Fragrant Jasmine Rice with Garlic Oil (Print Version)

Fluffy jasmine rice delicately infused with aromatic garlic oil. A fragrant vegan side dish that pairs beautifully with Asian meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice

01 - 1 cup jasmine rice
02 - 1½ cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Garlic Oil

04 - 2 tablespoons neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
05 - 4 large garlic cloves, finely minced

→ Optional Garnish

06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or scallions

# How To:

01 - Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain well.
02 - In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté gently for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Do not let the garlic brown.
03 - Add the rinsed rice to the saucepan and stir to coat the grains in the garlic oil for about 1 minute.
04 - Pour in the water and add salt. Stir gently and bring to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 12–15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
06 - Remove from heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
07 - Fluff the rice gently with a fork. Garnish with cilantro or scallions if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms plain rice into something deeply aromatic without any extra effort or fancy ingredients.
  • The garlic oil coats every grain so you get flavor in every forkful, not just on top.
  • It pairs beautifully with nearly anything, from stir-fries to grilled chicken to simple scrambled eggs.
  • You can make it on autopilot once you've done it twice, it's that forgiving.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, the starch makes it gummy and sticky instead of light and fluffy.
  • Keep the heat low when toasting the garlic or it will turn brown and bitter, ruining the whole batch.
  • Let the rice rest after cooking, it needs those 5 minutes to finish absorbing moisture and set properly.
03 -
  • Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to prevent hot spots that can scorch the rice on the bottom.
  • If you double the recipe, increase the resting time to 7 or 8 minutes so the center cooks through evenly.
  • Leftover garlic oil can be drizzled over roasted vegetables or stirred into soups for an instant flavor boost.
Go Back