Updated on November 9th, 2022
Rice is excellent when served with Mexican or Indian cuisine, but it never tastes quite as indulgent when made at home. Fortunately, there are a variety of techniques to make quick rice taste nice that don’t take a long time or involve any special cooking abilities. Your favourite grain has just gotten a lot better.
Rice, a staple cuisine in so many cultures, is a versatile and healthful option, whether you’re looking for a dorm-friendly meal or a quick one-person supper. Serve a bowl of rice with a simple stir-fry, or just eat it plain. With brown rice or white rice, your dinner preparations became much easier — but no less delicious, spicy, and all-around tasty. To transform your sad pot of rice into rad, you need a well-stocked pantry, a solid spice rack, and a little imagination. There’s no need to be concerned about dinnertime; simply put a pot on the stovetop and start cooking.
What are Some Tips to Make White Rice Taste Better?
There are numerous techniques to improve the flavour of white rice. Spices and seasonings, such as herbs and garlic, can be added, or the stock that comes with the rice can be used. Vegetables like carrots and peas can also be added. In addition, you can cook your white grains in a veggie broth. Increasing the nutritional value of your food by using a healthy broth is a terrific way to do it.
There are a variety of ways to enhance the flavour of white rice. Spices and seasonings, such as herbs and garlic, can be added, or the rice stock can be used instead. Carrots and peas are examples of vegetables that can be included. You can also cook your white grains in vegetable broth. Using a healthy broth to boost the nutritional value of your food is a fantastic method. The remaining heat from the butter will help melt the fat and enhance the meal’s flavor. Use 3 tablespoons of butter for a more buttery result or 2 tablespoons for a less fatty finish. If preferred, extra virgin olive oil can be substituted for the butter.
You can season it with pepper, ginger, and/or turmeric. Adding these components, you may make it a main dish or a side dish. You can also use coconut or olive oil if you’re vegan. These ingredients can be used to flavour rice, and it’s a win-win situation for everyone.
Turmeric is another option; this spice is extremely common and will enhance the flavour of your rice. Finally, try sprinkling some fresh herbs on top of your rice. After you’ve added all the correct elements to your rice, you may experiment with other tastes to make it even tastier. You can also use your favourite spices instead.
The rice will taste tangier and have more flavour if you season it. You can combine various tastes to achieve the greatest flavour, and you’ll be able to alter the taste and texture of your rice this way.
If you have the time, flavour your rice with a bouillon cube, which will improve the dish’s flavour and nutritional content. Dried parsley flakes can also be added to white rice, providing a distinct but delightful flavour to your rice. If you make your white rice ahead of time, you can keep it frozen, and it can last up to three months in the refrigerator, and you can even put it in the freezer to eat later.
What are Some Ways to Liven Up Plain Steamed Rice?
Spiked Rice with Vegetables
Cook the rice with half water and half salsa, carrot, or tomato juice. This will add taste, colour, and nutrients to your dish!
Mediterranean Rice
1–2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts and 1–2 tablespoons dried currants or dried cranberries, stirred into cooked rice. These add-ons add texture and flavour to the rice, elevating it to a more refined level.
Japanese Rice
With its different textures and flavours, my family adores this rice meal. Stir in 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 cup shelled and steamed edamame, 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds or sesame oil. After the rice is done (stir in a tsp. of miso paste if you have it.)
Indian Rice
Do you enjoy Indian restaurants’ mildly spiced rice? It’s now possible to make it home! 1 cinnamon stick, 6 whole cloves, and 2 garlic cloves are used for cooking basmati rice (water or broth). Before serving, take out the cinnamon, cloves, and garlic.
Peas and Onions in Rice
This one is one of my favourites because it sneaks in some other vegetables without anyone noticing. 12 chopped yellow onion, sauté in a small skillet with 1 tablespoon oil until it begins to brown. Add the frozen or fresh peas and continue to sauté for another 2 minutes. Toss the onions and peas into the rice that has previously been steamed. If desired, season with salt or soy sauce.
Rice from the Caribbean
As you eat this rice, you’ll nearly feel the sand between your toes, as it brings tropical aromas to your table with almost no effort. Cook the rice with 1/2 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh thyme after cooking), and 1/8 tsp ground cloves in light coconut milk.
Rice with Curry
This delicious rice is a wonderful accompaniment to any roasted or grilled meat or tofu dish. 12 coarsely diced yellow onion, sauté in 1 Tbsp. Oil in a large saucepan with a tight-fitting cover over medium heat until the onions are nicely browned. Stir in the rice, 14 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon curry powder to coat the grains in the oil.
