AIBU to think I can't cook :-(

[namechangeagaimm]

So, I cooked up some rice, overcooked it as I always do, then when it was cold (and stodgy/wet) I added chopped tomatoes, cucumber and challots. I then cooked 2 cajun turkey steaks, chopped into chunks and added this to the rice. Was intending to serve it cold. It's disgusting and now I've got a massive pot of not very nice rice that I'd rather not waste, as being on a tight budget.
AIBU to be upset that I have so many kitchen disasters? any ideas how I can rectify my mistake?
:-(

[MrsTerryPratchett]

And stick a lump of blue cheese in the middle of the small ball. Crispy rice balls, mmmmmm.

[MarchLikeAnAnt]

Buy a rice cooker.- best purchase I ever made!

[passthewineplz]

You could add some curry powder, or Cajun seasoning if you've got some

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/717634/savoury-rice

[MadamG]

Cook rice as previous posters have said, but first rule of rice club, never stir the rice.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

That sounds fairly grim, write it off and phone takeaway.
What you need is a good recipe book, I recommend Jamie's Ministry of food, easy to follow, won't break the bank food that is great for families.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Rice is notoriously tricky unless you know how. It's fairly foolproof to microwave it though. Measure your rice in a jug, put in microwaveable bowl then measure out twice the volume of boiling water from the kettle and add to the rice. Microwave on high for 5 mins, swirl gently and very briefly with a fork, microwave on high for another 5 mins. Cover with a teatowel and leave to steam for 5 mins.

BBC Good Food website is great for easy, tasty recipes.

[Tryharder]

Rice is easy:

1. Wash rice in a sieve until water runs clear

1. For every cup of rice you add to the pan, add 2 cups of water.

1. Add salt

1. Cover and put on high heat until water is boiling - about 4-5 mins

1. Turn heat down to the absolute lowest possible and leave

1. After about 15 mins, remove lid and separate strands with fork

Essentially you are cooking the rice with steam.

[Tryharder]

I sympathise though. I am a crap cook too.

[StarlingMurmuration]

I must admit, I never follow any recipe to the letter, I just approximate, and it always turns out to be delicious. Baking on the other hand, I suck at. Presumably because I have the same cavalier attitude to cake recipes. I'm told cooking is an art and baking is a science, because you do have to be completely exact or it won't work, whereas you can get away with winging it when you're cooking.

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

Yeah that sounds awful, sorry. But its like anything else, why would you think you can improvise well without learning the basics first? Get a good basics cookbook, delia or good housekeeping, something reliable, and do precisely what the recipes say.
Once you've learnt something, then you can make your own recipes up, not before.

[Totality22]

Sorry but it's shallots OP!

I am a crap cook myself so I point out your typo in jest.

One of my first meals I cooked when I first left home was pasta and sauce from a jar but to jazz it up I added far too much garlic (yes there is such a thing as too much garlic) and it was inedible.

No-one here likes rice all that much so we have it sporadically and I use a packet!!

[TheCrowFromBelow]

Delia's Complete Cookery Course is brilliant for techniques & timings.

[TendonQueen]

If you like spicy flavours, cover the rice with chilli sauce or similar this time.

[TendonQueen]

I've now reread your OP. So you basically have cold boiled rice that you added veg to. Fry it all up! Frying makes everything taste better, especially rice. Bit of oil and either some beaten egg to make egg fried rice, or, if you have a rasher of bacon spare, chop that into small pieces and fry it, then add everything else in and cook it to get bacony flavour. Cheap bacon used in very small quantities as flavouring is a useful tactic on a strict budget.

[Bunbaker]

Cooking rice is easy

"It's fairly foolproof to microwave it though. Measure your rice in a jug, put in microwaveable bowl then measure out twice the volume of boiling water from the kettle and add to the rice. Microwave on high for 5 mins, swirl gently and very briefly with a fork, microwave on high for another 5 mins. Cover with a teatowel and leave to steam for 5 mins."

That is even more of a faff than cooking it in a pan.

First of all I always cook basmati rice. I use Tilda as it is a better quality. I measure the rice into a pan and add twice as much water to rice eg 6 fl oz rice and 12 fl oz water. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil. When it comes to the boil turn the heat down to very low and cook for exactly 15 minutes. After 15 minutes turn the heat off and leave for 5 minutes. Do not remove the lid. After the five minutes is up remove the lid and fluff up. I have been cooking rice this way for donkey's years and it never fails.

[PurpleSwift]

Am I missing something, I don't understand what is difficult about rice? I throw rice in a pan, a decent amount of water and then boil. And it cooks. And then I eat it.

[HelenF350]

Rice can be a nightmare to cook. Try getting a bag of frozen rice from Iceland. You only need to boil and simmer for 5 mins, it's much easier to cook and tastes much better than that microwave stuff, cheaper too.

[Bunbaker]

HelenF350 I think that some people are cooking the wrong type of rice. I always use basmati rice and my method above (actually Delia's method) always works.

[HelenF350]

I can do basmati but it took me years to perfect it. I'm actually a very good cook but rice evaded me till about a year ago!