Rice is an essential ingredient in all people’s pantries. The number of recipes with this versatile grain is comparable to the number of people who consume it daily. Take a look at how to eat rice (meal) with chopsticks.
More than half of the world’s population eats rice every day in different ways. Savory sweets, desserts, and even drinks are some preparations made with rice.
Discovering Rice Preparations
In general terms, rice is used in savory dishes as a side dish or one-pot preparation. However, Asian countries, the birthplace of rice, have a long tradition of cooking rice in various ways. They have learned how to take advantage of rice’s unique characteristics. Its mild flavor and adaptable texture make it possible to create multiple recipes where rice is always the star.
Hearty Breakfasts
Breakfast is the first food you eat in the morning that breaks your overnight fast. It has to be nutritious since it is the fuel needed for your body and brain for work the entire day. This first meal must include fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy.
A varied breakfast guarantees you are eating the necessary nutrients, minerals, and vitamins.
Rice helps with this process. It contains plenty of healthy nutrients. Besides, it has a blank taste which means it absorbs the flavors of any ingredient. This peculiarity allows for making a savory or sugary hearty breakfast.
Some options for an energetic breakfast include:
- Rice Omelet
- Horchata French toast
- Breakfast Porridge
- Breakfast Rice Bowls
- Coconut and rice pancake
Complete Lunches
Lunch is a midday meal that delivers the additional fuel to keep running the rest of the afternoon. They have to be copious but nutrient-dense to make you feel satisfied.
At this time, rice is a handy ingredient. It can be used as a side dish complementing meat, fish, or chicken. Some dishes are salmon and risotto salmon and risotto, coconut rice and grilled meat, cilantro-lime rice and roasted chicken, and red rice with fried chicken.
It also works as a complete preparation for the following dishes.
- Paella.
- Pilaf.
- One-pot casserole.
- Fried rice.
- Chicken burrito bowl with rice and beans.
Mouthwatering Desserts
Desserts are the preferred part of the meal for some people. An exquisite dessert is sweet and tasteful with different textures and intense flavors.
Rice is also useful for making delightful desserts. Its versatile texture and flavor offer the largest selection of options to create unique sugary preparations.
Some of the most popular rice desserts are:
- Rice pudding.
- Arancini.
- Rice cake.
- Mochis.
- Rice fritters.
Light Dinners
Unlike the rest of the meals, dinners must be balanced, avoiding inappropriate foods that can cause problems falling asleep. It also has to be satiating to avoid unhealthy late-night snacking.
Rice, once again, is a convenient component for making balanced and delicious dinners. This grain works as a side dish or complete preparation.
Balanced dinners with rice include:
- Chicken rice casserole.
- Wild rice salad.
- Baked veggies and rice.
- Rice soup.
- Fried rice.
Cooking A Rice Dish
Rice has proved to be a versatile ingredient that can be used at any time of the day. Let’s make the following recipe that works perfectly for lunch or dinner.
Shrimp and Rice Bowl
Ingredients
(4 servings)
- 4 tablespoons of butter.
- 1 chopped shallot.
- 5 minced cloves of garlic.
- 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- Salt to taste.
- Black pepper to taste.
- 1 1/2 cups of long-grain white rice.
- 1/2 cup of dry white wine.
- 2 3/4 cups of chicken stock.
- 20 peeled and deveined shrimps.
- 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
- 1/2 lemon juice.
- Chopped fresh parsley.
Preparation
- In a saucepan, heat butter at medium temperature.
- Add shallot, garlic, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook until they get fragrant.
- Incorporate rice and stir very well.
- Pour wine and chicken broth. Cook until boiling and reduce heat.
- Add salt and pepper to the shrimp and place them over the rice. Put a lid on the saucepan and continue cooking.
- Finally, add lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh parsley.
- Let it stand and serve.
Feature Image: Pixabay
More articles:
