This Filipino garlic cauliflower fried rice or sinangag recipe makes a delicious and tasty breakfast. It's a great way to use up any leftover cauli rice.
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Cauliflower rice is one of the simplest recipes in my collection. Growing up in a Filipino American family, I recall having white rice just about every day. We also enjoyed eating Filipino garlic rice was for breakfast.
A traditional Filipino rice dish which is often cooked for breakfast is sinangag which is simply the Tagalog word for fried rice. Filipino fried rice tends to be heavy on the garlic. A traditional sinangag is usually a mix of garlic, scrambled eggs, and rice.
I like to add meat like ham or bacon to my fried breakfast rice. Since I no longer eat white rice, I now make a tasty cauliflower fried rice instead. And, it's a delicious low carb breakfast meal.
Fried rice was one of the foods my father taught me how to cook when he helped me move into an off-campus apartment. He made sure I had my own rice cooker and then showed me how to cook his Filipino garlic fried rice recipe. The other simple dish he taught me how to cook was chicken adobo.
How to make garlic fried rice low carb
When I make this garlic cauliflower fried rice dish, it brings back memories of my college days when I first left home and had to take care of myself. And it's a super simple recipe that's great for repurposing leftover cauliflower rice.
Simply heat a few tablespoons of cooking oil in a large skillet or wok. Then add in some chopped garlic and optional chopped onion. Cook until the garlic begins to brown. The cooked cauliflower rice is then added into the oil and garlic, then pushed to one side of the pan.
A mixture of beaten egg and low carb milk is then added into the empty side of the pan. It's allowed to cook and then scrambled with a spatula. The cooked egg is then blended into the cauliflower rice.
Finally, the ham is stirred along with some soy sauce (or coconut aminos). It then cooked and stirred a few more minutes until the dish is heated throughout.
Why make Filipino fried rice sinangag
My youngest daughter enjoys eating low carb cauliflower rice with me, but between the two of us, we can't finish an entire head of cauliflower. This garlic cauliflower fried rice recipe is a wonderful way to use up the leftover cauliflower rice the next day. It's also a recipe that's great for using up any leftover ham from a big holiday dinner.
Although we used to eat sinangag for breakfast, I find that it's not always a good idea to start the day with garlic breath. So, I often make Filipino fried rice as a side dish for dinner or to enjoy for lunch. It's a filling meal all by itself.
Other recipes to try
- Cheesy Cauliflower Rice
- Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
- Cauliflower Tortillas
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice
- Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Risotto
Kitchen Tools Used for Filipino Garlic Rice
- Frying Pan or Wok - A large skillet works well. But if you find you need more room for stir-frying, a wok is recommended for making fried cauliflower rice.
- Wooden Spatula - To make scrambling the eggs
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Recipe
Low Carb Filipino Fried Rice Sinangag
Video
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups riced cauliflower cooked
- 3 eggs beaten with a fork (optional)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 3 slices deli ham or bacon chopped (I used deli ham)
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos or tamari
- onion chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium high heat in large skillet or wok.
- Add garlic (and chopped onion if using) and cook until garlic begins to brown.
- Stir riced cauliflower into oil and garlic, then push to the side.
- Combine eggs and almond milk, then pour into the pan and cook scrambled.
- Stir scrambled eggs into the riced cauliflower and then add in the ham.
- Mix in soy sauce and stir over medium heat for a minute or two until all is well heated.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
Post updated in March 2019. Originally published March 2015.
Adrienne
I make this all time ! It’s so good that you don’t even miss the rice!
Christine
I made this today and it was so easy and tasted so good! My 14 month old grand-daughter gobbled her portion down!
Al
I've made this recipe for my Filipino girlfriend and her family -- the toughest critics for such a recipe -- and they absolutely loved it! The first week I tried this recipe, I made it four days in a row because I couldn't get enough of it! I seriously just eat the entire recipe in one sitting and it's incredibly satisfying and filling!
Sara
It made me smile to come across this recipe and to know people are enjoying sinangag even on Keto 🙂 I grew up in the Philippines, and like you, I ate rice every day. White jasmine rice was the hardest thing for me to give up since eating Keto! I make a cauliflower sinangag similar to this recipe, except I use diced and crisply-cooked Spam instead of bacon. You can't get any more Filipino than putting Spam in a "rice" dish 🙂 I know many people turn up their noses to Spam, but don't knock it until you try it!
Lisa MarcAurele
I also at a lot of Spam back in my childhood. That brought back some memories. The crispier the better!
April
This looks like what I've been wanting!! I haven't tried the cauli rice yet, but I sure miss my family favorite of Ham and Rice Stirfry! My granddaughter calls it Hamster Fry! I don't use garlic, but add frozen/thawed peas with the ham. I'm going to make it as soon as I can get some ham and peas! YUM. Thank you........
Helene
Hello. I was reading your fried rice recipe to find out how to make cauliflower fried rice, however, this was not explained in the recipe. I have tried to make cauliflower fried rice before and failed miserably. This was the reason I decided to read this. Fried cauliflower presented me with some problems. For one thing, when I grated the cauliflower and heated it, a lot of water came out. Then I tried to fry it in oil, and just had an oily pan of ruined cauliflower. So I've never tried this again.
