Edith Archer is an inventive chef who has made her way into the culinary world. At the beginning of her career, she knew the only way to strengthen her exceptional culinary skills was by traveling to different countries. During this culinary path, she has managed ways of working in international restaurants. The result was learning the secrets of most food preparations that led her to create her signature recipes.
No person in the world has escaped eating a white rice bowl. Whether it is for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, you must have tried a white rice preparation.
Rice is one of the most consumed grains worldwide. The reasons for its popularity can be summed up by versatility, affordability, and ease of cooking.
Since its first appearance as a food source, rice has made its way to most houses’ pantries. Most countries have a signature dish where rice plays the main role. Only by making a quick search on the web; you discover endless rice recipes belonging to the most varied regions.
Interesting facts about white rice
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According to some evidence, rice cultivation began in China approximately between 8,000 to 13,000 years ago. From China, rice began its journey to Sri Lanka and India. Then, it arrived in Greece and several countries in Europe.
Due to European conquest, rice reached Central and South America. The rest of the history is evident in our kitchens. Rice was adopted and included in native dishes, creating the most delicious rice preparations we enjoy today.
There are many types of rice, more than you imagine. There exist over 120,000 types grouped into three main species: Oryza sativa (Asian rice), Oryza glaberrima (African rice), and Genus zizania (wild rice). These species reunite all the varieties by their starch content, size, and flavor.
The most cultivated type is Oryza sativa, which you refer to it as simple white rice. No wonder, most recipes around the globe include it as their key ingredient.
In addition to being adaptable, affordable, and easy to cook; white rice has numerous benefits for your health. It is delicious and nutritious.
White rice contains carbohydrates, protein, and practically no fat or sugar. It also has soluble fiber, and nutrients like iron, folic acid, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorous, selenium, and thiamine.
All these beneficial elements help your body to stabilize blood sugar levels, give you extra energy, improve blood cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart diseases. Additionally, it is gluten-free, easy to digest, and prevents stomach inflammation.
Different ways of cooking white rice
Versatile, nutritious, and easy to cook, what else can you ask for this food source? If you need to expand this information on the advantages of cooking white rice, visit https://carolinarice.com/products/white-rice/ and discover more wonders of this unique grain.
Every country found a way of cooking rice. All of them claim to have the perfect way of cooking it. But, choosing the rice cooking method depends on your cooking abilities and family traditions.
White rice can be cooked by absorption, boiling, and steaming. The absorption method consists in adding rice to a specific quantity of water. During cooking, rice absorbs all the water until getting tender.
In the boiling method, rice is placed in a pot with a great amount of water. Once the rice is ready, it is strained into a colander and drained for some minutes to remove the excess humidity.
The steaming technique comprises boiling rice for some minutes, and then rice is simmered at low heat in a pan with a lid.
You can use any of these methods. In the end, the only thing that makes the decision is choosing the one that best fits the recipe you are preparing.
For example, the absorption and boiling method results in firmer and more tender rice, perfect for Paellas. Steaming gives sticker rice, ideal for sushi.
Trying a new white rice recipe
If you are looking for a winning meal with no effort or time consumption, try white rice as the main component. Remember, white is easy to pair with anything in your pantry. It is cheap, and it is straightforward to cook.
Flavored white rice (using the absorption method)
Ingredients (4 servings):
- 1 cup of white rice.
- 2 tablespoons of butter.
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder.
- 1 tablespoon of onion powder.
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme.
- ½ teaspoon of paprika.
- ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
- Crushed red pepper to taste.
- Salt to taste
- 3 cups of chicken broth or water.
- Dried parsley for garnish.
Preparation:
- In a large saucepan, add butter and heat until melting.
- Incorporate rice, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, paprika, ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, and salt.
- Mix all the ingredients until they are well combined.
- Pour chicken broth or water.
- Cook at high heat until boiling.
- Reduce heat, and place a lid.
- Simmer for 20 minutes.
- Once the rice is cooked, let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Serve with dried parsley on top.
