Rice porridge is a dish with a complex character. This is a vivid example of the fact that everything is not simple and unambiguous in cooking: the same product can harm and be beneficial for health, weight, skin, hair, and internal organs. The main thing is to clearly understand the strengths and weaknesses of the product and learn how to cook it correctly.
Few facts. Rice is different – and in appearance, taste, and chemical parameters.
Glycemic index:
- white rice is 65-85 units;
- brown – 50 units;
- brown 45-50 units;
- black, wild rice 35-40 units;
- rice bran 19 units. A great option to diversify the diet for diabetics.
And if you choose instant rice porridge, keep in mind that the GI will be almost 90 units. Therefore, it is better to leave porridge in bags on the counter in the store – it will not please you with either taste or useful properties.
Rice grains contain many B vitamins, vitamins PP and E, eight different amino acids, and a huge amount of minerals and trace elements – copper, iodine, manganese, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, selenium, and potassium. Want to get the most out of it? Choose brown rice porridge – this grain contains three times more phosphorus than white grains, four times more Mg, vitamins B1 and B3, and five times more fatty acids, which bring many benefits to blood vessels and the heart.
There is no gluten in rice, so it does not cause allergies; there is no salt in the grain, so the product is often used for mono-diets. At the same time, it is better to prefer brown rice, which perfectly removes toxins from the body.
Rice Calories
The calorie content of rice is 350-370 kcal per 100 g, but it all depends on the type of rice and how it is processed. In addition, one should not forget that, in addition to rice grains, porridge can also include other products – milk, various fruits, and nuts (if desired); all of these impact the total number of calories in the dish.
Regular consumption of properly cooked rice porridges and side dishes:
- improves the condition of nails, hair, and skin;
- normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- stimulates brain activity;
- stabilizes the heart’s and the blood vessels’ activity.
When you cook porridge from unpeeled wild or brown rice, you favor a dish that protects the intestines from cancer, improves the body’s immune forces, improves digestion, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
The most delicious rice porridge recipes
Rice is a unique cereal that goes well with almost any food, whether it be vegetables, meat, fruits, or nuts. You can cook porridge, casseroles, side dishes, and meatballs from rice – on the stove, in the oven, or a slow cooker. This is a great way to show your culinary talents in all their glory – experiment without limits.
Rice porridge with water and milk
The classic recipe for rice porridge with water and milk allows you to get a very satisfying and tasty dish, ideal for breakfast. Cook porridge according to the recipe below and add dried apricots or raisins, candied fruits or nuts, and fresh or frozen berries to the plate to make the dish even tastier and healthier.
To make delicious rice porridge, you will need:
- 1 cup round rice There is more starch in round rice so that the dish will turn out with an enveloping density;
- Two glasses of water and milk;
- Three art. tablespoons of sugar and salt to taste.
You will have time to prepare a dish that appeals to adults and children in half an hour. Pour two glasses of water into the pan, bring the water to a boil and add the rice washed in cold water beforehand. Stir everything, bring to a boil again and reduce the heat – cook the grits until it absorbs all the water. After that, you can pour preheated milk into the porridge and add sugar and salt.
Another 10 minutes of cooking, 10 minutes of steeping porridge under the lid, and a delicious dish in front of you that will energize you for the first half of the day. Don’t forget to add butter and fruit and nut flavors, such as an apple with raisins and nuts.
You can vary the ratio of water and milk to your taste – up to the point that rice porridge can be completely boiled in water. Or vice versa, milk. Milk rice porridge is an ideal option for children’s breakfast. Brown rice water porridge is suitable for people who are on a diet.
Rice porridge with pumpkin in a slow cooker
Pumpkin is one of the most underrated vegetables. Let’s try to fix this. Cook rice porridge with pumpkin, and you will no longer indifferently pass by this vegetable in the market – the dish turns out to be incredibly tender, fragrant, and tasty.
For cooking, you will need:
- 500 g pumpkin. Any variety will do;
- 200 g of rice;
- 1 liter of milk;
- butter, salt, and sugar to taste.
The pumpkin needs to be peeled and cut into medium-sized cubes. Put pumpkin cubes into the multicooker bowl and add 20-30 g of butter, then start the multicooker on the “Baking” mode for 15 minutes – the pumpkin must be stirred regularly so that it is evenly baked on all sides. While the pumpkin is cooking, rinse the rice thoroughly. When the slow cooker squeaks that 15 minutes of pumpkin baking is over, add washed rice, milk, salt with sugar, and another 20-25 g of butter to the bowl. Don’t forget to mix everything. Select the “Porridge” or “Stew” mode and cook for 35-40 minutes until the milk is absorbed.
The amount of milk can be changed if you want to make the porridge thicker or thinner. Cooking time also affects the density of porridge: the longer you cook the porridge, the thicker it will be. Divide the porridge into plates.
Rice casserole with meat
If rice porridge is tired, you can move on to casseroles. You will need:
- 350 g of rice;
- 500 g minced meat. It can be minced pork and/or beef, chicken;
- 3 eggs;
- 350 g sour cream;
- 1 onion;
- 50 g butter.
This amount of ingredients is enough to make six servings of casseroles. It’s easy to cook. Boil the rice in salted water until al dente, when the top is soft, and the inside is still raw. While the rice is cooking, fry the minced meat in a pan, adding the chopped onion. Is ready?
Beat the sour cream with eggs – you can add your favorite seasonings here. Grease the bottom of the baking dish with oil, put half of the prepared rice, a layer of minced meat on top, then the remaining rice, and pour all this over with the cooked sour cream and egg mixture. Bake the dish at a temperature of 180 ° C until a beautiful golden crust appears on the casserole. If desired, sprinkle with cheese 10 minutes before the end of baking.
Rice balls
Like other rice dishes, meatballs can be sweet or meaty. You can serve them as a side dish for meat or pour them over jam if you prepare breakfast for children. The dish is prepared very quickly; it does not require special skills – everyone can do it.
To make rice balls, you will need:
- 1.5 st. rice
- 4 tbsp. water;
- 2 eggs;
- 0.5 st. Breadcrumbs for breading. Can be replaced with flour;
- salt to taste.
First, you need to cook rice porridge. You can take any rice, but round-grained rice will give you a dense consistency, which is needed for meatballs. Rinse the rice, cover with water and cook until tender. Add eggs to the resulting porridge and mix well – if you need to make the mass more viscous, use starch. Wet your hands with water and stick them on the meatballs. Bread the rice cakes in flour or breadcrumbs and place them on a preheated pan.
After the meatballs are browned, turn them over to the other side. Put the finished dish on a plate and add the ingredients of your choice – you can pour them with condensed milk or tomato sauce and add a piece of baked chicken or fruit salad.
As you can see, rice is a multifaceted product that, depending on your desires and actions, can turn into a very tasty milk porridge for a small child, a hearty meat casserole, or a healthy diet dish. Enjoy your meal!
