Toasted Brown Rice with Mushrooms & Thyme Recipe | Cookin' Canuck (2024)

FAQs

Should you toast brown rice? ›

This is a totally optional step, but if the earthy flavor of brown rice is what has kept you from eating it in the past, then you might find that you like brown rice better after toasting.

Ginger and garlic both make for exceptional brown rice. If you're going the spice route we love turmeric, cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika with brown rice. Try adding some of these spices to the pot as you cook your aromatic vegetables. Cook in a flavorful liquid.

And before you ask: Whether you choose to rinse your rice is a personal choice—some sources say you don't need to rinse brown rice at all. Our opinion: For the fluffiest brown rice possible, rinsing is the way to go.

The correct cook time and water ratio for brown rice depends on the cooking method that you're using. Properly cooked rice should have a slightly chewy consistency. Overcooked rice will be mushy; undercooked, it will be hard and crunchy.

As with toasting spices and nuts, toasting grains before cooking can enhance the nutty depth of the grains, lending an extra layer of flavor to a final dish.

Toasting the rice until it browns ever so slightly gives it an incredible rich and nutty flavor.

Brown rice comes in several varieties, from short-grain to long-grain. The long-grain variety will cook up drier and more separate in its rice grains, while the shorter-grained types will be softer and more pearly. With soy sauce – Plain brown rice, nutty and sweet, with a splash of soy sauce is a wonderful lunch.

Add extra seasoning: cooking brown rice with salt is essential for flavorful grains, but you can also infuse more flavor by adding olive oil and butter, swapping in garlic salt, or adding spices such as cayenne, ground ginger or cumin.

If you want your rice to be starchier or stick together, you can skip that step. In either case, don't rinse it until the water runs fully clear, as you may lose too many nutrients or compromise the fragrance, flavor and end product texture.

Which brown rice is healthiest? ›

Lundberg Family Farms Organic Long-Grain Brown Rice

Their organic long-grain brown rice is one of the best on the market, as it's certified organic, certified gluten-free, and non-GMO verified. It's also free of any additives and contains only one ingredient — organic long-grain brown rice.

Rice bowls are my favorite way to turn brown rice into a meal. Pile on an assortment of vegetables, beans, lentils, or meat for protein, and finish it off with a simple, savory sauce. You can use either short-grain or long-grain brown rice for these!

I use 2 cups of water for every cup of rice. Add the water and rice to a medium saucepan, and stir in a teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Next, it's time to cook! Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes, until the rice is tender and has absorbed the water.

To soak: Add rice to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (1 cup rice + 2-3 cups water). Soak uncovered at room temperature for at least 2 hours or overnight.

In fact, studies show that people who eat more whole grains like brown rice weigh less than those who consume fewer whole grains. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that whole grain intake including brown rice is associated with a lower risk of weight gain or obesity.

Alton Brown's Key Step For Flavorful Rice. One of the best ways to make rice more flavorful without adding extra seasoning is to simply toast it before cooking.

To cook brown rice on the stovetop, a good rule of thumb is to follow a 2 to 1 ratio of water to rice; so, for 1 cup of rice, you would use 2 cups of liquid. When in doubt, check the package directions for the optimal ratio for short-, medium-, and long-grain.

The absorption method is generally the preferred method as it allows the rice to retain the most nutrients. Brown rice retains a slightly chewy firm texture and nutty flavour when cooked.