Easy Garlic Rice Recipe
Spice up your rice game with our easy garlic rice recipe. With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll have a delicious and aromatic side dish in no time!
Today I want to share a delicious garlic rice recipe with you. It involves frying the rice grains before cooking them.
While this easy rice recipe might seem complicated, it really isn’t, I promise. Using this cooking method is a simple way to turn basic, boring rice into something special.
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This unique and flavorful side dish has a subtle nutty flavour that you will love. And once you have the basic ingredients and technique down, you will never want to eat plain rice again. This yummy garlic rice is going to be added to everyone’s list of family favorites.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 4 cups water
- 1/3 cup vermicelli
- 4-6 large, or 6-8 small garlic cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- Oil, for cooking (I used vegetable oil)
- Parsley or cilantro, optional for serving
Instructions:
- Wash your rice at least 5 times, or until the water isn’t cloudy anymore.
2. Mince the garlic.
3. In a medium pot, over medium heat, heat up some oil. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
4. Add the vermicelli and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the garlic and vermicelli are golden brown.
5. Add your washed rice to the pot, then the water and salt. Stir until well combined.
6. Bring the pot of rice and vermicelli to a boil over high heat, with the lid off.
7. Once the water starts to boil, bring the heat all the way down to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let the rice cook for 16-18 minutes.
8. Remove from the stove and stir the rice.
9. Enjoy while warm and garnish with diced cilantro or parsley.
Substitutions:
- I like to use a neutral cooking oil with this recipe, but you could try garlic oil or olive oil. Be aware that this may affect the final flavor of the dish though.
- If you want a saltier flavor, add extra salt, or try soy sauce.
- Top your rice with a fried egg, parmesan cheese, or green onions.
- Try other fresh herbs besides cilantro and parsley.
- Add a splash of lime or lemon juice.
- Use brown rice or long grain Jasmine rice instead of basmati. This may alter the cooking time.
- Try cooking the rice in vegetable broth or chicken broth instead of plain water.
Tips and Tricks:
- Rinsing the rice is an important step. The process removes excess starch from the grains of rice. This helps prevent the rice from sticking together and being clumpy.
- When cooking rice, no matter how much or how little you are making, keep the rice to liquid ratio and 1:2.
- Using a garlic press is a great way to mince lots of garlic quickly.
- Any leftover rice should be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, and used within five days.
The next time you are serving a meal with a rice side dish, give this yummy recipe a try, instead of sticking to the usual plain white or brown rice. You will be glad you did!
Try it with our mouthwatering roast beef, smoked chicken or lemon BBQ salmon.
If you love this easy garlic rice recipe, please give it a five star review and help me share it to Facebook and Pinterest.
Easy garlic rice recipe
Spice up your rice game with our easy garlic rice recipe. With just a few simple ingredients, you'll have a delicious and aromatic side dish in no time!
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 4 cups water
- 1/3 cup vermicelli
- 4-6 large, or 6-8 small garlic cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- Oil, for cooking (I used vegetable oil)
- Parsley or cilantro, optional for serving
Instructions
- Wash your rice at least 5 times, or until the water isn’t cloudy anymore.
- Mince your garlic.
- In a medium pot, over medium heat, heat up some oil. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Add the vermicelli and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the garlic and vermicelli are golden brown.
- Add your washed rice to the pot, then the water and salt. Stir until well combined.
- Bring the pot of rice and vermicelli to a boil over high heat, with the lid off.
- Once the water starts to boil, bring the heat all the way down to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let the rice cook for 16-18 minutes.
- Remove from the stove and stir the rice.
- Enjoy while warm. You can garnish it with some cilantro or parsley, but that is optional.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 161Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 303mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g
All values are approximate and based on ingredients used by the recipe writer. Always calculate your own individual nutritional values for the most accurate calculation.
