Black Garlic Fried Rice Recipe

Rice, Rice, and More Rice: Which to Choose?

If you're not a fan of instant rice, our straightforward guide will help you navigate the diverse world of rice, a staple food enjoyed globally. Each type of rice has unique characteristics, flavours, and ideal uses. Learn how to select the perfect rice to enhance your cooking and delight your palate.

• Long grain - is characterized by its elongated and slender grains. It tends to remain separate when cooked and does not stick together. Examples are Basmati and Jasmine. Short grain - rice is rounder and plumper and tends to clump together. It contains more starch than long grain. Examples are Sushi and Arborio.
• White Rice - is one of the most widely consumed types of rice. It cooks relatively quickly and has a neutral flavour, making it a versatile option that can accompany a wide range of dishes. It’s commonly used in Asian cuisines as a side dish for curries and stir-fries.
• Brown Rice - is less processed than white rice. It retains the bran and germ, which gives it a nutty flavour and a chewier texture. The bran also gives it a brown appearance. Brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice but is considered healthier due to the retained nutrients and higher fibre content.
• Basmati Rice - is a long-grain rice with a distinctive aroma and flavour. It cooks up fluffy and separate, making it an excellent choice for pilaf, biryani, and other Indian, Middle Eastern, and Asian rice dishes.
• Jasmine Rice - is a fragrant rice variety commonly found in Southeast Asian cuisine, especially Thai dishes. It has a slightly sticky texture, making it suitable for serving with sauces and gravies.
• Arborio Rice - is a short-grain rice known for its high starch content. It is widely used in Italian dishes, particularly in making creamy risottos, due to its ability to release starch while cooking.
• Sushi Rice - sometimes called short-grain Japanese rice, is used in making sushi rolls and other Japanese dishes. It has a sticky texture that helps hold the sushi together.

Best Vegetables for Garlic Fried Rice

Be flexible with the vegetable selection, using what you have on hand or personalizing the mix to suit your taste preferences. Choose vegetables that complement the dish and add flavour, texture, and colour. Feel free to experiment with different combinations to create your own perfect fried rice.

Onions are a fundamental ingredient, adding a savoury and aromatic base. Peas and Sweetcorn add pops of colour and a touch of sweetness. Capsicums come in various colours and add sweetness and a crispy texture. Bean sprouts add a delicate crunch and a refreshing taste to the fried rice. Spring Onions are commonly used as a garnish, adding a mild onion flavour and a splash of green. Carrots, broccoli, and cabbage are often used; however, I have chosen to stick to the basics.

The secret ingredient is, of course, Black Garlic. It's difficult to find a black ingredient (that's not been accidentally burnt) to add visual appeal & health benefits to your weekly meals.

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Black Garlic Fried Rice Recipe

Ingredients

• 450 gm packet of precooked brown rice family-size packet
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 small brown onion finely diced
• 1 red capsicum finely diced
• 4 spring onions finely sliced
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 220 gm tin sweetcorn
• 4 cloves of black garlic (diced on a wet chopping board so the cloves don't all stick together) 
• 100 gm bean shoots
• 2 eggs

Sauce for black garlic rice

• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tbsp black garlic puree

Instructions

• mix the sauce ingredients together in a small jug
• whisk eggs with black garlic puree
• cut, chop, drain, measure all ingredients and have ready to use
• seperate rice grains in the packet, then heat according to packet directions.
• heat the wok to hot, add half the oil, then pour in the eggs and cook completely, roll and remove to a plate
• wipe out the wok, heat the remaining oil and add onion, capsicum
• tossing consistently add peas, sweetcorn, and the whites of spring onions
• continue tossing and add warm rice
• add roughly chopped omelette, bean shoots and black garlic
• gently pour sauce around the edge of the wok and toss to combine
• garnish with green ends of spring onions and serve
  

Top Tips

• Have the sauce mixed and all ingredients ready before heating your wok as the cooking process will only take 5 minutes.
• Heat your wok (or skillet) to hot before beginning, as all ingredients need to cook in a flash to impart that authentic fried rice flavour.  If you end up with mushy fried rice, the wok was not hot enough.
• Heat the instant rice according to the directions on the packet.  The rice should be hot when added to the wok to maintain the cooking heat.

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