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09
Dec
Dec
HEALTHY
10 ways to liven up plain steamed rice with great flavor
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Looking for rice inhalation ? here are 10 ways to liven up apparent annoyed rice, ampere well as tips on cooking it, introducing brown rice, and using leftovers .
Contents
Rice: A Family Favorite
In our theater, we eat rice at least once a week. sometimes as region of a main dish, but more often as a side serve onto which we can ladle a stew, curry, or stir-fry .
While knit rice is a classical, it can besides be fun to change up the spirit of steam rice with unlike seasonings and add-ins, so I wanted to share 10 ways to liven up plain annoyed rice, vitamin a well as ways to use up leftover rice, so that you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate lay waste to it .
Before getting to the relish options, though, it is significant to talk planning. Because rice is such a staple, it is authoritative that it be prepared by rights ( after all, unless you are eating awkward rice, you don ’ triiodothyronine want it to be all gummed and stuck together ) .
What is more, while white rice is delectable, introducing healthier versions like brown and wild rice can be an comfortable way to get some add nutrition into your syndicate ’ mho diet .
Cooking Rice
While cooking times for white, embrown, and wild rice are all different ( follow the package directions for cooking times and special instructions ), the basic principals remain the same no matter what kind of rice you are making .
Note: The directions below are for cooking rice on the stovetop. If you choose to use a rice cooker or coerce cooker, make indisputable to read your appliance manual to make indisputable you get the correct ratios and cooking times for your specific tool .
How Much to Make
I normally cook 1/4 – 1/2 cup dry rice per person per serve. For our family of four, that works out to 1 1/2 cups dry rice if we want to have leftovers .
Rice to Water/Liquid Ratio
For white, brown, and hazardous rice, the classical rice to water/liquid proportion is 1 character rice to 2 parts liquid for the perfect, downy rice .
While this works well for all three types of rice, for brown university rice I prefer a method I learned years ago from Saveur. After some play around, I figured out an even quicker and simpler manner to get the like results :
My Favorite Way to Cook Brown Rice
- Bring 6 cups of water to a boil.
- Add 1 cup of brown rice, and then cook uncovered, still boiling, for 30 minute.
- Strain any remaining water from the rice and then return the rice to the pot.
This method produces fabulously downy brown rice ( keep the proportion 1:6 proportion if you need to make more rice ) .
Introducing Brown or Wild Rice
foremost, a reality confirmation. While we sometimes enjoy embrown rice in our family, all three of my boys strongly prefer white. My brazilian husband, in particular, has been very affected role with my introduction of brown rice into our diet, but has confessed that he still vastly prefers the white kind.
But offering healthy, solid grain options is important to me, therefore one antic that I have found to be helpful is to mix half embrown and half white rice together, which seems to go over well ( I don ’ metric ton cook them together because they have different cooking times ) .
In addition, I have noticed that my boys are less likely to shy away from brown rice when it is smothered in a sauce or stew or is baked into a casserole such as our Spinach and Rice Lasagna .
Using Up Leftover Rice
We are big fans of leftover rice in our house. indeed much so, that I much purposefully make extra rice to use in other meals throughout the workweek. here are some of my darling ways to use up leftover rice :
Fried Rice
We much use leftover protein, cooked vegetables, beans, and egg in a Brazilian-style fry rice called Mixidinho. In accession, we love this beat recipe for Crispy Tofu Triangles with Fried Rice .
Frittatas and Casseroles
Did you know you can incorporate rice into fritattas ? It adds a fantastic texture and heave to make the frittata a entire meal !
similarly, you can add rice to casseroles, such as the Southwestern Egg and Rice Bake pictured above .
Soup Add-in
Whether it is a puree vegetable soup like our Butternut Squash and Apple Soup with Crispy Sage or a attic soup where I swap out the noodles for rice, such as our No-Chicken Noodle Soup, my kin is always excited to have rice-filled soup on the mesa .
Breakfast porridge
For a bare 5-minute breakfast, warm up leftover rice with some milk ( any variety show, dairy or not ), cinnamon, and maple syrup for a delightful dawn porridge. Top it with fruit and/or nuts and you ’ ve got a hearty breakfast for all .
10 Ways to Liven Up Plain Steamed Rice
One of my favorite ways to add season to rice is by either using a fudge melted other than water ( bouillon or broth is an easy alternative ), or by stirring in some bracing herbs, dried fruit, peas, nuts, or early season and color boosters. Below are 10 of my favorite ways to make rice taste particularly well .
1. Vegetable-Spiked Rice
Use one-half body of water and half salsa or carrot or tomato juice to cook the rice. This will add extra spirit, color, and nutrients !
2. Mediterranean Rice
Stir 1 – 2 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts and 1 – 2 Tbsp. dry currants or dry cranberries into the cook rice. The textures and flavors contributed by these add-ons elevate the rice to a sophisticate side .
3. Japanese Rice
My family absolutely loves this rice dish with it ’ randomness vary textures and flavors. When the rice is cooked, stir in 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar, 1 cup shelled and steamed edamame, 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions, and 1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds or sesame petroleum ( stimulate in a tsp. of miso paste if you happen to have it. )
4. Indian Rice
Do you love the gently spiced rice at amerind restaurants ? immediately you can make it at home ! Cook basmati rice with 1 cinnamon joint, 6 whole cloves, and 2 garlic cloves ( use water or broth ). Remove the cinnamon, cloves, and garlic before serving .
5. Herbed Rice
Stir into fudge rice, ¼ – ½ cup chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, scallions, basil, or coriander. so childlike and so delicious .
6. Rice with Peas and Onions
I love this one because it adds some extra vegetables into the meal without anyone tied noticing. In a modest frying pan, sauté ½ diced yellow onion with 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil until it starts to brown. Mix in freeze or clean peas and sauté the mix for about 2 more minutes. Mix the onions and peas into already steamed rice. Season it with salt or soy sauce, if desired .
7. Cilantro Rice
This dish is perfective to go aboard any latin american or Tex-Mex dish you are preparing. Cook the rice according to the software directions ( cook it in light coconut milk, if desired ). When cooked, stir in the juice of ½ lime, ½ cup fresh chopped coriander, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, and 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. strategic arms limitation talks .
8. Caribbean Rice
You ’ ll practically feel the sand between your toes as you enjoy this rice that brings tropical flavors to your table with about no feat. Cook the rice in inner light coconut milk with 1/2 tsp. ground allspice, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. dried thyme ( or stir in 1 tsp. bracing thyme after cooking ), and 1/8 tsp. grind cloves .
9. Curry Rice
This flavorful rice makes a cover girl side dish for any ridicule or broiled kernel or tofu dish you might serve. In a clayey saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, sauté ½ finely diced yellow onion in 1 Tbsp. oil over medium heating system until the onions are lightly browned. Add the rice, ¼ tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. curry powderize and stir the rice to coat the grains with the vegetable oil. Add the water or broth, bring it to a boil, and cook as directed.
10. Festive Rice
Stir ¼ cup chopped pecans, ¼ cup dried cranberries or cherries, and 1/8 – ¼ cup french dressing dressing into the cook rice. The crush of the nuts, bouquet of the dry fruit, and dynamism of the salad dressing make this a achiever every time .
What else do you do to spice up steamed rice ? Please partake in the comments below .
Want more dinnertime inspiration ? Check out our post on the many delightful ways you can top baked potatoes !