Lisa MarcAurele
The cauliflower rice used in this recipe has already been cooked. It's not freshly grated raw cauliflower.
Barbara
Lisa, will this recipe still work without the coconut aminos or tamari?
Thanks
Lisa MarcAurele
It really needs something like soy sauce for seasoning. But you can try to season with something else.
Barbara Gray
Thanks Lisa,i love cauliflower
Lisa MarcAurele
Hope you love this garlic fried cauliflower rice!
Amanda
I was a little worried about this recipe because I had tried to make "mashed potatoes" with cauliflower and hated them. But this recipe pleasantly surprised me. My whole family loved it! You really couldn't even tell it wasn't actually made with rice. I will definitely add this to my rotation of recipes.
Lisa
Glad you enjoyed the recipe Amanda!
Glee
I love all the low-carb recipes you have here in your blog. Thanks!!! I never thought that being in low carb high fat diet be this easy, since there are a lot of options and recipes to make. Now, because I am a Filipino, what made me happier was that there is this Garlic Cauliflower Fried Rice (Sinangag - Filipino Style). Kudos to you!
I am just curious how did your family became acquainted with this dish? hahaha
Lisa
My father is Filipino and did most of the cooking when I was growing up! 😀
Gen
I’m a huge fan of yours!! I think your recipes are the most FAIL-PROOF out of all the recipes I’ve tried since going on Keto Diet. I’m a Filipino and was wondering why you have a lot of recipes for Filipino dishes here, now I know why!!! Thank you for sharing your recipes and for always responding so nicely. I always read your responses to the comments! ❤️
Lisa MarcAurele
It's always great to connect with other low carb Filipinos! I do miss real pancit and lumpia. And I wish I could indulge in ube kalamay as that was always one of my favorite Filipino desserts.
Sabrina Blair
This is great! I went low carb 8 months ago and really miss the rice. As someone who also grew up in a Filipino American family, giving up rice has been the hardest. Looking forward to getting back the Sinangag in my life! Thanks!
Lisa
Enjoy! I'm hoping to have a sinigang soup recipe soon too.
Zoila
Hi Lisa,
Hoping for this as me and my daughter love Pork Bone Sinigang!
Zoila
Lisa MarcAurele
Hope you enjoy this version. I like having it for breakfast, but definitely need something to address the garlic breath after.
Rebecca Diaz
I’m very glad to have found this recipe, but was confused by calling it Sinigang. In our dialect (Cebu) Sinigang is a soup. We never refer to fried rice as Sinigang.
elena
Before I make this recipe, which sounds great, please let me know about which day sauce you recommend. I know that soy is not part of Keto. Do you use some other kind of soy substitute? Thanks!
Lisa
Coconut aminos is what I use in place of soy sauce.
Nancy
How many eggs? Not listed in the Ingredients list. Thank you
Lisa
The ingredients list 3 eggs, but you can use more or less. It's not that important.
Sandy C
I'm trying this now...looks so good. I do have a question. It's calling for the almond milk, but doesn't say where to use it at, I would assume mixed in the eggs? Thank you
Lisa
You are correct, the almond milk is blended in with the eggs before scrambling. I have fixed that error.
Sadie T. Aragon
omg! I have been looking for something to cure my fried rice cravings! I absolutely love fried rice. This would go good with some low carb hibachi chicken for sure!
I am just starting my low carb lifestyle after finishing my 21 day sugar Detox Here's a link if you're interested, for sure helped me!
Lisa
Love hibachi chicken! I'm in need of a detox to kick start additional weight loss to get rid of winter gain. I'll check it out. I was successful last time with the lemonade diet but that one was really difficult as it was liquid only for several weeks.
Susan | LunaCafe
An interesting approach to traditional fried rice. Can't get enough cauliflower these days, so happy to see inventive recipes for this tasty vegetable.
Lisa
It's amazing all the things you can do with cauliflower.
Nibbles By Nic
I have been dying to try this dish!!! love the garlic twist…I am such a fan! xo Nic
Lisa
Fried cauli-rice is excellent and so easy!
Stephanie Stuart
I haven't gotten very inventive with my cauliflower rice recipes, so I definitely want to try yours out! thanks!
Lisa
It's such a healthy vegetable and so many ways to enjoy it.
pam (Sidewalk Shoes)
What a great recipe!
Jenny (VintageSugarcube)
I have never made cauli-rice and would love to try your recipe. You make it sounds easier than I thought it would be. Your dad sounds pretty awesome. I hope to visit the PI one of these days. Have a fun weekend.
Lisa
This is a super simple dish that takes only a few minutes to prepare. The PI is a beautiful place and worth a visit. I spent a week there and had a great time. Quiet beaches and incredible food.
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
Oooh, I love cauli-rice! Garlic is a nemesis in our home, but love the "fried" concept with bacon and soy - yum!
Lisa
I'm a big fan of garlic, but if you aren't into it, it's still a tasty dish without.