. Is. It!!!

    And the flavor? WOW! If you love garlic, you will LOVE this dish! You'd be asking yourself, "where has this Sinangag been all my life!?" Come on....follow me. I'll show you!

    What Would Pair Well With This Recipe

    This recipe is so full of flavor that it can be eaten by itself or paired with other savory dishes. Hope you give them a try!

    • Caramelized Shrimp
    • Chicken Adobo
    • Chicken Afritada
    • Chicken Lettuce Wrap
    • Garlic Butter Shrimp
    • Spicy Beef Stir Fry

    Ingredients Needed

    Ingredients for garlic fried rice.
    • Garlic - you can use garlic salt or garlic powder or even jarred garlic, although I'm not a fan of the latter. It just doesn't taste the same as fresh! Fresh garlic will reward you with the best tasting garlic fried rice! You can do a combination and you will get a more garlicky flavor. Chopped or minced. Be careful not to overcook or burn the garlic. You want the garlic slightly toasted and not burnt.
    • Rice - the best rice to use for this recipe is day-old rice, that has been cooked and stored in your refrigerator for at least a day. Long grain rice is best!
    • Salt - kosher salt, sea salt, or garlic salt works best!

    *See the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full written instructions on how to make this dish.

    4 Easy Steps How to Make The Perfect Garlic Fried Rice

    Chopped garlic in oil in a black skillet.

    STEP 1: Sauté garlic in oil.

    Salt added with garlic in a black skillet.

    STEP 2: Add salt to the garlic.

    Garlic in oil with rice.

    STEP 3: Add rice to garlic with salt.

    Garlic fried rice in a black skillet.

    STEP 4: Toss and blend garlic fried rice. Enjoy!

    *See the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full written instructions on how to make this dish.

    Hint: Adding salt to the garlic helps draw out some of the moisture from the garlic as it infuses flavor into the oil. This also helps with giving the garlic a nice golden color. See image #4 above.

    How To Serve

    I love my fried rice topped with a fried egg or bacon.

    Garlic fried rice is served for breakfast in a typical Filipino household. If you've not been awakened by someone making you breakfast with the smell of garlic coming from the kitchen, you need to do yourself a favor and experience that because that is a gift. So treasure it!

    Like the late Anthony Bourdain said -

    "When someone cooks for you, they are saying something. They are telling you about themselves: where they come from, who they are, what makes them happy.”

    What Other Ingredients Can You Add

    This fried rice recipe is good by itself. However, there are other ingredients you can add which you can see some suggestions below.

    Protein: eggs or bacon, sausage, tofu, chicken, pork, shrimp, beef, fish.

    Vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, carrots, corn, green beans, onions, peas, pea pods, scallions, shallots, sugar snap peas, or any of your favorites will work here. Fresh or frozen. If you want to save some time and skip the slicing and dicing, use frozen stir-fry vegetables!

    Herbs and Spices: cayenne, chili, chives, curry, paprika, tarragon, turmeric

    Sauces: chili sauce, coconut aminos, gochujang, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, tamari sauce

    Garlic Fried Rice can be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any time in between. So enjoy!

    Equipment to Use

    I love using my wok. These two are my favorite:

    Lodge Cast Iron and Le Creuset Wok.

    The wok is ideal for cooking in high heat so the dish doesn't have a lot of time to settle at the bottom which will cause it to stick and burn.

    What Goes With Garlic Fried Rice

    • Cooked shrimp with tomato and duck egg relish on a bed of garlic fried rice.
      Caramelized Shrimp With 7 Up (Easy Filipino One Pan Recipe)
    • Filipino BBQ with side salad on a brown plate.
      Filipino BBQ Beef Skewers
    • Garlic Butter Shrimp with Sprite on a black plate.
      The Best Garlic Butter Shrimp With Sprite Recipe
    • Adobo chicken wings in a black bowl.
      Filipino Chicken Adobo Recipe (Instant Pot - 20 minutes)

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating below. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Let's be taste buds and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    📖 Recipe Card

    Garlic Fried Rice in black bowl.

    Garlic Fried Rice

    This Filipino recipe for fried rice called Sinangag, could not be any simpler and more delicious! All you need to transform your day-old rice into a magnificent dish that you will crave again and again and again...is GARLIC! 
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: Philippine
    Keyword: Garlic Fried Rice, rice
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 138.1kcal
    Author: Jocelyn | JOZmahal
    Cost: $5
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt Kosher, sea salt or garlic salt
    • 4 cloves garlic fresh is better
    • 2 cups cooked rice day-old (long-grain is best)

    Instructions

    • In a wok or skillet, over medium-high heat, add oil and chopped garlic.
    • Add salt to the skillet. This will help draw some moisture our of the garlic and will help infuse and add flavor to the oil.
    • Add cold rice to the skillet. Toss and blend all ingredients together until the rice is lightly coated with oil, salt, and garlic.
    • Let rice rest undisturbed for a minute, then toss and do the same for another minute.

