What is it about garlic and butter together? It smells so amazing, it tastes so good. What a great combination. Traditionally, Japanese cooking does not include a great deal of garlic. But there is a popular Japanese restaurant that makes this amazing fried rice, using lots and lots of garlic butter. Oh, I think I just drooled a bit. M-mmmmm. If you have been to a Benihana restaurant, you know exactly what I am talking about. But if you haven’t been to a Benihana, you don’t have to go! Stay home and make it!

Now, I love fried rice. I have several different kinds that I make. I tend to stick with my basic fried rice that I grew up on. I have kinda resisted making this version with the garlic, because I felt that I was going against tradition. My mother would never eat fried rice with garlic! I can just hear her now…..”ohh, Japanese no put the gahlic”. 🙂 But something tells me she would like this. I always put bean sprouts, egg and green onion. Sometimes I add green beans, sometimes I don’t. Put the veggies you like. It’s really good with chicken too.

If you haven’t been to a Benihana and have not had garlic butter fried rice, you are in for a treat.

Garlic Butter Fried Rice

Serves 2(as a main dish)

3 cups  cooked cold rice
2 green onions, Sliced
1 handful bean sprouts (optional)
1 cup fresh raw green beans, chopped (optional)
1 scrambled egg (optional)

Garlic Butter:

1/4 cup softened butter
4 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
2 tblsp soy sauce

In a small bowl, mix together the 1/4 cup of butter and 4 cloves of minced garlic. Add the 2 tblsp of soy sauce and mix. Set aside.

In a large skillet or wok, add a  couple tablespoons of oil.  Throw in the green beans and toss around for a couple of minutes. Add the bean sprouts, green onion and sprouts. Stir in the garlic butter. Add rice, salt and pepper. Toss all together until well combined.