Recipe for a delicious side dish made from rice. How to cook fluffy rice as a side dish

It may seem that preparing a side dish - simplest task, however, sometimes it can puzzle even experienced chefs. How to cook rice correctly to get crumbly grains and not a sticky mushy mass? But nothing is impossible. Cook correctly fluffy rice Knowledge of some culinary subtleties will help: using a certain amount of water, moderate temperature, and a pan with a tight-fitting lid. You also need to remember that you need to let the side dish sit for some time after cooking. By the way, do not under any circumstances skip the last step. When you remove the rice from the heat, the moisture inside the pan will begin to redistribute, making the mixture more homogeneous. To make the side dish crumbly, the basmati variety is best suited. It has thin, elongated grains and excellent taste, although the price is significantly higher than other varieties. Let's get started! How to cook rice correctly if you have made a choice?

How much liquid is needed?

It is best to measure rice by volume, not by weight: it is optimal to take 65 ml per serving. There should be twice as much liquid as there are rice grains. It is best to wash the cereal in the sink, in cold running water until the water becomes completely clear. There are two reasons why you need to wash rice. Firstly, some factories use talc in the production process, and secondly, in this way you will remove starch from the grains, which is the main culprit that sometimes produces an unsightly sticky mass instead of tasty porridge.

How to cook rice as a side dish: soaking

For most everyday dishes, you won't have to soak the rice to get the desired result. good result. If you're using fairly old grits, leave them in the water for about 30 minutes: this will make them less likely to break apart. Traditionally, basmati rice is soaked to maximize its length.

How to cook rice correctly: temperature and time

Place the cereal in a saucepan of suitable volume and fill with water. Try not to add salt - this will make the grains brittle. Bring the rice to a boil over high heat, keeping a tight-fitting lid on. Then set the temperature low: the grains will swell, absorbing water. If the heat is too high, the rice on the bottom may burn while leaving undercooked grains on top. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Once the set time has passed, remove the pan from the heat and allow the rice to cook for an additional 5 minutes. To prevent steam from escaping, do not look under the lid.

How to properly cook rice as a side dish - culinary tricks

Stir the rice with a fork, but only when it is ready. Do not open the pan during the entire cooking process! You can serve the rice immediately, or you can leave it covered while you prepare the rest of the dishes. If you need to cool rice for salad, place it on a baking sheet where it will cool quickly. In addition, you should not store boiled rice at room temperature for more than two hours.

Rice cereal is known and loved on all continents. It is impossible to find a kitchen that does not feature rice in one form or another.

In countries Far East This dish is so popular that, for example, in China, as a greeting they ask: “Did you eat rice today?”


In Europe, rice grains appeared relatively recently, during the late Middle Ages and the great geographical discoveries. When people began to actively explore space. Having quickly gained popularity, rice became national dish almost everyone European countries.

Rice cereal does not contain gluten, the most allergenic vegetable protein. That is why it is included in the children's menu as the first porridge.

In addition, rice is actively used for preparing slimy and creamy soups for various therapeutic diets.

Types of rice grains

There are incredibly many varieties of rice. In total, botanists identify 20 cultivated varieties and several hundred varieties.

By appearance grains release rice:

  • Long-grain – narrow and long, up to 2 cm, these grains practically do not stick together when cooked – they are ideal for a crumbly side dish;
  • Medium grain – semi-circular, short grain with medium gluten content, for example the “risotto” variety, ideal for the dish of the same name, this also includes the famous “devzira” rice for preparing pilaf;
  • Round grain – rice grains are round and short, contain a lot of gluten; this grain makes ideal puddings, casseroles, pureed and slimy soups.

According to the processing method, rice can be distinguished:

  • Polished. Grinding is the most common method of processing rice grains; the grains are white, practically devoid of plant fiber and vitamins, but such rice is very nutritious and cooks quickly;
  • Unpolished or brown. The grains undergo minimal processing, retaining a maximum of vitamins and fiber, but they take much longer to cook and the finished side dish turns out to be too “rough” in taste;
  • Steamed. Most best option rice - the grains are treated with steam before grinding, thanks to which a fairly large part of the beneficial substances from the shell enters inside.

