What can I add to boiling rice to make it taste better?

[Holymoly321]

That's it really. usually have shop bought microwave pilau rice but am cutting costs! Is there anything I can add to normal rice as it boils that will make it more interesting and tasty?

Stir in some butter or when drained add some tomato sauce.

I boil it in veg stock sometimes instead of water.

Veg or chicken stock instead of water is nice

• use a little stock powder instead of salt
• boil together with chopped sundried tomatoes
• a large spoon full of creme fraiche and fresh basil

I always bung in a veg oxo and a tin of sweetcorn (without draining it).

Tastes lovely and you get to add an extra veg to the plate without the DC's moaning about it!

Put some garam masala in near the end of the cooking time.

Alternatively, try some soy sauce.

Star anise, cardamon?

I agree with the stock suggestion but liking the sundried tomatoes, creme fraiche and basil idea!

Def use veg or chicken stock to boil it in. Even the sainsburys basics will help with the flavor. Butter, onions also.

If you want it to taste like pilau use saffron, ground clove and put a cinnimon stick in whilst you boil...

Mmm, the sundried tomatoes sound lovely! Must try that.

Ladies, you are amazing as always! Thanks so much, will def try the veg stock tonight, (and I'm sure there is a tin of sweetcorn kicking around somewhere!) and the tomatoes next time.

Ah yes and as rabbitandco suggests, cardamon.

Mushrooms, Onions and peas:

slice and fry mushrooms and onions in butter and/or oil, Add basmati rice and coat grains with the oil. Cover with boiling water or hot stock. Cook as normal adding peas towards the end of cooking.

Can also add peppers, carrots, etc.

Eaten cold as rice salad the following day too.

One way to intensify the flavours you add to the water you cook the rice in is to cook it so that it doesn't need draining. For basmati rice, that means twice as much water/stock, by volume, as rice: bring to a very gentle boil, put a lid on tightly, and leave on a low heat until water is all absorbed and little holes have appeared in the rice. It will be fluffy and perfect.

For 'proper' pilau rice: heat up a little butter and oil (or ghee) in your pan, add the rice and some chopped garlic if you like. You could also include some sauteed onions. Add the spices that you like (I use cardamom and cloves, sometimes cinnamon). Cook the rice, and stir a little bit, until it is coated with the butter and looks a bit transparent. Add the water or stock (twice as much liquid as rice) and salt to taste (bear in mind you won't be draining any off). Bring to a simmer and put the lid on (as above) until all the water has absorbed.

Coconut rice is also nice, with or without the lime.

lemon and some herbs, done as aquavit suggests in her first para

What about arboria rice, with stock.. and a glug of wine..?

Then just chuck in what ever leftovers you have. Thats what i cook when ive not done the shopping.

why not use potatoes instead? far cheaper & tastier than rice??? we always have tatties with curries/bolognaise/everything...will reduce your cost loads

bounty - such sacrilege (sp?), potatoes with curry?????

personally, I just have grated carrot with my curry instead of rice, but DH has rice - being a man and all!

Lemon or lime juice is nice, ecpecially when served with chicken.

veg oxo.

makes everything that bit tastier.

or if you lightly fry some onion/garlic mushroom/ before stirring int he rice, then coating the grains in the resulting tasty oily stuf, then boiling, that adds a bit of flavour too.

if you normally buy pilau rice you could consider just adding curry paste to taste once cooked.