If you’re looking for a tasty, healthy way to start your day off right, then you need to try out this delicious and nutritious recipe.
What Kind Of Rice Should I Use For This Recipe?
In order to make the best possible version of this recipe, you will want to choose the type of rice that suits your needs best.
There are many different types of rice available on the market today, such as white rice, brown rice, wild rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, red rice, long grain white rice or short grain white rice.
As with all other cooking ingredients, it can be difficult to determine which one works best in each particular situation.
However, there are some general guidelines you can follow when choosing between these options:
- White Rice – This variety has been refined through years of cultivation, making it easier to digest than its less-processed counterparts like brown rice.
- Brown Rice – Brown rice contains more fiber and nutrients than white rice, but also requires longer cooking times, so it may not work well if you have limited time in the kitchen.
- Wild Rice – Wild rice is actually a grass that grows naturally throughout North America (learn more about wild rice here). It is higher in protein than any other grain, and is often used in soups and stews because it does not require soaking before being cooked.
- Jasmine Rice – Jasmine rice is considered by most people to be the finest quality rice, due to its delicate taste and aroma.
- Basmati Rice – Basmati rice is an aromatic rice native to India, where it was originally cultivated as a ceremonial offering to Hindu gods.
- Red Rice – Red rice is another name for glutinous rice, which is made from sticky rice that has had water added to it after harvesting.
- Long Grain White Rice – Long grain white rice is typically preferred over medium or short grain varieties because it cooks faster and doesn’t get mushy during boiling.
- Short Grain White Rice – Short grain white rice is usually used in stir fries and risotto dishes, as it takes significantly longer to cook than other varieties.
How Much Spice Should I Add To The Recipe?
In this recipe, we are going to make spicy rice with a little bit of heat.
The amount of spiciness will depend on how spicy you would like it to be.
If you want something mild, just leave them in there until they get nice and browned before adding some water and cooking again.
How Long Should I Cook The Rice For?
This recipe calls for 1 cup of uncooked brown or white basmati rice per serving, but if you want more than one person can eat it, increase the amount accordingly.
The reason why we recommend cooking with less rice is because it will keep the rice from getting too mushy over time.
In addition to being super flavorful, the rice in this recipe also contains plenty of nutrients like fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B1, Vitamin C, folate, and potassium which are all good for your body.
Plus, with just three ingredients, this recipe is incredibly easy to make!
You won’t even have any trouble putting together a bowlful of this flavorful, health-conscious food.
Step 2 – Cook the rice
- Wash the rice thoroughly by placing it into a colander and running cold water through it until the water runs clear. Then drain it well before transferring it to a large saucepan or pot.
- Add the water to the pan and bring it up to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium low, cover with a lid, and let simmer for 15 minutes so the rice absorbs as much water as possible.
- Remove the lid and continue to stir the rice every 5 minutes until most of the water has been absorbed (the bottom of the pot shouldn’t look wet). Let sit covered for another 10 minutes before removing from heat.
Step 3 – Add spices and sautee
- Take a small mixing bowl and place ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ⅛ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes into it. Mix them together using a fork.
- Next, take a large measuring cup and fill it with warm water. It needs to be around 90°F (32°C) to ensure that the rice doesn’t get soggy.
- Pour the hot water into a separate pan and bring it up to a rolling boil. While waiting for the water to come to a boil, remove the lid from the rice and gently pour it into the pan of water.
- Let the rice sit in the boiling water for about 30 seconds before stirring it again. Repeat this step two times until all of the water has been evaporated. At this point, the rice should still be very moist but not sticky.
- Once the rice is cooked through, turn off the burner and transfer the entire contents of the pan onto a plate.
- Dump out the water from the second pan and rinse it clean under cool running water. Place the pan back on top of the stove and allow it to dry completely before returning it to its original position.
- Now that everything is ready, it’s finally time to put the rice to use!
What Temperature Should The Oven Be Set At?
This recipe calls for setting an oven rack in the middle position.
If you don’t have one, just put some aluminum foil on top of a cookie sheet or baking pan so that you can easily move it around during cooking time.
The key here is to ensure that you let the chicken marinate overnight before roasting as well as using plenty of spices and herbs.
You also want to keep the chicken close enough to the heat source while roasting but not too close because they will burn if left too close to the flame.
A good rule of thumb is about 1/4 inch from the heating element when cooking with any type of food item.
So, if you are cooking something on high heat, like stir-fry, you may want to leave it closer than that.
But if you are cooking something low-heat like vegetables, then you might want to leave them farther away.
What Else Can I Add To The Recipe To Make It More Flavorful?
You may not realize how much flavor there is in plain white rice until you cook it with something like curry powder or red pepper flakes.
These spices are both very mild on their own, but they pack quite a punch when combined with other flavors.