Methods for preparing fluffy rice

Depending on desired result, the most optimal method of preparing rice cereal is selected. You can cook:

  • In the water;
  • Steamed;
  • Mixed method (Chinese).
Any type of rice absorbs water quite strongly, this must be taken into account when preparing it, but the thicker the grain, the stronger its hygroscopicity. Before cooking, it is recommended to rinse the cereal thoroughly, rubbing it with your hands, and at the end rinse under running water.

In order to get crumbly porridge in a saucepan, the rice is washed, placed on a sieve and poured over with boiling water. Then pour into boiling salt water in a ratio of one to one and reduce the heat to a minimum.

During cooking, the grain is not stirred, but pierced in several places for better steaming. If all the water has already evaporated and the cereal is not ready yet, carefully add a little boiling water. If desired, the finished rice can be washed, but only with boiled water.

Steamed rice is the easiest way to cook. It turns out invariably crumbly garnish. The grains must be washed and poured into the bowl of a double boiler, salted, and filled with water one to one. Steam until done for about half an hour.

The Chinese cook rice in very large quantities. They cook several kilograms at once - it is the basis for many other dishes.

The cereal is boiled in a large container with a ratio of one to five to water. Having brought it to half-cookedness, they throw it onto a large sieve, and then steam it in it.

We present to you a video that shows asian way cooking rice:

How to properly cook fluffy rice as a side dish in a saucepan

Round grain - this type of grain is the most difficult to cook crumbly porridge. It contains a lot of gluten and is very absorbent.

This variety must be washed only under running water, otherwise it will swell and stick together before cooking. And be sure to rinse the finished side dish.

Long grain polished rice is great for making fluffy side dishes.

The varieties “Jasmine” and “Thai” are especially different. They have a delicate, subtle taste and a pleasant creamy texture, while the finished grains do not stick together into an unpleasant lump.

Brown (brown) or brown rice is preferred by health-conscious people and devotees proper nutrition. It takes much longer to cook than polished one; it must be pre-soaked.

But such a side dish will definitely be crumbly and healthy.

Parboiled rice cooks slightly faster than unpolished rice. You can prepare almost any dish from it: semi-liquid risotto and fluffy Chinese rice. It is also ideal for pilaf if you couldn’t find devzira.

Regardless of what type of rice you choose, to obtain a crumbly side dish you must follow certain rules:

  • Keep an eye on the expiration date of the cereal. This is especially true for unpolished rice - it does not last long. Grains that are stored for a long time become brittle and stick together when cooked;
  • To obtain a crumbly side dish, maintain a water/cereal ratio of 1/1;
  • Rinse the rice before adding it, this way you will wash away grain dust, which also contributes to the sticking of the finished dish;
  • Choose the right utensils for cooking. A steel pan with a thick, multi-layered bottom is ideal. In them, the heat is distributed evenly and the cereal does not stick to the bottom;
  • Maintain optimal temperature regime– first we cook on high heat, then reduce it to a minimum, and be sure to let the porridge brew, without heating.

Steps to prepare fluffy rice:

  • We choose the “right” variety of rice - long grain, unpolished or steamed;

  • We wash the cereal;

  • Pour into boiling salted water, observing the ratio - one part rice to one part water;

  • Let it boil again, reduce the heat to a minimum, close the lid;

  • When almost all the water has been absorbed, check for readiness and, if necessary, add a little boiling water;
  • Almost finished rice is pierced in several places with a wooden stick (for example, for sushi);
  • After half an hour, remove from the stove and cover with a towel;

  • After another 10 minutes, the finished rice can be washed with boiled water, or you can simply stir it.

  • In the following video, you'll learn how to cook rice until it's fluffy in just 60 seconds!

    The most common mistakes that cause cereal to stick together

    • Unsuitable type of grain - it is quite difficult to cook a crumbly side dish from round grain;
    • Too much heat - in this case, there is a very high probability that your side dish will burn and not cook evenly;
    • Unsuitable cooking utensils;
    • Too much water - rice, regardless of the variety, absorbs liquid too much, and as a result, it boils and sticks together.

    Preparing a fluffy rice side dish is not difficult, you just need to practice a little and follow the rules.

    Rice is perfect as a side dish for meat, vegetable, fish dishes and other seafood, as well as poultry. It has high nutritional properties, but will not harm your figure at all. Complex carbohydrates, amino acids, fiber, B vitamins, potassium, calcium, iodine, phosphorus, zinc, iron in it constitute the necessary minimum of nutrients and vitamins for the human body.

