|
Rice
is a very versatile food
which can be a meal in itself, can be eaten cold as a salad, hot
as a pudding or it can be served as a meal accompaniment. Use
online recipes to get the most out of your packet of rice and
experiment with different races - long grain, short grain, Arborio
or risotto rice, pudding rice, brown rice, wild rice and basmati
rice.
Here are 4 ways to
use rice: -
1. Boiling rice -
Rice is a great accompaniment to curry, chili, casseroles, meat in
sauces etc. and can also be used to make rice salads. You can
purchase rice cookers or microwave rice steamers which are worth
buying if you make a lot of rice.
To boil rice in a pan,
first measure out rice and water. A mogul of rice will easily feed
two people as a main course accompaniment and you will need twice
as much water as rice, two moguls of boiling water. Either boils
the water in a pan or uses a kettle and then pours the water into
a medium sized pan. Once the water is boiling, add the rice and a
little salt. Bring back to the boil and then turn down to a
simmer, place a lid on and leave to cook for about 15 minutes.
Different types of rice will take different amounts of time so
check the packet. If there is still liquid left after cooking,
simmer for a bit longer, until it has been absorbed and serve.
Some people like to place their cooked rice into a sieve and pour
boiling water over it to rinse it, but this is not necessary.
2. Fried rice -
Fried rice can be eaten by itself or as an accompaniment to
Chinese dishes. It is a great way of using up leftover rice.
Boil the rice in the
usual way and then let it cool. Beat 2 eggs together in a bowl and
season. Heat some oil in a large frying pan or wok over a high
heat and add the eggs when the oil is hot. Stir constantly until
the eggs are softly scrambled. Add rice and some soy sauce or
oyster sauce. Cook until the rice is hot and everything is
combined.
For variety, you can fry chopped onion in the pan before adding
the eggs and you can also add cooked chicken or cooked, peeled
prawns when you add the rice.
3. Risotto -
Making a risotto is easy but it does need your constant attention.
Look for risotto rice or Arborio rice in your supermarket.
Sauté chopped onion in a
large, deep frying pan and then add uncooked rice with some
mushrooms. Coat the rice in the hot oil and then start adding
liquid such as stock or white wine or a mixture of both. Add the
liquid a little (a ladle full) at a time and add more when the
liquid has been absorbed by the rice. Stir regularly to stop the
rice sticking. Once the rice is cooked and creamy (to your taste)
add a knob of butter, some grated parmesan cheese and serve.
For variety, you could also add cooked chicken, sausage or prawns,
frozen peas or sweet corn - experiment.
4. Rice Salad -
Making a rice salad is a good way of using left over boiled rice
and is a great dish to serve at BBQs or to take on a picnic. You
need to either boil some rice or then let it cool, or use leftover
rice. Make it the night before you need to serve it so that the
rice takes on the flavors of the other ingredients. Mix the cold,
cooked rice with sweet corn, chopped peppers, chopped chilies,
olives, olive oil, crushed garlic, lime or lemon juice and then,
just before serving, stir in some grated cheese. You can also do
rice salads with chopped pineapple, tuna, beans and pulses, and
cashew nuts. Look for rice salad recipes or make your own us.
|
