Serve rice with vegetables as a side dish.
The world eats a lot of rice. According to the International Rice Research Institute, rice is the staple food of more than half of the world's population, with rice farmers in Asia providing more than 90 percent of the total. There are thousands of varieties of rice. Historically, humankind has used rice for medicinal and ceremonial purposes in addition to eating it for food. If you can boil water, you can cook rice, but there are other ways to cook rice besides steaming it in water.
Boost the Flavor
To make rice more flavorful and nutritious, cook rice in juice or broth instead of water. In Fitness magazine, chef Todd English recommends cooking rice in vegetable or fruit juices, such as carrot juice, apple juice, beet or pomegranite juice. Cooking rice in juice instead of water adds vitamin A and antioxidants to the meal. To boost the flavor of savory rice, use vegetable, beef or chicken broth as the cooking liquid.
Coconut Rice
Adding a taste of coconut makes white rice exotic, especially when you serve it with coconut shrimp. When you boil the rice, substitute 1 cup of coconut milk for 1 cup of the cooking water; the coconut milk adds protein, fiber and a subtle flavor to the rice. Lend the rice an Asian flair instead with sesame oil and soy sauce, and add variety by stirring in chopped almonds, snow peas, chopped pineapple or shredded coconut.
Spanish Rice
Spanish rice is easy to make as a side dish to be served with tacos, enchilas or burritos. When you boil the rice, substitute 1 cup of tomato sauce or stewed tomatoes for 1 cup of the cooking water. When the rice is fully cooked, spice it up by stirring in salsa, chopped jalapeno peppers, onions and cilantro.
Rice with Vegetables
Savory rice served with vegetables is a nutritious accompaniment to steak or grilled chicken breasts. To cook this side dish, brown the uncooked rice in olive oil before you add the cooking liquid to enhance the flavor of the grain. Add chopped vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips and onions, to the rice after the water comes to a boil; the vegetables will cook with the rice as it steams, lending both color and flavor to the dish.
Tags: cook rice, side dish, boil rice, boil rice substitute, coconut milk