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Delicious and healthy rice can be an independent side dish, the basis of various dishes, or it can be part of other dishes, for example, salads. Rice contains vitamins E, B and PP, as well as all the essential minerals.
But not everyone knows how to cook rice so that it is crumbly. Follow 5 simple rules, and each rice will perform its separate part in a single tasty dish called rice.
The set of “rice” rules of the cook is sometimes called the “five fingers” rule – as in order for the hand to function normally, all 5 fingers are needed, and for friable rice all these 5 rules must be observed.
1. Forget about washing rice
It is very difficult to find unpolished rice in stores today. That is, before being packaged, the rice has already been processed – polished and even steamed, which means that it does not need additional washing. On the contrary, if such rice is washed, then it must be dried before cooking, otherwise it will stick together.
2. Water needs 2,5 to 1
There should be a little more than 2 cups of water per 1 cup of rice. More than 2 and a half glasses of water are allowed if you like boiled rice. And if the rice is immediately covered tightly with a lid, then water is required from one and a half to two glasses.
You will have to determine the exact amount of water empirically, because there are different varieties of rice, and the hardness of the water is different everywhere, but always try to adhere to the 2: 1 formula.
3. Rice likes boiling water
According to the third rule of friable rice, the cereal should be poured into boiling water when the water has already boiled.
Then cook the rice over high heat for the first 4-5 minutes. Then reduce heat to medium and cover the pan with a lid. On a medium heat, the rice will cook for another 5 minutes. Then reduce heat to low and cook rice until tender.
4. Do not stir the rice
From the very moment the rice was in the pan and almost until cooked, the rice is not stirred. When about 15 minutes have passed from the beginning of cooking, salt, stir the rice very carefully, taste it.
5. Ready time – 15 minutes
If the rice you are cooking is needed to be added to another dish that you will still be cooking (for example, for chicken with rice), cook your rice for no more than 15 minutes.
If, after stirring the rice, you find it completely cooked, cover the pot with a lid and let the rice reach for another 15 minutes.
If it seems to you that the rice is still not soft enough, and the water has already boiled away, add up to ¼ cup boiling water to 1 cup of rice.
Bon appetit!