How to Make Rice More Interesting: Five Ideas to Add Pop to Your "Bop"

I love rice. I can eat it for three meals a day, every day, for a long, long time. But many people, especially those outside of Asia, don't love rice the way I do. They see it as rather bland and boring. They want to spruce it up a bit.

If you are one of those people who finds rice a bit dull, you can use these ideas to bring more excitement into your rice. Here are five ways to add some pop to your "bop" (that's the Korean word for "rice.")

Rice

1. Try different varieties

If you have only tried white or brown rice, you are in for a surprise. There are all colors of rice, from black rice that turns purple when cooked, to red. There are varieties that smell like popcorn or nuts, and different sizes and textures of grains. Try something new, and see if you don't get excited.

2. Mix it up

Sure, you can have a pot of brown, short grain or long grain rice. That's what most people do--make a pot of one kind of rice. But try mixing different kinds together. The same way you'd make mushroom soup with porcini, button, and shiitake mushrooms, you can make a pot of rice with long grain, short grain, and sticky rice, all together, for example.

3. Throw in some spice

If you've ever eaten Indian food, you've had rice with added spices, such as turmeric, cinnamon, and cloves. Try adding some spices to your next pot of rice. Use the same spices, in smaller amounts, that you have in the main dish you plan to eat. For example, if you are making chili, add some cumin and garlic to your rice.

4. Change out the liquid

Most rice is cooked in plain water. Sometimes a broth is added for extra flavor, like chicken broth or vegetable stock. If you haven't tried that yet, replace the cooking water with an equal amount of stock. This will give added depth to your rice.

5. Go with a new grain

Why cook plain old rice alone? It likes company. Add a small amount of another grain to it, for a new texture and flavor, and added nutrition. My favorite way is to replace 1/6 to 1/3 of the rice with barley. Cook it like you normally would. The barley adds a chewy component that really gets your attention.

Now you know how to make rice more interesting. There is no excuse for having boring rice again. With a little creative exploration, you should be able to find rice dishes that you will look forward to eating again and again.

How to Make Rice More Interesting: Five Ideas to Add Pop to Your "Bop"

For more details on how to make rice more interesting, plus award-winning recipes, visit my blog at: http://almostveganinparadise.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/how-to-add-interest-to-your-rice/

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