Festive Rice
14 cups chopped pecans, 14 cups dried cranberries or cherries, and 1/8 – 14% vinaigrette dressing should be mixed into the cooked rice. This salad is always a winner, thanks to the crunch of the nuts, sweetness of the dried fruit, and zing of the salad dressing.
Cilantro Rice
This meal would go well with any Latin American or Tex-Mex cuisine you’re making. Follow the package directions for cooking the rice (cook it in light coconut milk, if desired). When the rice is done, add the lime juice, 12 cups fresh chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Should You Season Rice Before Or After Cooking?
It’s just rice cooked with onion, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme, among other herbs and spices. A simple rice meal that may be tailored to your preferences. Simply said, you season plain rice with seasonings to make it delicious and appetizing.
It’s similar to fried rice, except that fried rice is cooked rice sautéed with various spices. Seasoned rice, on the other hand, is uncooked rice that has been cooked with spices. Butter – Adding butter to every dish makes it richer and tastier and adds a lot of flavour to any dish. Uncooked Long GrainWhite Rice — You can use whichever white rice you have on hand. However, I like basmati and jasmine rice since they are less sticky.
Garlic and Onion Powder — When flavouring rice, it’s ideal to use powdered spices because they actually infuse the taste into the rice while it’s cooking. Salt – Even though we use a variety of rice spices in this recipe, it’s still a good idea to add some salt. Our seasoned rice will not taste flat as a result of this. Oregano, thyme, and parsley are all herbs that can be used in cooking. Adding exotic herby flavours to this seasoned rice recipe is one of my favourites, and they go well with the rice dish’s overall flavour. On the other hand, most fried rice flavors do not use herbs because they are more umami. Of course, you may always season your favourite fried rice with herbs.
Paprika — This rice flavour gives our favourite comfort dish seasoned rice, a hint of spicy sweetness and bitterness. Feel free to add more pepper flakes, but be cautious because it may stimulate your hunger and drive you to eat more. I can’t say I blame you because this seasoned rice is both cosy and tasty!
To add more umami tastes to this seasoned rice recipe, use bouillon. Even when there is no meat, it adds wonderful flavours.
Is White Rice Healthy?
Because the bran and germ are removed, many people perceive white rice as an “empty” or “poor” carb. On the other hand, white rice is frequently fortified with additional minerals such as iron and B vitamins. So, while brown rice has more nutrients than white rice, white rice is still a good source of nutrients.
Because of its growth habitat, rice absorbs arsenic more rapidly than other crops. On the other hand, rice can be consumed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet. According to published studies and FDA studies, cooking rice can reduce inorganic arsenic content by up to 60%, depending on the type of rice.
While numerous studies have found a link between refined grains and weight gain, the evidence is mixed when it comes to white rice. It does not appear harmful or beneficial to weight loss, and white rice does not have a special power to induce weight growth in and of itself. However, excess calories from any food, even rice, will result in weight gain. Whole-grain diets (think brown rice) have been demonstrated to help people lose weight and maintain healthy body weight.
Rice comes in over 40,000 different kinds and is a staple food in over 100 nations. Paella in Spain, risotto in Italy, arroz rojo in Mexico, bibimbap in Korea, sushi in Japan, and so on are just a few examples of rice dishes that emphasize local food and culture. Rice is a staple food for many people worldwide, yet popular low-carb diets such as Keto, Whole 30, Paleolithic, and other low-carb diets prohibit it.
Brown rice is not a specific type of rice; it refers to a wide range of rice species in their natural, whole-grain state. Brown rice takes longer to cook (and digest) than refined white rice because it retains the fibrous bran layer and has a chewier and nuttier flavour.
Why do we Add Salt While Cooking Rice?
Adding salt to the water gives it a taste, which is absorbed by the food. The ability of chemoreceptors in the tongue to detect chemicals experienced through the sense of taste is improved by salt.
Water will generally migrate toward the side of the membrane with a higher concentration of salt in osmosis, which can occur with or without heat (though much faster with higher temp. because of the fast motion of molecules).
This may avoid over-bloating of the rice due to excessive water absorption, as well as grain damage. Because osmosis squeezes water from a lower to a greater concentration, it may squeeze out the rice flavour molecules more effectively as the water passes. (However, this is only likely if you don’t add the salt immediately but rather wait until the rice has bloated a little, because after all, what can you squeeze out of a dry grain without water?). Water evaporates slower with salt than without salt (due to the higher boiling point).
Conclusion
While plain rice is a staple, it’s also interesting to experiment with different seasonings and add-ins to alter the flavour of steamed rice. But, before we get into the taste selections, let’s discuss the preparation. Because rice is such a common food, it must be prepared properly. Furthermore, while white rice is delicious, incorporating healthier varieties such as brown and wild rice into your family’s diet can be a simple approach to boost nutrition.
