Rice is one of those versatile dishes that can be a simple side or the star of the meal, but sometimes it needs a little extra to really shine. Here are some easy tricks to take your rice from bland to grand with minimal effort. Whether you're using white, brown, or any other variety, these tips will help you level up your rice game and keep everyone coming back for more.
AUTHOR: Chris Phelan
Table of Contents
- 1. Add Chicken Broth
- 2. Hainanese Chicken Rice
- 3. Add Furikake
- 4. Thai Coconut Rice
- 5. One Word: Pesto
- 6. An Indian Twist
- 7. Add Frozen Vegetables
- 8. Add Saffron
- 9. Get Creative With Spices
- 10. Incorporate Proteins
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1. Add Chicken Broth
One of the most recommended tips on the internet is to add a healthy amount of chicken stock or broth to your rice cooker when preparing rice! Trust me, the difference between water-infused rice and chicken broth-infused rice is night and day. Many people add some butter to the stock for even more flavors. I used to think rice couldn't be any more perfect until I took the plunge and joined the countless home chefs who added chicken broth to it.
2. Hainanese Chicken Rice
If Japanese flavors aren't your cup of tea, consider injecting your bland white rice with sensational Chinese influences! Hainanese chicken rice is a local favorite in China, and it's straightforward to make. One person explains better than I could: "Once you try Hainanese chicken rice, you will never go back," he confesses. "It's dead simple and just takes a little bit of time. Essentially, you're adding a poaching liquid to the rice, ginger, scallions, and garlic that is sauteed in chicken fat. Eating this is like dying and going to heaven."
3. Add Furikake
If you want your rice to take on more components and flavors of Japanese cuisine, adding furikake will get the job done. "Furikake is a common rice seasoning made with dried seaweed, sesame seeds, flakes of dried fish, salt, and sugar," explains one seasoned chef. "It comes in a shaker for easy use, is available at most large supermarket chains, and will make plain white rice a thousand times more delicious."
4. Thai Coconut Rice
It shouldn't be surprising that Asian influences are common in rice dishes; rice is consumed in Asian countries more than in any other place on Earth! To make perfect Thai coconut rice (a delicious staple in Thailand), just add coconut milk and sugar; yes, it's that straightforward! Once you adjust the ingredients to account for your taste, you'll be left with a delectable, filling dish that is sure to please anyone who digs in.
5. One Word: Pesto
Brace yourselves: one home chef is about to drop arguably the most incredible tidbit of knowledge you'll come across today. "I can't believe I even have to explain this, but add pesto after the rice is finished cooking," advises one woman. "I don't know why I had to discover this at the age of 35 instead of 5, but holy cow, pesto rice is something else." I love pesto more than life itself, so naturally, I'm excited to make this version of rice!
6. An Indian Twist
There isn't a cuisine that appeals to my sense of smell more than Indian food. Thankfully, there are plenty of ingredients to add to plain white rice to infuse it with authentic Indian flavors! "If you enjoy making Indian food, adding some whole cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon or cassia bark can add a new element to your rice, which will compliment any curries or gravy-based dishes you have with it," explains one accomplished Indian chef.
7. Add Frozen Vegetables
If you're like me, your freezer is filled with inexpensive bags of frozen vegetables that were bought on sale during one single fateful trip to the supermarket. However, many home chefs advise dropping a bag of frozen veggies into the rice cooker (along with rice, of course) to give your dish a healthy component. Broccoli and cauliflower work best, but any vegetable can quickly be cooked, infusing your rice with plenty of goodness.
8. Add Saffron
As someone who thinks saffron is the best spice in the world, the prospect of adding it to my rice cooker has me salivating, even though it's nowhere near dinner time. Since I first tasted saffron risotto, I was hooked; the prospect of incorporating its effervescent flavors into a basic rice dish is exciting!
9. Get Creative With Spices
There are not many things more appealing than a fragrant bowl of rice. One chef has a laundry list of spices that can help elevate jasmine or basmati rice to a new level of deliciousness! "The best advice I can give is to incorporate whole spices like anise, cardamom, coriander, cumin, or cinnamon," she confesses. "It makes the rice very fragrant without overpowering the dish."
10. Incorporate Proteins
If your rice cooker has a steamer plate, you've already got a leg up on the competition. One home chef puts it all into perspective: "My rice cooker has a steamer plate and I use it to cook pork chops and fish," reveals one man. "The juices from the meat drip down onto the rice and flavor it." Ladies and gentlemen, that is genuinely next-level cooking. It doesn't get any better than that!
Source: Reddit.
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