Herbs and Butter
Season plain white rice with thyme, paprika, garlic, thyme and onion powder with butter for a delicious herbed butter rice. These easy ingredients are easy to add flavor to plain white rice and to an amazing side dish.
Do you season rice before or after cooking? It is best to season the rice before cooking to really infuse the flavor. But if you have leftover cooked rice, you can still season and cook it to make seasoned fried rice.
Fresh herbs and veggies
Fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro and impart more flavor than dry herbs and can lend a vibrant kick to a plain bowl of rice. Veggies can add spice (i.e. jalapenos) or crunch (i.e. shredded carrots) that livens up any bland food.
One of my favorite ways to add flavor to rice is by either using a cooking liquid other than water (bouillon or broth is an easy alternative), or by stirring in some fresh herbs, dried fruit, peas, nuts, or other flavor and color boosters. Below are 10 of my favorite ways to make rice taste especially good.
We're fans of good quality white rice simply seasoned with salt, but there are many other seasonings you can add to plain rice to ring the changes: Butter. Butter and chopped fresh herbs such as parsley. Chopped green onions or chives.
Drizzle with soy sauce. Add lots of pepper. Stir in a couple of tablespoons minced fresh herbs, ideally warmed first in melted butter. Cook a couple of tablespoons minced garlic, leek, scallion, or shallot in olive oil or butter until just soft to add while fluffing.
Steamed rice pairs perfectly with salmon, chicken, steak, chili, and breakfast meats.
Rice can contain spores from a type of harmful bacteria. If cooked rice is left at room temperature, the bacteria could start growing again from the spores. These bacteria will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause food poisoning. Reheating will not get rid of these.
What is a good sauce to put on rice? The choice of sauce depends on personal preferences and the flavor profile you desire. Some popular options include teriyaki sauce for a sweet and savory twist, curry sauce for an aromatic and spicy kick, or hoisin sauce for a rich and tangy flavor.
So how do you season rice in a rice cooker? Simply add your combination of seasonings, salt, pepper, or other herbs and spices and stir through before pushing the start button. If you use broth or other flavor-enhancing liquid ensure to include it in your ratio of water to rice calculations.
Depending on what type of butter you use, the rice may take on characteristics of tangy, salty, and sweet notes, per Taste of Home, but overall, the rice will be enhanced with rich and buttery flavors. This can be done in one of two ways: toasting the rice in butter or adding butter directly to a pot of rice.
The boiled-down soy sauce infuses the fried rice and brings non-sticky texture. The soy sauce becomes powdery by boiling it down. This powder coats the rice and other ingredients, adding subtle flavor to this dish. Be careful not to burn too much, as the subtle flavor changes to bitterness.
The Problem: Bland Rice
Toss some butter and salt into the pot with your rice and water. Replace the water with more flavorful liquids such as broth or coconut milk, like in this Shrimp with Coconut Rice recipe. For a nutty taste, lightly toast the rice in the pot before adding the cooking liquid.
Rice also doesn't need stirring while it's cooking. In fact, stirring rice while it's cooking can break up the grains and have you end up with a pot of unappetizing mush. If you have a gas stove, use the smallest burner.
Most weight loss diets restrict excess calorie consumption. Basically, in order to lose weight, you must create a calorie deficit by eating fewer calories than you are able to burn on a daily basis. This is why a number of people stay away from rice, as it packs high amounts of carbohydrates and is rich in calories.
Rinse basmati rice very well before cooking.
Wash a few times (4 to 5) until the water runs clear. This will help remove starch from the surface of the grains. Starch is what makes cooked rice sticky and gummy, so for fluffy rice, it is important to remove the starch.
Only stir the rice once at the beginning of the cooking time. Stirring too much will make it sticky.. If you're cooking on the stovetop, aim for approximately a 1:2 basmati rice: water ratio. This gives the rice the perfect consistency — not too dry and crunchy, yet not too wet and watery.