Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice)
Crisp garlicky rice with butter and soy.
Ingredients
- 400 g Japanese short-grain rice
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 30 g Butter
- 2 tbsp Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu)
- 1 Egg
- 2 tbsp Neutral oil
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Mince the garlic, slice the scallions, and beat the egg.
- Fry the garlic in the oil and butter over medium heat until golden, then add the rice and toss until hot and toasty.
- Push the rice aside, scramble the egg in the gap, then fold it through with the soy and scallion.
- Serve hot.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice)
Yakimeshi is Japanese fried rice, and this garlic-forward version is a fast, punchy way to use up cooked short-grain rice. Unlike heavily sauced Chinese fried rice, yakimeshi tends to be cleaner and more restrained, seasoned mainly with soy and, here, a generous amount of garlic fried in butter and oil until golden and fragrant. That butter-and-garlic base is the defining touch, giving the rice a rich, toasty aroma before the soy adds its savory edge. Scallion and a scrambled egg round it into a quick, satisfying single-plate meal.
The method rewards a hot pan and a little patience with the garlic, letting it turn golden without burning so it perfumes the whole dish. Scrambling the egg in a cleared gap in the pan, then folding it through with the soy and scallion, keeps the egg soft and evenly distributed rather than clumped. Ready in about fifteen minutes, it's ideal as a quick lunch or a light dinner, and it's flexible enough to take whatever odds and ends you have on hand while the garlic-butter-soy backbone carries the flavor.
Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice): frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice)?
A serving has about 369 calories — 7.4g protein, 41.4g carbs, 19.4g fat, 1.3g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice) gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Japanese soy sauce (koikuchi shoyu). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice) dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Butter. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice)?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Yakimeshi (Garlic Fried Rice) make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.