    Initially, rice was popular mainly in eastern countries, but now its benefits are appreciated all over the world. It has a good effect on gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, improves memory, renews the nervous system.
    Delicious rice as a side dish is prepared mainly for meat, since it does not weigh it down at all, but only gently complements it. Today we will present you with several options for preparing rice, both the simplest and the more unusual.

    Delicious rice as a side dish: quick recipe

    This is the easiest way to prepare this grain. Please note that rounded and polished rice cooks faster and is therefore more suitable for preparing porridges. Therefore, we recommend using the least processed grains - brown rice or long-cooked, steamed rice. With them you will get a crumbly side dish.

    Required Products:

    • rice – 500 g;
    • sunflower oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
    • salt;
    • spices - according to your preferences.

    Cooking instructions:

    1. We wash the grains under cold water from the tap until it is no longer cloudy.
    2. Remove damaged or black grains.
    3. Pour the cereal into a saucepan and fill it with water so that it is a few fingers higher in level.
    4. Add spices, oil and salt. Mix everything well.
    5. As soon as the water boils, turn off the heat and let the dish sit for half an hour. This will allow the rice to steam sufficiently without being overcooked.

    Cooking delicious rice as a side dish according to a Japanese recipe

    For the traditional recipe from the true admirers of this cereal, the Japanese, you will need:

    • rice – 1 glass;
    • egg – 2 pcs.;
    • green onions – 1 bunch;
    • butter – 3 tbsp. l.;
    • soy sauce – 2 tbsp. l.

    Cooking instructions:

    1. Wash the rice thoroughly until clear water.
    2. In a saucepan, fill it with 1.5 cups of water.
    3. Bring to a boil without a lid. As soon as this happens, turn the heat to minimum, cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes.
    4. Beat the eggs with a whisk.
    5. Wash the onion and chop it finely.
    6. Fry onions with eggs in a frying pan with butter until the eggs are set in lumps.
    7. Add rice to the pan and add soy sauce. Mix and we can serve.

    Rice side dish with vegetables

    Required ingredients:

    • long grain rice - 1 cup;
    • carrots – 1 pc.;
    • onion – 1 pc.;
    • garlic – 2 cloves;
    • vegetable oil;
    • green peas– 0.5 cups.

    Cooking method:

    1. Peel and wash the onions and carrots.
    2. Finely chop the onion and grate the carrots on a medium grater.
    3. Start frying them in a frying pan with oil.
    4. Peel and chop the garlic, add to the pan, stir.
    5. After 5 minutes have passed, pour in 2 cups of cold water.
    6. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer the vegetables under the lid until fully cooked.
    7. If necessary, you can add more water.
    8. At the end, add green peas and let the dish sit under the lid for about 20 minutes.

    To make this side dish rice even tastier, you can use other vegetables. For example, zucchini or sweet bell pepper can be stewed simultaneously with carrots and onions. Ready-made frozen mixed vegetables sold in supermarkets also work well. They generally cook very quickly.

    Another rice side dish recipe

    To prepare rice with onions you need:

    • rice – 1 glass;
    • onion – 1 pc.;
    • spices: paprika, garlic, basil.

    How to cook:

    1. Fry chopped onion in oil in a saucepan.
    2. Add washed rice and add water.
    3. Cook until tender, and then add chopped garlic and spices.
    4. Now the side dish should sit and steam for a while, after which you can serve the dish.

    Bon appetit!

    Hide photo

    How to cook fluffy rice - for some it’s as easy as shelling pears, but some still don’t succeed. To cook fluffy rice, this is all you need to know: rules and secrets. The first requirement for fluffy rice is the correct proportion of rice and water. The amount of water depends on the type of rice; it is easier to cook long-grain rice varieties with fluff.

    Proportions of water depending on the type of rice

    • Basmati - 2-2.5 tbsp. water (depending on quality and manufacturer)
    • Jasmine - 1.5 tbsp. water
    • Long grain - 1.5 - 2 tbsp. water (depending on quality and manufacturer)

    If you overdo it a little with water, the rice will turn into porridge. If there is not enough water, there are two options: leave the rice under the closed lid and it will come, or add a few tablespoons of boiling water and continue cooking the rice. That is, less water is fixable in order to end up with delicious fluffy rice.
    There are three more secrets for preparing fluffy rice - salt, oil and boiling water. Rice should not be cooked in cold water., only with boiling water! More information about everything is written in detail in three methods of preparing fluffy rice.