The best thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t require any additional ingredients! You simply have to follow these steps:
- Prepare the rice as usual
- Add some spice to taste (or just leave it alone)
- Put it into an airtight container so it stays nice and warm throughout the day
This recipe will keep well for up to 5 days if stored properly, which makes it ideal for serving during lunch time or dinner parties.
Should I Use Fresh Or Frozen Ingredients For This Recipe?
You will notice in the ingredient list that we are using some frozen vegetables as well as some canned ones.
You don’t necessarily have to follow these exact recipes, but if you want to get creative with the spices or change up the veggies depending on what you have available at home, go ahead! Just be careful not to over-season because you may end up with food poisoning from too much spice.
How Can I Make Sure The Rice Is Cooked Evenly?
This recipe calls for brown basmati rice which has been soaked in water overnight so it cooks very quickly.
It is also important to cook the rice until all the grains are soft and separate from each other.
The reason why we do this is because when you cook white rice, you want the grain to be fluffy but not mushy.
When cooking brown rice, you want to get the texture just right so that every grain remains intact while still being tender enough to eat.
Why doesn’t the rice look like it’s done yet?
The main problem that arises here is that the rice gets stuck together, especially if you have used too much oil.
To prevent this, add some water at the beginning of the process so that there will always be plenty of liquid to move around the rice as it cooks.
You should also stir the rice occasionally during the entire duration of the cooking time so that it won’t stick together.
Is there any special technique to remove the rice from the pan once it’s finished?
Yes! Once the rice is almost ready (it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes), turn down the heat on your stovetop and place a metal spatula underneath the pot.
Now carefully lift up the bottom of the pot and tilt it away from yourself so that the excess moisture comes pouring out.
If necessary, pour off the extra water by tilting the pot towards yourself again.
What Dish Can I Serve This Recipe With?
This recipe makes enough for two servings. It’s best served as an accompaniment to any main course.
- Salads or side dishes such as coleslaw, sweet potato fries, or steamed vegetables are great options. You could also use it in place of rice if you want to add more variety.
- You could also enjoy it on its own as part of a breakfast bowl.
- A combination of these options would be ideal!
Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients:
- 1 cup basmati rice (uncooked)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 boneless chicken thighs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1/8 teaspoon red chili flakes
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 6 green onions, chopped
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Method:
- Combine all ingredients except the fresh coriander leaves in a large bowl or pot.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium-size skillet over high heat until hot. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Reduce the heat to low and pour in another tablespoon of oil. When hot again, return the chicken to the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and stir in the garlic, ginger, and garam masala. Cook for 30 seconds before adding the cream and stirring well. Continue cooking while whisking constantly until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the pan along with the green onion and seasonings. Stir well.
- Serve immediately topped with fresh coriander leaves.
Spinach Rice Pilaf
Ingredients:
- 1 cup long grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 ½ cups boiling water
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Cooked pearl barley (optional)
- Chopped pecans for serving (optional)
Method:
- Place the rice into a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until no longer tinged pink by the starch.
- In a small saucepan, bring the boiling water to a boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat and transfer half of the water to a separate container. Add the rinsed rice to the other half of the water and allow to sit until completely cooled.
- Once cool, combine the cooled rice with the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before using.
- At serving time, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
- Spread the mixture onto prepared tray and bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned around edges.
- Serve warm sprinkled with pecans and accompanied with cooked pearl barley, if desired.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of This Recipe?
The nutritional values below are accurate as per the ingredients list and the number of servings indicated by the manufacturer.
However, nutrition facts aren’t fixed, and depending on how they’re prepared, food recipes vary in terms of calories, carbs, fat, protein, and sodium, among other things.
As we said, this recipe is great if you want something fast and easy but also full of flavor.
The dish itself has just 4 grams of sugar (that’s it), which makes it an excellent choice if you have diabetes or another condition related to blood glucose levels.
It contains only 0.3 gram of saturated fats, so it should be fine even if you eat more than one serving at once.
It does contain some amount of cholesterol, but not enough to worry about it too much.
This recipe is rich in fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, zinc, potassium, and copper.
All these nutrients will help keep your body working well and feeling good, plus they’ll give your immune system a boost, so eating this dish regularly may actually help prevent certain diseases.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead Of Time?
The answer is yes! You can cook this recipe up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it until needed.
When reheating, simply pop it back into the microwave or oven on low heat for about 2 minutes per serving.
You can also freeze cooked portions of this recipe so they are ready when you want them.
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- One 28-ounce can of tomatoes crushed
- 1 cup rice
Instructions
- In a sauce pan combine oil, onion and green pepper. Saute over medium heat until vegetables are tender.
- Sprinkle in cayenne pepper.
- Add heated chicken stock and tomatoes.
- Bring to a boil. Add rice and stir.
- Cover and reduce to a simmer.
- Continue simmering over low heat until all liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.