Nice rice

[PuraVida]

I never cook rice. I don't really know what to do with it

Can you inspire me?

Thanks

for 4 or 5 people put half a mug of rice in boiling water. boil gently till rice is cooked - there will be scummy stuff of top and grains will have fattened - about 20 mins. put into calendar and tip boiling water over to get rid of starch. stir couple of times during the cooking period - i normally do at the start so doesn't stick to bottom of pan .

its such an easy thing to cook. i think the people who complain about lumpy rice must overstir it.

if you fancy something more interesting do egg fried rice - bit of olive oil in a frying pan, fry couple of eggs and break up into small bits and add cooked rice and almost anything - soya sauce, shrimps, peas, sweetcorn, fried bacon, chopped mushrooms......

i love basmati, really yummy and you can chuck in whatever to go with it :)

Rice cooker is fab. My kids will now just eat bowls of rice - but you can also put sweetcorn, peas and scrambled egg in to make a nice light supper.

Camargue red rice is delicious and even better if you add a veg stock cube to the cooking water.

Rice you stick it in lots of boiling water for 10-12 minutes, drain and eat. Just like pasta only nicer.
DD2 would live on pasta, I get very board of it.
Do not buy economy rice, good long grain or basmarti ( sp) to start with and no more than one stir.
Once you get the hang of it you can try the measured amounts of water and not draining, but it's much harder.

Ooo replies. Thank you

But how do you make it taste of something or am I missing the point and it's not meant to?

jasmine rice or basmati rice

• take cupful of rice for 2 people

• wash rice several times in cold water (this gets rid of extra starch)

• pour a cup and a half of water into pot with rice (ie same size cup as that you used to measure rice)

• bring water to boil, with pot uncovered, then let water boil away such that it is level with top of rice

• immediately take off hob, cover with lid (must be tight fitting lid)

• leave for 12-15 minutes

you will have perfect fluffy rice with no need to drain, and not at all soggy.

i really didn't like rice until i started cooking it this way.

Rice doesn't generally taste of much on its own (a bit like pasta or potatoes) but you can add flavouring and other ingredients to make it more substantial as per marriedtoagoodun's suggestions - risottos are good for this in particular.

My family all LOVE the Delia recipe for spiced pilau rice

Once you have the spices it is so easy to do - so don't be put off by Pestle n Mortar stuff etc.

Nigel Slater's Real Fast Food has a whole chapter on rice iirc - tasty but simple recipes you can make in (mostly) under 30 mins.

rice doesn't get much tastier than this:

black pudding and prawn pilaff