Rice

Rice. Asia. Can’t mention one without the other. In Asia, we eat rice any time of the day. We have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If we want to snack between meals, there is no shortage of rice-based sweet and savory snacks.

To fully appreciate rice, and to know the best way to cook it, you really have to start with a working knowledge of rice varieties. Why are some rice grains short and why are others long? Does the length of the grain determine how it should be cooked?

The basics

While rice always needs liquid to cook in, what the liquid is and how it is added to rice depends on what dish you intend to cook.

How to cook rice – Does rice need to be rinsed? Is soaking required? How much water should the rice cook in? The answers to all these and more in this guide to cooking rice, Asian-style. See the full guide.

How to cook congee (rice porridge) minus the myths – What rice variety is best for cooking congee? Which is better for cooking congee: water or broth? What is the ideal proportion of rice to liquid? Should congee be cooked over low or high heat? Read the full article.

Easy tasty risotto for home cooks – A creamy Italian rice dish, risotto derives its texture from rice starch that gets coaxed by constant stirring during cooking. Learn to make risotto.

What is pilaf? – How is it different from risotto and congee? What is the ideal rice variety for making pilaf? Read on.

Rice recipes to enjoy (Asian and non-Asian)

Chicken and sausage rice (arroz con pollo y chorizo) – Cut-up chicken marinated in sour cream, slices of chorizo, vegetables, rice and broth simmer together to make a tasty one-bowl meal. Easy enough to cook on a weekday and, at the same time, fancy enough to serve for a get-together. Get the recipe.

Mexican-style white rice (arroz blanco) – Aromatic with just a hint of seasoning, Mexican-style white rice, cooked in chicken broth with a bit of lime juice for tang, is the perfect accompaniment for fried and grilled chicken dishes. Get the recipe.

Salted salmon and curry rice a la kedgeree – In this recipe, heavily salted salmon marinated overnight is substituted for the traditional smoked haddock. The rest is traditional kedgeree, a British breakfast or brunch dish. Get the recipe.

Bacon and wakame onigiri – Cook Japanese rice the usual way, season a la sushi rice, stir in chopped rehydrated wakame, crispy bacon and toasted sesame seeds, season with a little salt then press into an onigiri molder. Get the recipe.

Chinese sticky rice pearl meatballs – Seasoned ground pork is formed into balls, rolled in soaked sticky rice and steamed until the rice grains puff. Chinese sticky rice pearl meatballs make a delicious and filling snack. Get the recipe.