My favorite fried rice to make is this Filipino Style Java Rice. This yellow fried rice spiced with annatto and turmeric powder elevates a plain white rice into a flavorful, aromatic and visually appealing side dish! Try this with grilled meat and seafood, with siomai in this Siomai Rice and in your breakfast silog!

Hello rice lovers! Today, let’s tackle my current favorite fried rice to make. I love this so much that in the peak of it all, I have made it twice in a week.

This rice makes meal time more fancy, and the food bursting with more flavor. Oh yes, trust me! Even a simple meal of hotdog and egg will be made even more special with this Filipino Style Java rice.

And of course, I love it in siomai rice!

Other Recipes to Make with Java Rice

Let’s Make Filipino Java Rice

First, heat oil in a wok or pan. I recommend a (affiliate link) because the round, sides makes it easier to toss the rice around.

Add the minced garlic, the annatto powder and ground turmeric. Toss and stir to mix the spices, and until the garlic is aromatic and softened. This won’t take long.

Add and cook the rice. Toss it around until the color is uniform. Add the soy sauce.

Continue to cook, tossing regularly until heated through and you can hear some sizzles. Season with salt and black pepper. Turn off heat and serve.

Tips to Java Rice Success

I recommend a long grain white rice like basmati. This is fluffy, light and does not clump together. The result is a nice, flowy fried rice that is so so pleasant!
With that said, feel free to use jasmine white rice. The recipe will still work as good, and will only differ in texture.
It is also best to use a day-old rice because freshly cooked rice tends to excess moisture in them. This can contribute to the clumping issue of fried rice. However, I have made this with freshly cooked basmati and it worked well. If you are using jasmine, best to use day-old rice.
Use neutral oil for cooking this fried rice for best flavor.

Java rice served with dumplings on a plate.

Java Rice Protein Pairings and Variations

Java rice enhances the savory flavors of your main dishes. Try it with grilled meat like pork or chicken barbecue (chicken Inasal style).
It also pairs well with fried meat like pork chop or pork belly (liempo) and fried seafood.
I have also enjoyed Java rice with breakfast silog of tocino, longganisa and tapa.
For an even special version, add red bell pepper to the rice to boost flavor and to highlight the nice yellow-orange color of the rice.
You can also garnish the rice with crispy garlic, and chopped green onions.

Here are some recipes you can make along with this Java Rice.