Rice - how to quickly cook delicious rice?

Rice is one of the most popular, and therefore most frequently cultivated grains. For a huge number of people in Asia, it is the absolute basis of their diet. It appears very often on the tables of Europe as well. Rice has many uses and can enhance any meal. It can be eaten by people trying to lose weight or on a bland diet. It is filling and gives energy. However, the rice should be always well prepared so that you can appreciate its tastefully. How to do it? It depends on many factors. What factors? Read on!

Dishes with rice

Dishes with rice are quite a topic. Anyone can name at least a few dishes that contain rice. Each dish is also different - risotto, paella, fried rice - these and many other dishes with rice are a name that covers not just one specific dish made according to a strict recipe. It covers a wide range of dishes. Everyone prepares them in a different way. Some seek to recreate the flavors of childhood, others use recipes found on the Internet. However, all these dishes have rice in common. What dishes with rice are the most popular?

Paella

Paella is a dish of Spanish cuisine. It comes from Valencia and its name refers to the word for a metal vessel - "patella" is the word that describes a vessel in which the Romans used to make offerings to their gods. Valencia is very proud of its local dish and there is a belief among the locals that the only real paella is the one prepared over burning wood.

Paella used to be simply boiled rice, a typical working-class dish. Nowadays it satisfies even the most demanding tastes. Everyone has their own recipe. Paella is medium-grain rice that must not be cooked too soft. It is served with seafood, tomatoes, saffron, peppers, wine, squid, rabbit meat, shrimp, poultry - everyone has their own idea of paella and each is equally good.

Risotto

Another culinary classic, this time from Italy. Risotto is the most popular way of preparing rice there (especially in the north of the country). The type of rice itself is very important here - it must have a lot of starch and not too much amylose, so that during the cooking process it becomes more and more sticky. The art of making risotto consists in frying the rice for a while, and then constantly watering it - mainly with broth, but sometimes wine is also used. Another portion of broth is poured in when the previous one is completely absorbed, and this should be repeated until the desired creamy consistency is achieved. Additions once again depend only on the imagination of the cook.

Sushi

Sushi used to be a way to preserve fish. Fish were fermented in barrels with rice, thanks to which they kept their freshness longer and were simply tastier. Rice used to be thrown away, but with time it was discovered that it is also edible and, moreover, very tasty. Traditional sushi was rolls of rice or rice and seaweed with fish or seafood. When sushi came to the West, cucumbers or avocados started to be used instead of fish. Rice for sushi must be short-grained, high in starch. The cooked rice must be treated with a special seasoning.

Pies and casseroles

Baked dishes, like pies and casseroles, are very popular practically all over the world. Nothing stands in the way of using rice for a pie or a casserole - in combination with meat, sauces, cheese, and roasted vegetables it makes a really tasty and filling dinner, which can be successfully served to the whole family.

Salads with rice

Salads are a healthy and easily digestible way to satisfy your hunger. Their advantage is that you can mix together just about anything you find in the fridge and always create something really tasty.

Curry rice

Curry is a dish of Indian cuisine, and its preparation depends on both the region and personal preferences. Curry rice is very popular not only in its home country but also around the world. It is an aromatic, spicy dish that is perfect for dinner. The most common rice used for curry is basmati rice, which is very popular in India itself, although there are also recipes that include the use of jasmine rice.

Fried rice

Fried rice is a dish that everyone can make in a different way and it will always be delicious. Fried rice with eggs, vegetables, meat, fish, or seafood can taste different every time and delight us with its rich taste. For fried rice, it is recommended to use rice that was cooked the day before and stored in the refrigerator.

Arancini

Arancini is a wonderful dish native to sunny Sicily. It is just rice balls served with meat and tomato sauce. Once again, this is a dish that every cook can prepare in their own way.

Jambalaya

Jambalaya is one of the most recognizable dishes of Creole cuisine. It is based on rice, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, and onions. A further choice of additions, such as the type of meat, depends on individual preferences.

Addition to soups

Rice can be a great addition to soups. For many people tomato or cucumber soup with rice are the tastes of childhood, to which they like to return.

 Ways to prepare delicious rice

Cooking rice is not at all as simple as it might seem. You have to take into account the type of rice itself, and you can't forget about the nature of the dish that will contain it. Some, like risotto, call for rice with a creamy texture, while in other dishes it can't be too soft or sticky.

Before you start cooking rice, it should be thoroughly soaked and rinsed. Rinse it underwater until the water is no longer cloudy. Not all types of rice are to be rinsed - risotto rice, for example, is not - because rinsing ensures that the rice will never get a properly creamy texture after the starch has been rinsed out. The soaking and rinsing itself is a process that must take time - some cooks even do it for several dozen minutes.

Once the rice is rinsed you can start cooking. In this case, the proportions are very important. For sushi rice, use one cup of water for one cup of rice. If you want to cook your rice lose, use one and a half cups of water for one cup of rice. If you want the rice to be softer, two cups of rice will be adequate.

Rice for risotto should not be boiled - you fry raw rice in a pan for a while, then gradually pour in broth and - stirring constantly- wait until it is completely absorbed by the rice. Then pour in another portion of broth. One portion of broth can be replaced with wine.

For perfect rice preparation, you may be tempted to buy a special rice cooker. It is an electric pot, which has reinforced walls and prevents the rice from burning. You can also steam the rice in a steamer - an insert attached to the rice cooker.

If you are using a regular pot - remember to cover it. Rice should be cooked according to the type and the dish in which it is to be used. It usually takes from fifteen minutes - for basmati rice, for example - to forty-five minutes for wild rice.

There are two schools of rice cooking - the first one recommends putting the rice in cold water and bringing it to a boil while making sure that the rice absorbs the liquid but doesn't burn. The other recommends placing the rice in boiling water.