There are a number of people who enjoy the health benefits of nutritious brown rice, along with the wonderful nutty flavor and chewier texture of this rice. So what exactly is brown rice? Well, brown rice or unpolished rice is like normal white rice with the coating of high-fiber bran over it. It is this coating of bran on it that makes brown rice a healthier version of normal rice with generous amounts of vitamins and fiber in it. Cooking brown rice is different from the normal method of cooking white rice. This is because of the extra coating of bran on it which makes the cooking time of brown rice much more than the normal rice.
Cooking in a Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked brown rice
- 2¼ cups liquid (water, broth, juice)
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
Directions
Before cooking brown rice in water, wash the rice to remove any pesticides, herbicides, or contaminants that may be present. Soak the rice in water for twenty to thirty minutes. This allows the hard grains of the rice to soften up. Now, drain the excess water from the rice and put it in the rice cooker. Add the water to the rice keeping the 1:2 ratio in mind. So 2 cups of water for every cup of rice, along with salt and butter, is perfect for brown rice. Place the pot in the rice cooker and plug it in. Turn the rice cooker on to get perfect fluffy rice in around 40 minutes.
Remember that while cooking brown rice, do not lift the lid to check on the rice. This is because the cooking process of rice depends on the development of steam inside the pot, so letting steam escape by opening the lid may result in improperly cooked rice. After the rice is cooked, allow it to rest for around 10 to 15 minutes before removing the lid.
Cooking on Stove Top
To cook this rice on a stove top, rinse it in a strainer under cold running water for a few seconds. Swirl the rice around to allow the contaminants to flow away. Now bring the water to boil in a large pan or a pot. Once the water has started boiling, add the brown rice and stir it once. Add salt at this stage.
Now for thirty minutes, turn the heat to medium and let the rice boil. Stir it occasionally. Once the rice is cooked, pour it into a strainer over the sink. Let the excess water drain off for around eight to ten seconds. Return the pot to the heat and cover it with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the rice to steam up for around ten minutes, before you uncover it and season it with some butter.
In addition to these simple recipes, you can also add a number of seasonings like minced sun-dried tomatoes, peas, lemon zest, crumbled cinnamon bark or dried chilies, raisins, sliced dried apricots, and ginger to the rice. Brown rice is known to have a number of health benefits like reducing the possibility of heart diseases, helping avoid abrupt spikes in sugar levels, aiding digestion, and reducing constipation. It is also known to help alleviate the possibility of a heart disease. So, once you the proper method for cooking brown rice, you can make fluffy nutritious rice in no time.
