How do you cook perfect rice?
How do you cook perfect rice?
Tell me the details like what makes yours perfect, why, and your cultural influence if any. I mean, rice is totally different with Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and Persian food just to name a few. It is not just the spices or sauces I'm mostly interested in. These matter too. I am really interested in the grain variety and specifically how you prep, cook, and absolutely anything you do after. Don't skip the cultural details that you might otherwise presume everyone does. Do you know why some brand or region produces better ingredients, say so. I know it seems simple and mundane but it really is not. I want to master your rice as you make it in your culture. Please tell me how.
So, how do you do rice?
I'm half Armenian and half Lebanese. Like many others, rice is central to out cuisine! My favorite way to make rice is the traditional Lebanese way.
Melt some butter in a pan and toast a handful of dried vermicelli noodles (the kind that are like a quarter inch long - I've broken up angel hair pasta when in a pinch!)
Then add specifically the Uncle Ben's short grain white rice. This is what my mom used as we we're growing up and it's my favorite. I've tried this method with other rice varieties but it's not the same. Toast that in the butter, too.
Season with salt and a little bit of white pepper. Simmer with chicken stock for 20 minutes and it's perfect.