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“Transform Your Everyday Rice: A Simple Trick for Restaurant-Worthy Flavor”

Cooking rice may seem like a straightforward task, but creating the perfect fluffy, moist grain, and not a dry or sticky mess, is a skill not many possess.

Administrator

9 August, 2024

The Secret to Cooking Delicious Rice: Not Everyone Knows It

Rice is an indispensable food for Vietnamese people. Besides plain rice, it is also cooked in various dishes such as mixed rice, fried rice, rice with assorted meats and vegetables, and crispy rice. A bowl of rice contains a high amount of starch, plant-based protein, B-complex vitamins, especially B1, B2, niacin, vitamin E, and a small amount of iron, zinc, and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. It is also rich in riboflavin, niacin, and B-complex vitamins.

Delicious rice is a must-have in daily meals. Illustration.

Although rice is a familiar dish, cooking a perfect pot of rice that is soft, fluffy, and not too dry or mushy is not an easy task. Most people usually add a pinch of salt or vinegar when cooking rice, but this is not enough. With the following secrets and tips on how to cook delicious rice, you can guarantee a pot of fluffy and soft rice, making your family meals much more enjoyable.

First, when cooking rice, we should choose a type of rice that is slightly drier and avoid sticky rice varieties. Sticky rice tends to clump together when cooked, resulting in a blander taste. Next, we must master the cooking method. Since the rice is relatively clean, we only need to rinse it once, as over-rinsing will cause the rice grains to lose their nutrients.

– After rinsing, don’t cook the rice right away. Instead, soak it for a while. Place the rice in a pot, add water until it reaches two knuckles above the rice level, and soak for 15 minutes.

– After soaking the rice for 15 minutes, let it absorb the water, which will help soften and enhance its flavor. Then, you can start cooking.

Add a Spoonful of Olive Oil to the Rice

After rinsing the rice, add about 3-4 drops of olive oil to the pot and cook as usual, or you can add the olive oil after the rice is cooked.

Rice contains a high amount of starch, which can be categorized into digestible and resistant starch. Resistant starch is not easily broken down in the small intestine. When cooking rice, adding a few drops of olive oil helps prevent the body from absorbing the resistant starch, making it ideal for those on a diet.

Add a Splash of Vinegar to the Cooked Rice

It is recommended to add a few drops of vinegar to the cooked rice and then mix it evenly. This will enhance the sweetness and gloss of the rice grains, making the overall pot of rice even more appetizing.

The ideal ratio of rice to vinegar is one bowl of rice to one teaspoon of vinegar.

Additionally, vinegar has another miraculous effect: it helps soften the rice grains and makes them easier to store. Vinegar slows down the absorption of carbohydrates and prevents a spike in blood sugar levels after consuming rice. Therefore, this method of cooking rice is especially beneficial for diabetics, middle-aged and elderly individuals, those with high uric acid levels, and anyone intending to lose weight.

Add a Spoonful of Cooking Oil

Adding a small amount of cooking oil to the rice before cooking can make it softer and prevent the grains from sticking together. The oil also adds flavor and makes the rice more palatable.

Enhance the Flavor with Shallots and Garlic

Finely chopped shallots and garlic can be sautéed in a small amount of oil before adding the rice to the pot. This adds a wonderful flavor and aroma to the cooked rice.

To enhance the flavor of your rice, you can add a touch of seasoning such as oil, salt, or vinegar. Illustration.

How Much Rice Should You Eat?

Rice provides the body with its daily starch intake. It is challenging to calculate precisely how much rice one should eat daily. This depends on various factors, such as the energy expenditure from our work, our absorptive capacity, and the amount of accompanying food consumed at each meal.

According to nutritional experts, the recommended daily energy intake is approximately 2500 calories for men and 2000 calories for women.

When eating, we can calculate the number of calories in a bowl of rice and then determine the appropriate caloric intake for each meal. A quick calculation would be that if we eat three main meals and one snack per day, each meal for a woman should provide around 500 calories. Therefore, when eating with other foods, women should consume only one to two bowls of rice per meal. For men, the energy requirement is slightly higher, and they should consume two to three bowls of rice per meal.

According to Nguoiduatin

Frequently asked questions

By adding a few simple ingredients to your rice, you can easily enhance its flavor and make it taste more like the rice you get at restaurants. Start by rinsing your rice thoroughly until the water runs clear to remove any excess starch. Then, use a broth or stock instead of water to cook the rice, adding a bay leaf and some butter or olive oil for extra flavor. Finally, let the rice sit for a few minutes after cooking to allow the flavors to meld and the texture to become fluffy.

Rinsing rice removes any excess starch that may have built up during the milling process. This helps to prevent your rice from becoming sticky and clumpy when cooked, and it also improves the texture, making it fluffier and more separate.

You can use any type of broth or stock that you like, depending on your preference and the flavor profile you want to achieve. Chicken, vegetable, or beef broth are all great options and will add a depth of flavor to your rice. If you want to keep it vegetarian or vegan, go for a vegetable broth or a mushroom stock.

Absolutely! You can experiment with adding different spices and herbs to your rice for even more flavor. Try adding a pinch of cumin, coriander, or turmeric for an earthy, aromatic touch. Fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or green onions can also be mixed into the cooked rice for a bright, fresh flavor.

Both white and brown rice can be used with this method, and each will give you a slightly different result. White rice will give you a softer, fluffier texture, while brown rice has a chewier bite and a nuttier flavor. Experiment with both to see which you prefer, keeping in mind that brown rice typically takes longer to cook.