Jasmine Rice with Garlic Oil (Printable)

Fluffy jasmine rice delicately infused with aromatic garlic oil. A fragrant, easy side dish for Asian meals. Vegan and gluten-free.

# What You Need:

→ Rice

01 - 1 cup jasmine rice
02 - 1 ½ 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

# Directions:

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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • It transforms plain rice into something that tastes intentional and layered without adding time or difficulty.
  • The garlic oil soaks into every grain, so you get flavor in every forkful instead of bland bites.
  • It pairs with nearly anything savory, from stir fries to roasted vegetables to simple grilled proteins.
  • You probably already have everything you need sitting in your pantry right now.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice, the starch left behind will make your finished dish gummy instead of fluffy.
  • Keep the heat low when cooking the garlic, high heat burns it in seconds and ruins the whole batch.
  • Never stir the rice while it's simmering covered, that releases steam and leads to unevenly cooked grains.
  • Let the rice rest off the heat for the full five minutes, it's not optional and it makes the difference between good and great texture.
03 -
  • If your rice turns out too sticky, you didn't rinse it enough, rinse until the water is completely clear next time.
  • For even more garlic flavor, add a second small batch of freshly sautéed garlic on top just before serving.
  • Use a heavy bottomed pan if you have one, it distributes heat more evenly and prevents scorching on the bottom.
  • Leftover garlic rice reheats beautifully in the microwave with a damp paper towel over the top to add moisture back in.
Go Back