Burnt Garlic Fried Rice With Chilli

Really simple, delicious dinner that is a great way to use left over rice. And it takes only 10 minutes!

Ingredients:
2 cups of cooked rice -
left over rice works well. If not, cook rice a few hours ahead, separate grains, toss with a tsp of sesame oil and leave in the fridge until you are cooking.
15 large cloves of garlic (yep, that's a LOT!)
5-6 spring onions
2 tbsp of dark soya sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp chilli flakes (or more, if want to turn on the heat!)
3 tbsp oil
Salt to taste

Method:
Get the rice out of the fridge and use a fork to make sure the rice grains are separate. Set aside. Finely mince garlic. Finely chop spring onions, leaves and all. Put aside about 2 tbsp of the chopped green leaves for garnishing. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wide wok or heavy iron kadhai. Add 1/2 the chopped garlic and saute until it begins to turn brown. Add the spring onions and continue to saute on high heat for another 2 minutes. Add the soya sauce, pepper and sugar. Stir and now add the rice. Keeping the wok on high heat, briskly stir the rice, mixing all the ingredients. Continue frying the rice for another 3-4 mts, or until the rice begins to brown a little. Take off heat. In a smaller wok or frying pan, heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil. Add the remaining garlic and fry until a golden brown. Remember to keep stirring otherwise the garlic will stick to the bottom of the pan. Add the chilli flakes, turn off the heat and continue stirring for 30 seconds. Pour the garlic chilli oil over the fried rice and garnish with reserved green spring onion leaves.

I found that the 'tadka' of the garlic chilli oil at the end really brings out the burnt garlic flavor. The chilli also adds a little bit of bite which is always a good thing in this house! You could also add a diced omelette (cooked with some soya sauce maybe) or fried and diced sausages/ham/bacon/bits and pieces of veggies floating around.