Filipino Favorite Garlic Fried Rice (Sinangag) at Home
Filipinos can’t live without rice; it’s the heart of our cuisine. We love it so much that we always have rice on our table, whether at a restaurant or at home. I also order garlic fried rice every time I go to Amber Restaurant.
This has become my routine, and now their waiters know it’s a must-have for me. I also make it at home whenever I have leftover rice, and I’ll share my secret in this blog below.
Its taste is superb even if you eat it plain, but it pairs much better if you’re planning to have Adobo or pork BBQ for dinner. So let’s find out how you can enjoy it at home (and also use leftover rice).
Interesting Fact!
The relationship between Rice and Filipinos is a never-ending love story. We love rice so much that the imports of rice in the Philippines went up to 23% in 2022, which is the highest since 2002.
Price and servings on Amber menu:
Serving Size | Price |
---|---|
single order | ₱ 25.00 |
Why Garlic Fried Rice Is So Famous?
The reason why I think garlic-fried rice is so famous is that it’s simple to make, and the rice is flavorful. You can make it at home in a maximum of 10 minutes and enjoy a delicious meal.

Simple to Make:
One of the reasons I think garlic-fried rice is so famous is because it’s simple to make. You don’t need much time to make it, especially if the rice is already cooked a day before.
Flavorful Rice:
Despite the simple recipe, the rice is so flavorful. The garlic taste in the rice makes it a delicious addition to any meal.
Fewer Ingredients:
The best part about garlic fried rice is you don’t need a lot of ingredients. Just rice, garlic, oil, and some seasoning.
Customization:
Once it’s cooked, you can pair it with any dish. At Amber Restaurant, I always choose their famous Pork BBQ with it. Besides the pork BBQ, order orange juice, trust me you’ll never forget the taste of this combination.
Let’s Make Garlic Fried Rice at Home
Before going further, there’s one thing I want to share, you don’t need to have leftover rice. You can always cook rice on the day you want to eat garlic fried rice but remember the taste is better with the leftover rice. Let’s learn about the secret:
Key-Ingredients:
- 4 to 5 cups of leftover rice
- 10 cloves of garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Spring onion (finely sliced)
- Salt (according to your taste)
- Pepper (optional)
Cooking Instructions:
- First, prepare the garlic for the cooking process by taking 10 cloves and mincing them.
- Take a cooking pan (or a large wok), and add oil and butter to it, then turn on the stovetop to medium heat. The butter will give your rice extra flavor.
- When you notice the oil is heated up, add all the garlic and fry until it’s golden brown. I fry mine a little bit longer because I like my garlic crispy, so you can adjust the frying time according to your taste.
- Take out a small quantity of garlic from the pan; you can use these for garnishing. Then add your leftover rice and keep stirring to make sure the rice is well coated in butter and oil. Cook for about 5 to 6 minutes and add salt and pepper (optional) according to your taste. The garlic fried rice is ready to serve.
- Serve the fried rice in a bowl with the garnishing of fried garlic and spring onion. Enjoy!

Nutritional Profile of Garlic Fried Rice
Although garlic fried rice isn’t unhealthy, it’s still good to know about the calories. This is why I’ve added the details here:
Calories | Approximately 290 kcal |
Proteins | 4 grams |
Fats | 14 grams |
Carbohydrates | 36 grams |
Fiber | 0.5 grams |
Sodium | 220 mg |
FAQs
Conclusion
Garlic fried rice, or Sinangag, is more than just a side dish – it’s a celebration of Filipino cuisine’s simplicity and flavor. You can enjoy it in the morning, for lunch, or even at dinner with any side dish.
Moreover, it’s super easy to make, so what are you waiting for? Be sure to try this delicious rice at home whenever you have leftover rice.