Crunchy Kimchi and Garlic Rice
Growing up in a Filipino-American household, we had white rice with every meal. It was my job to make it from when I was 14. Even younger, I played with the rice dispenser we kept in the laundry room. It’d go “Shhhhing” with every button press. My mom taught me to wash the rice and measure with my finger. It wasn’t until I was well into my 30’s that I learned you could change it up. Never too late, I guess?
I found kimchi chips in the snack aisle of an Asian grocery store. If you can’t find them, you can either try dehydrating your own kimchi or using the wet, fermented stuff. This was part of my dinner with Lara Heintz, check out the full menu.
Crunchy Kimchi and Garlic Rice
Serves 4
Wash the rice with two changes of cold water and drain completely.
Transfer to a rice cooker or a small pot with the 2 cups of water.
Steam with your rice cooker’s white rice setting. If boiling in a pot, bring the rice to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to medium-low, put on the lid and steam for about 20 minutes until fully fluffy.
The grains should be tender and separate. Do not stir. If it appears wet, continue to steam on low heat until the excess water is evaporated. If it appears too dry, add 1/4 cup water and continue to steam.
While the rice is cooking, heat the vegetable oil on medium-high heat for 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and stir lightly to separate the slices.
Bring the oil up to a boil for 2 minutes and turn off the heat.
Leave the pan on the burner to finish bubbling for 20 minutes.
The garlic should be golden brown on the edges and no longer raw in the center. If you’d like to take them a bit further, bring to a boil again and turn off the heat. They can overcook easily, so watch them carefully.
Drain the garlic from the oil and save the garlic-scented oil for other cooking projects.
Crush the kimchi chips in a mortal and pestle or with the handle of a wooden spoon in a bowl. If using fresh kimchi, chop it coarsely.
Transfer the rice to a serving bowl. Dress it with the kimchi and garlic chips.
Love kimchi? Try kimchi pork chops!
Did you try this recipe? Let me know on social media by tagging @Randwiches.