How to cook wild rice

The widespread belief that wild rice is a type of traditional rice, is a fallacy. In fact, black rice is the seeds of aquatic plants of the genus Zizania. Because of its unusual taste and high nutritional value, wild rice is very popular all over the world. For Russia, the black rice is largely exotic product, in the preparation of which must take into account some of the subtleties.

Cooked wild rice

You will need the following ingredients: 1 Cup black rice 3 cups water, salt to taste, 1 tbsp butter.

Thoroughly rinse the rice under running water. Washed rice soak in a little cold water for 12 hours. If the time for a long soaking is not, fill the Cup rinsed black rice 3 cups boiling water, cover and let it stand for an hour. Before cooking wild rice, drain the water.

Put the rice in a saucepan and fill it with cold water in a ratio of 1 to 3. Bring contents of saucepan to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer the rice until it has absorbed all the water. To prepare wild rice usually require 35-40 minutes. When done, the grain of black rice increased by 3-4 times. Instead of plain water for cooking the wild rice you can use chicken or vegetable broth.

When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat but do not lift the lid. Allow the black rice to stand for 10-15 minutes, then add salt and gently stir the rice to separate the grains from each other. Optionally, you can add in wild rice with a knob of butter.

If you do not want to calculate the proportion wild rice you can just boil in plenty of water until the grains of rice will not increase several times in size, then drain excess water.

Cooked wild rice can be used as a separate side dish, but most often it is mixed with traditional rice. In addition, boiled black rice can be added to salads, soups and casseroles, stew with vegetables.

Wild rice with vegetables

You will need the following ingredients: 1 Cup cooked black rice 1 small eggplant, 1 small zucchini, 1 medium size bell pepper, 2 medium tomatoes, 1 bulb onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 3 tbsp. tablespoons vegetable oil, a few sprigs of any fresh herbs, salt and black pepper to taste.

Wash the eggplant and zucchini, cut them into small cubes. To remove bitterness from eggplant, cut into cubes, sprinkle with salt, stir and let stand 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

Clean bell pepper from seeds, cut it into thin strips. Peel the onion and cut it into half rings. Wash the tomatoes and cut them into small cubes.

In a pan heat vegetable oil and fry the vegetables for 10-15 minutes. Add to the vegetables cooked wild rice, chopped greens, pressed garlic, salt and black pepper to taste. Stir and cook the rice with the vegetables for another 3-5 minutes.