    Ingredients

    • rice - 1 cup
    • water - from 1.5 to 2.5 cups (depending on the type of rice)
    • salt – 0.5 tsp
    • vegetable oil – 2 tbsp. spoons

    How to cook perfect fluffy rice - 3 easy steps step by step

    The first way to cook rice is raw frying.

    This method of preparing fluffy rice is quite universal, it is suitable for any type of rice, and there are practically no punctures with it. Even the simplest Krasnodar rice can be prepared in this way and it will turn out quite crumbly.

    1. Bring the required amount of water to boil in an electric or regular kettle.
    2. Rinse the rice well in a separate bowl, place in a colander/sieve and let dry a little.
    3. Wipe the pan in which the rice will be cooked dry and pour 2 tbsp. spoons of butter (can be replaced with).
    4. Place the pan on the fire, add the rice and fry, stirring constantly, for several minutes.
    5. Fry the rice until the color of the grains changes from translucent to dense white (5-10 minutes).
    6. Pour the prepared boiling water over the rice in the required quantity. Be careful, at first the rice will sizzle due to the temperature difference between the hot oil and water.
    7. Salt and stir the rice well.
    8. Cover with a lid and cook over low heat until the rice has absorbed all the moisture.
    9. It is possible (but not at all necessary) to stir the rice 1-2 times during the cooking process; it is better not to overdo it.

    The second way to cook rice is soaking and rinsing well.

    This method of preparing fluffy rice is not suitable for all types of rice. You can cook round rice, parboiled rice or basmati rice using this method. But this method is completely unsuitable for cooking jasmine rice - it will turn into porridge.

    1. Soak the rice for 30 minutes in cold water.
    2. Rinse the rice well under running cold water until the water runs clear - this will remove unnecessary gluten and starchy substances from the rice, which can later turn the rice into a sticky porridge.
    3. Pour over rice required quantity boiling water Boiling water must be prepared in advance. Under no circumstances should you pour cold water over rice.
    4. Add oil and salt. They help the rice cook and remain fluffy.
    5. Cook over low heat with the lid closed, stirring occasionally as needed, until all the water has been absorbed.

    The third way to perfect rice is a lot of water.

    This way you can cook perfect basmati rice. It is impossible to achieve such a degree of friability of rice by any other cooking method. It is with this method of cooking rice that you get crumbly rice, which even after it has cooled remains completely crumbly - rice after rice!

    If you plan to further, for example, fry rice, or stew it with vegetables, it is better that it is half-cooked. In cooking, the term “al dente” is often used for this. That is, when biting the grain, the color should be uniform, there should be no whiter circles in the center. But at the same time, the rice itself still tastes raw. Then you will get crumbly rice with vegetables, just like in Chinese or Japanese cuisines.

    Method: Cooking Number of servings: 3 Cooking time: 26 min

    Good afternoon, dear food lovers. Today we will talk about cooking rice. We all learned how to cook delicious pilaf a long time ago; we can even handle risotto. But they undeservedly forgot about the side dishes. Only properly cooked rice without additives allows you to capture all the aromas of a fish dish and the juiciness of a meat cutlet. Plus, it's low in calories. This is a valuable product for children and dietary nutrition. Today you will learn how to cook fluffy rice as a side dish and enjoy excellent results.

    Ingredients

    Cooking process


    And how delicious rice turns out in a slow cooker! In this case, the products are added according to the recipe and the “Porridge” or “Pilaf” program is installed. After the end of the program, you should also not open the lid for several minutes.

    Finally, I want to note common mistakes when preparing this simple dish:

    • incorrect choice of grain (some varieties are suitable for side dishes, others for viscous porridge);
    • a thin bottom of the pan can lead to burning and sticking of the cereal;
    • high temperature conditions will leave the grains half-raw;
    • non-compliance with the proportions of water and grains.

    Rice absorbs moisture well. When changing the amount of cereal, you should take into account the volume of water. Excess liquid will cause the grains to overcook and stick together. You can mix cereals to add variety to your meal. different colors, this will make the dish more healthy and effective. By adding herbs and vegetables, the dish becomes self-sufficient.

    That's all you need to make perfect rice. Try making this side dish and it will become a favorite in your home. Recommend this post to your friends and read new recipes.