    Notes

    1. Day-old (or more) left-over rice is the best rice to use for this recipe.
    2. Next time you cook rice, make extra and store the left-over in the fridge or freezer.
    3. Did you order Chinese food and have some leftover steamed rice? Perfect! 
    4. Long grain rice is the perfect rice to use in making this recipe.
    5. If all you have is same-day cooked rice, store the cooked rice uncovered in the fridge for a few hours. This will help dry out the rice.
    6. Tossing the rice in high heat will result in each grain of rice being perfectly coated with the oil and seasonings. 
    7. If you are using garlic that comes in a jar, be sure to drain it first before adding it to your rice. You do not want extra moisture added to the rice.
    8. Enjoy your rice as is or add other ingredients as desired. See the section about "What Other Ingredients You Can Add."

    Nutrition

    Calories: 138.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.2g | Protein: 2.3g | Fat: 3.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.6g | Sodium: 292.1mg | Potassium: 39.8mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.9mg | Calcium: 13.5mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Post a photo @JOZmahal and tag #JOZmahal!

    Tips for Making the Perfect Garlic Fried Rice

    Day-old (or more) left-over rice is ideal for making fried rice. Next time you cook rice, make extra and store the left-over in the fridge. You want the rice to be dry and not sticky.

    If all you have is same-day cooked rice, store the cooked rice uncovered in the fridge for a few hours. This will help dry out the rice.

    Next time you order Chinese food, save the left-over boxed rice. The rice is perfect for this recipe!

    Toss (do not stir) the rice. Tossing the rice in high heat will result in each grain of rice being perfectly coated with the oil and seasonings. Stirring the rice may break the rice and cause it to get mushy.

    I told you what I think about jarred garlic. However, if that is all you have available, drain it first before adding it to your rice. You don't want extra moisture added to the rice as that will affect the texture of your finished dish.

    FAQ

    What kind of rice is best?

    A day-old, long-grain rice is the best kind of rice for this recipe since long-grain rice has less starch and when cooked it is less sticky and the grain separates - allowing for the garlic flavor to really blend in nicely with the rice.

    How do you fry garlic without burning it?

    Start cooking the garlic in oil in a cold pan. Turn on the heat to medium, and after a minute or two, the garlic in oil will start to bubble infusing its flavor into the oil. Stur frequently.

    Can I freeze fried rice?

    Yes, it can be easily stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Promptly pack fried rice in a plastic wrap enough for one or two servings. It will thaw nicely in the refrigerator.

    How can I reheat fried rice?

    You can reheat fried rice in a microwave in a microwave safe dish or on the stovetop.

    more Philippine recipes

    • Pancit with vegetables in a black bowl.
      Vegetable Filipino Pancit Noodle Quick and Easy Recipe
    • Beef and broccoli with potatoes and onions
      Beef Stir Fry with Broccoli (Easy Filipino Recipe)
    • Sliced beef with red and green bell peppers on a wooden bowl with chopsticks on the side.
      Stir Fry Beef With Sriracha Sauce (Easy Recipe)
    • Sliced cucumbers with sliced red onions and two red chili peppers on top in a black bowl.
      Filipino Cucumber Salad (Healthy Pipino Recipe)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jomelyn @ curiousflavors

      December 07, 2022 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for this tasty garlic fried rice recipe! I grew up eating this.

      Reply
      • Jocelyn Wilhelm

        December 08, 2022 at 3:34 pm

        Hello Jomelyn! Thank you for your lovely comment. Same with me, I grew up eating Sinangag and the wonderful aroma brings back many happy memories. 💕

        Reply
    2. Camille

      May 27, 2022 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      I love how you have a step by step instructions on how to make garlic fried rice. It was perfect and you're right, tossing the rice made sure all the flavors are absorbed by the rice and did not make them sticky. Great job! Can't wait to see more great recipes here on your site!

      Reply
      • Jocelyn Wilhelm

        May 27, 2022 at 11:07 am

        Awww thank you for your kind words! Be sure to check out my other fried rice recipe with bacon and eggs in case you haven't yet.

        Reply

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    Hello and Welcome! I'm Jocelyn, Joz for short. I am the recipe creator, food photographer, and food stylist here at JOZmahal ❤️ a Filipino-American kitchen. My passion for cooking earned me a college degree in Food & Nutrition. I love to cook all types of food, and you’ll see many Filipino-inspired recipes here. My goal is to create recipes that are healthy without sacrificing flavors and with easy-to-follow instructions. Living in the States for many, many, years, I have learned to get creative with cooking and use ingredients that are easy to find, (thank you Amazon!) So bookmark my site, subscribe to my newsletter, and I will help you create quick, easy, tasty, healthy, and delicious meals that you, your family, and your friends will LOVE. ❤️ Get to know me and my style of cooking! And thank you for being here!

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