Rice is an indispensable staple food in many Asian countries, including Vietnam. Typically, when cooking rice, we just need to rinse it, put it in a pot or rice cooker, and add some water. However, not many people know that using soy milk instead of water can make the rice not only taste better but also become more nutritious.
This is because both rice and soy milk are rich sources of protein. While rice is nutritious, it lacks lysine, an essential amino acid for the human body. Lysine helps boost your immune system and improves the function of the central nervous system. Interestingly, soy milk is abundant in lysine and can compensate for the deficiency in rice. Conversely, rice contains a high level of methionine, another amino acid that soy milk lacks. Therefore, combining rice and soy milk creates a highly nutritious meal.
In addition to making the dish more nutritious, the fat in soy milk also helps produce fragrant, sticky, and low-calorie rice grains, making it suitable for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, or those trying to lose weight.
How to Cook Rice with Soy Milk
– Rinse the rice with water a few times and then put it in a rice cooker. Next, add an appropriate amount of soy milk. However, it is important to dilute the soy milk before adding it to the rice cooker, as undiluted soy milk may make the rice tough and unappetizing.
– Depending on your preference, you can cook the rice in a rice cooker or a regular pot.
– Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork or spatula and serve it with your favorite side dishes.
The rice cooked with soy milk will have a unique fragrance, and its grains will be stickier and sweeter than usual.
Notes on Cooking Rice with Soy Milk
– To retain the nutrients in the rice, such as protein, lipids, glucids, minerals, and vitamin B, which are present in the white powder that coats the rice grains, avoid rinsing the rice too vigorously. Gently rinsing it two to three times should be sufficient.
– If you’re using a rice cooker, avoid rinsing the rice directly in it, as this may scratch the protective coating on the bottom of the cooker, affecting its appearance and possibly your health. Instead, use a separate bowl for rinsing and then transfer the rice to the cooker after removing any remaining husks or impurities.
– Pay attention to the ratio of rice to soy milk. Typically, you would use about 260ml of water for 200 grams of rice. However, when using soy milk, it is recommended to use about 300 ml to ensure the rice grains are softer and tastier.
– Usually, it takes around 25 to 30 minutes for the rice to cook. After that, instead of serving it immediately, let the rice steam for about 10 minutes. This extra step ensures that the rice becomes fluffier, fragrant, and perfectly sticky.
– After adding the rinsed rice and water to the rice cooker, you can put in 2-3 ice cubes and wait for 15 minutes before turning on the cooker. This trick helps prevent enzymes from breaking down the rice’s sweetness and increases the amino acid content, resulting in tastier and more fragrant rice.
Source: Xe và thể thao
