Steamed rice is easy to prepare at home, with or without a steamer. Here’s how to cook it in a few steps and two healthy and light recipes to enjoy it. Cooking steamed rice is the best cooking method to take full advantage of the nutritional properties of this cereal. Steam cooking allows you to preserve the vitamins and mineral salts naturally found in the beans, and it is also elementary as all you need is simply water (salted or not). Any seasoning must be added when the rice is already cooked.
Rice is usually the first course. However, nothing prevents us from accompanying it to other foods to increase the meal’s nutritional value. One of the questions that arise when you try this cooking method is: do you need the steamer? Not necessarily. It is possible to prepare steamed rice with a simple pressure cooker or even a microwave. The cooking will still be perfect and, most importantly, healthy. As for the rice varieties most suitable for use, these are almost all the known ones. Whether white or brown rice, black or otherwise, we can experience steaming rice with excellent results.
Steamed Rice: The Benefits
Why is steam so important? By steaming, foods’ nutritional and beneficial properties remain within them, thus bringing more significant benefits to our bodies. Suppose we gradually begin to prefer steamed rice. In that case, we will also start to appreciate the different and characteristic flavors of the various types of rice, their aromas, and the texture of the grains. In particular, steaming rice allows us not only to enjoy its aroma better but also to assimilate the precious substances it contains, such as:
- In rice, we find vitamin B, vitamin E, and the so-called vitamin PP. These percentages vary from one type of rice to another, but they are still present and fundamental for our body’s metabolic and vital functions. Steaming the rice allows the number of vitamins in this cereal to be kept almost intact.
- Minerals Zinc stands out, essential for the proteins that make up the tissues, manganese, which favors collagen production, and magnesium, which allows food to be transformed into energy.
- Fiber and glycemic index Using the steamer for rice also means keeping the fiber content intact (higher in brown rice), preventing cardiovascular diseases, and avoiding glycemic peaks after meals. For this reason, those suffering from hyperglycemia or diabetes can safely consume rice.
- Antioxidants Some studies have confirmed the presence in rice of a type of antioxidant, anthocyanins, which boast anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.
- Unlike other cereals, rice contains a significant amount of lysine, an amino acid that stimulates the production of antibodies and performs an anti-anemic function.
How To Cook Steamed Rice
Let’s now learn how to cook steamed rice. We said that you don’t necessarily need a steamer. Still, it is also possible to use other small appliances at home, such as a simple microwave or a saucepan. Furthermore, since no condiments are used during cooking, we can decide to perfume and flavor the rice with herbs and spices inserted directly into the water; cooking will release these smells, which will be transferred to the rice. So let’s analyze the methods and cooking methods to prepare good steamed rice:
Steamed Rice With An Electric Steamer
The electric steamer is equipped with several shelves, one intended for the water that will produce the steam. How much water should be double the rice, and the grains should be washed under running water. For the cooking times, it is without a doubt essential to think about those connecting with each kind of rice and, right now, add no less than 10 minutes, so the grains are all around cooked.
Steamed Rice With Bamboo Steamer
The bamboo steamer consists of several baskets placed on a pot that contains boiling water. The bank should be left on the fire at low fire for the whole cooking season of the rice. To keep this from adhering to the crate, it is great to fix the bamboo racks with lettuce leaves or material paper and pour the rice inside afterward. Cooking times are somewhat longer, going from 20 minutes for basmati rice to 40 minutes for earthy colored rice or Venere rice.
Steamed Rice In The Microwave
If we choose the microwave, we must try to create a structure similar to a steamer: we take a container in which to pour the water, another perforated container to be placed above the one with the water and in which we are going to run the rice, and finally a lid. Also, with this method, for good steamed rice, you need to rinse the grains (or leave them to soak for 15-20 minutes). Cooking times are entirely similar to those of the electric steamer.
Steamed Rice Without The Steamer
To cook the rice without a steamer, it must first be washed several times to reduce the starch (the water removed must be almost transparent at the end). Then pour the rice into a pot: for each glass of rice, you need one and a half glasses of water. We turn on the fire, and as soon as the water starts to boil, we lower the heat and cover it with a lid. It takes at least 15 minutes to cook the rice (times increase for brown rice), and you do not need to stir during this time. The rice will still be ready when it has absorbed all the water.
Steam Rice In The Pressure Cooker
The pressure cooker is handy when using rice whose times are pretty long, such as Venere rice. The procedure is very similar to the one just seen. When the steam comes out of the lid, you have to lower the flame to the minimum and calculate 15 minutes. You can also find baskets in the pressure cooker on the market, which allows an efficient and effective steaming of rice.
Steamed Rice: 2 Tasty Recipes
Now is the time to start cooking! It will be elementary to prepare a tasty and nutritious dish with multiple ingredients with the cooking techniques just seen. For each recipe, we can certainly use the appliances we have.
Steamed Rice With Vegetables
We prepare steamed basmati rice with vegetables, including courgettes, aubergines, and peppers. Other ingredients: water, herbs, spices (thyme, marjoram, curry), rice, a drizzle of oil. First, you need to cut the vegetables to be the same size. We prepare the steamer by adding water and herbs to flavor the rice; once it comes to a boil, place the already washed rice and the vegetables in different baskets, one on top of the other. Lower the heat and let it cook according to the steamer used (and the rice). Add the curry and the raw oil when the rice and vegetables are ready. We mix well and enjoy ourselves.
Steamed Rice And Broccoli
The ingredients are broccoli (the tops), canned chickpeas, rice, chili, water, and salt. First, we wash the broccoli well and remove the stems. We also pass the rice and fill the steamer with water and salt. Bring to a boil and arrange the rice and broccoli in different baskets. We wait for everything to cook evenly and pour the chickpeas into the basket with the broccoli. Cook for another 5 minutes, then combine the rice with chickpeas and broccoli on a plate and sprinkle with chili. The dish is ready.
Also Read: POTASSIUM: WHAT IS IT USED FOR, AND WHICH FOODS ARE RICH IN IT?
