There are days when all I crave is a simple bowl of comfort. Without doing so many pre works, without so many dishes to wash, not fancy, not complicated just something warm, aromatic, and satisfying my taste buds. That’s when I decided to make Japanese garlic fried rice, but with my own little twist.

Main Ingredient - Garlic
Main Ingredient - Garlic Garlic

I started with a cup of glutinous rice, steamed until soft and slightly sticky. After steaming, I added a little sesame oil. That’s when the rice started to look beautifully glossy.

While the rice was cooking, I got busy with the garlic. I took a whole bulb of garlic and roughly chopped it, keeping the skin on. Remember, don’t peel off the skin. It tastes better that way.

I also prepared some carrots and spring onions, though these are completely optional. I just like the freshness and colour they add. After all, food should not only satisfy our tongue but also our eyes.

The magic begins with garlic oil. I heated some oil in my wok and fried a handful of garlic until golden and fragrant. The smell alone could lift anyone’s mood. I poured this garlic oil into a small bowl, tossed in a few chili pieces, and mixed it all together. A spicy, garlicky oil that was ready to flavor the rice.

Back to the wok it was. A little more oil, the remaining garlic, then a egg cracked in and scrambled quickly. Once the egg were just set, I added the steamed glutinous rice. The grains soaked up the flavors beautifully. I drizzled in the garlic oil, scattered the carrots, and added a splash of soy sauce and salt. Finally, I topped it off with the onion leaves, which gave the dish a fresh finishing touch.

The result? A bowl of rice that was garlicky, slightly sticky, with just the right balance of spice, crunch, and comfort. It reminded me why I love cooking. Sometimes the simplest recipes create the happiest moments.

A plate of Japanese garlic fried rice with diced carrot, scrambled egg and spring onion, topped with chilli oil
A plate of Japanese garlic fried rice Thakshila Dayarathna

🌸 Recipe Card – Japanese Garlic Fried Rice

  • Ingredients
  • 1 cups glutinous rice (steamed)
  • 1 tbsp of sesame oil (optional)
  • 1 bulb of garlic (chopped, with skin on)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp oil (for frying)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • A few chili pieces (optional, for garlic oil)
  • 2 tbsp chopped carrots (optional)
  • 2 tbsp chopped onion leaves (spring onions) (optional)
  1. Directions
  2. 1. Steam the glutinous rice until soft and sticky.
  3. 2. Heat oil in a wok and fry half of the garlic until golden. Remove and mix it with chili pieces to make garlic oil.
  4. 3. In the same wok, add a little more oil and sauté the remaining garlic.
  5. 4. Crack in the egg and scramble lightly.
  6. 5. Add the steamed rice and mix well.
  7. 6. Drizzle in the garlic oil, add salt, carrots, and pour soy sauce. Stir until everything is well combined.
  8. 7. Finish with chopped onion leaves for a fresh touch.
  9. 8. Serve hot and enjoy!
Bowl of Japanese Garlic Fried Rice
Bowl of Japanese Garlic Fried Rice