Monday, November 09, 2009

Healthy Garlic Rice



Garlic has been known to have medicinal properties and found to have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti fungal activity in test tube studies. It is claimed to prevent heart diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other. Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years. I received an e-mail saying that someone who cooked garlic rice every night and in half a year, her high blood pressure is cured. I don't know whether it is true or just an anecdote. But I don't see a harm in eating garlic rice. Seriously, the fragrant of garlic rice when cooking is perfume to me, unless you really hate garlic, I don't see why you won't enjoy the smell of garlic or benefit from eating this. If you have slight high blood pressure or high cholesterol level and not on medication yet, why not give this natural remedy a try? If you are on medication, you can consult with your doctor first. I cook this just because I love the smell of garlic and for prevention. I also tried adding few slices of smashed ginger along with the garlic, the smell was even crazier, better than garlic alone. Ginger is also known for anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. Who needs to pay so much more for imported fragrant rice when I can make my own with Arkansas long grain rice? :P Good tips is meant to be shared. I really wanted to share this healthy cooking tips with my readers. I have been cooking this for a month and will be continued doing so with added ginger. I don't eat the ginger, just used it to infuse the rice. Feedback to me if you try it ya! ;)




Cooked in rice cooker, before stirring.


After mixing, healthy garlic rice anyone?

Method:

I used 4-5 cloves of garlic for 2.5 cup of rice.
Peeled the garlic and smashed it, set aside. Wash the rice in your rice cooker. Add in enough water and top it with smashed cloves of garlic. Let the rice cooker cook the rice per normal. When done, smashed the garlic with rice scoop and stir and mix well with the rice before serving.

Note: Consult with doctor if you are on any medication, too much garlic might have adverse effects on certain individuals.



20 comments:

Art and Appetite said...

Simple yet it looks so appetizing.

I love garlic btw.

tigerfish said...

I heard that garlic shd not be cooked at high temp for too long as some of the medicinal props are lost in this process :O

Unknown said...

ohhhhh i loveee this idea...i normally get the garlic fragrance going by sauteeing minced garlic first in tiny bit of oil...but you know...that's too much for weekday meals (lazy lazy), i will try your method.

sous chef has problems with cholesterol...and he is taking medication for it...will check with doctor if additional dose of (lotsa) garlic is ok...

Noob Cook said...

I loooveee garlic. I think I kind of overeat garlic coz I add it to every dish :D

Sweet Jasmine said...

I love the smell of garlic too. Have try garlic fried rice but hv not cook it this way yet. will see how it goes with my boys..

Chibog in Chief said...

You know my daughter loves rice (it must be my Asian genes) but I noticed that everytime I add some garlic on it she loves them even more :-) this recipe is for her thanks

Ling's Passion said...

Such a creative way of making garlic rice. I usually fry the garlic first before adding to the cook rice. This way will certainly save time.....he...he..he

Little Corner of Mine said...

Thanks Art and Appetite, give it a try. :)

Tigerfish, don't know about that. Because we do braise garlic for a long time and also roast garlic in the oven at high temp. Not sure cooking in rice cooker is considered high-temp. or not.

Rita, yes this is the easier and lazier way to prepare garlic rice. Really fragrant when cooking.

Haha noobcook. I don't think we can overeat garlic, on average we still eat less than a bulb in a day. In Asia, we eat it fresh with bird eye chili as condiment with rice.

Sweet Jasmine, yeah have to pass your boys taste test first.

You're welcome Dhanggit. The rice is really fragrant with garlic when cook like this.

Ling, yes certainly save time. ;) Whole house will be perfumed by garlic when the rice is cooking too. Try it!

sock peng said...

觉得我们会爱吃garlic rice
之前我炒饭加上garlic , 中国的同事说他们不曾加入garlic在炒饭

Big Boys Oven said...

sure smells good! :) A garlic lover!

My Asian Kitchen said...

I love garlic but never use it too cook with white rice..hmm must try one day..oh!! I thought all chinese like to eat Jasmine rice,no? I buy Jasmine rice all the time..25 lbs for $18...I think it's Ok for me since the whole bag can last me 3-4 months eventhought we eat rice daily!! thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!!

Little Corner of Mine said...

SP, no garlic in fried rice, interesting.

Yes BBOven. Smell good to me, but for people who dislike garlic, might be fainted upon smelling it. LOL!

Les, you can still get Jasmine rice for cheap, over here the price is getting ridiculous. For 25lb, it's $28 and above and for 50lb, it's $49. I stopped eating Jasmine rice because it's too expensive and my MIL also advice us not to eat Jasmine rice as perfume is added to make the rice fragrant (I don't know whether it's true or not). I bought 100lb Arkansas long grain rice for $38 only, huge difference in price.

daphne said...

I think that is a great way to add garlic into diet! Sometimes I add more garlic to cooking towards the end of the cooking process.

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Usually I like to fry the garlic first then only add into cooked rice, will try your way next time, look more healthy.

The Cooking Ninja said...

hehehe ... add some chicken broth n lemon grass, it becomes chicken rice ;)

Sometimes I just throw in some mint leaves with the rice and it gives off a very fragrant rice.

pigpigscorner said...

there's never too much garlic!

Babe_KL said...

this sounds easy and great!

nihaty said...

Many of the necessary vitamins are found in garlic as a natural antibiotic and food should be consumed in more than gives great flavor

Iron Rye said...

I wish there 'd be a way to get rid of the garlic smell, I'd it it three times a day then

Little Corner of Mine said...

Iron Rye, perhaps you can try vinegar? I read that vinegar seem to be able to rid all smell. Apple cider vinegar + water and drink it after the garlic rice? I have not try it but if u do, let me know if it's worked.