Burnt Garlic Fried Rice

Cooking rice

1. Rinse basmati rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch. Then soak rice in enough water for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes drain the water and keep the rice grains aside.
2. In a pot or pan heat 3 cups water.
3. When the water becomes hot, add salt and sesame oil.
4. Bring the water to a boil on high heat. Then add the rice. Gently stir or shake the pan.
5. Cook the rice on high heat, till it becomes al dente. This is the rapid boiling method of cooking rice. Hence no need to cover the pan with any lid.
6. The rice should be al dente, meaning almost cooked with a slight bite in the center. Don't cook the rice more as it will also get cooked while stir-frying in the later steps.
7. Then in a colander or strainer, strain the cooked rice.
8. Gently rinse the rice with running water. This will stop cooking of the rice.
9. Cover and keep the rice aside till it cools at room temperature. The rice has to be completely cooled at room temperature before you add it to the stir fried veggies.

Making garlic fried rice

1. Now rinse and then chop finely all the veggies. You can use your choice of veggies.
2. In a well seasoned wok or kadai, heat sesame oil.
3. Add finely chopped garlic. On a low heat, begin to stir fry the garlic.
4. First the garlic would start turning light brown and then become golden.
5. When the garlic turns golden, remove 1 to 2 teaspoon of the garlic and keep aside. We will use this stir fried garlic for garnish.
6. Now continue to fry the garlic till it becomes more browned and a bit burnt.
7. Once the garlic becomes more browned, then add the spring onion whites. Reserve the spring onion greens to be added later and for garnish.
8. Increase the heat to medium or high and stir fry the spring onions for a minute.
9. Then add finely chopped french beans. This step is only if you are using french beans. If not using french beans, then move to step 12.
10. Stir fry for 2 minutes on a high heat.
11. Then add all the other veggies. Mix well.
12. Add crushed black pepper or pepper powder and finely chopped celery. Add black pepper as per your taste requirements. Skip celery if you do not have.
13. Mix very well. Stir fry the veggies for 2 to 3 minutes.
14. Then add naturally fermented soy sauce.
15. Mix the soy sauce very well with the stir fried veggies.
16. Add the rice. Season with salt as per taste. Go easy on the salt as some brands of soy sauce may have salt in them.
17. Mix and toss the rice very well with the stir fried veggies and burnt garlic. You can mix with a fork or spoon.
18. Stir fry rice for a minute.
19. Then add rice vinegar and mix. Adding rice vinegar is optional and you can skip it. 
20. Instead of vinegar you can also add regular vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. I generally add less vinegar, but you can add more or less as per your requirements.
21. Switch off the flame and lastly add spring onion greens. Mix very well. Keep a few spring onion greens for garnish.
22. Garnish with the reserved fried garlic and spring onion greens. Serve garlic rice hot as it is or with a side of gobi manchurian, veg manchurian, mushroom manchurian.