For someone(like me) used to eating soft white rice at all times,the switch to nutty brown rice a little challenging and also expensive ,considering its low supply and relatively higher price.But makes me wonder, shouldn't the brown rice be cheaper,because it involves lesser processing than its white make over,saving the energy costs of Industrial milling and process of fortifying with synthetic vitamins?.
Be surprised,read the details of health benefits of whole Brown rice.
Clearly what remains in the white rice ripped off of its nature's best nutrients including fiber to negligible amounts is mostly starch,another culprit of unwanted weight gain resulting in aliments like diabetes and increase in cholesterol.Whole grains on the other hand are known to keep you fuller longer,reducing the cravings of eating between the meals.
So did I make the complete transition to Brown rice after learning its goodness?Just partly(cause of my picky tastes),but I have limited the white rice to smaller portions.As for Mr.Health Nut who is totally ga-ga over such whole foods ,always prefers the nuttiness of brown rice to the fluffiness of white rice.
Brown Rice Cooking and Storage
The brown rice takes longer to cook,soaking it before cooking helps in lessening the cooking time.The storage life of brown rice is shorter than white rice because the natural oils in the grain requires it to be stored in air-tight container and refrigerate for longer shelf-life.
Cauliflower Brown Rice
White Cauliflower ,unlike the white rice is totally wholesome and is considered a cancer fighting super food.The cauliflower brown rice with cauliflower cooked while still crunchy, makes a healthful meal.I cooked the rice and vegetable separately,if you prefer veggies softer ,then cook the rice with veggies like in this pulov recipe.
Ingredients
2 cups Organic Brown Rice
1/2 a medium onion,chopped
1/2 cup carrots,sliced
2 cups Cauliflower florets
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon red chilly powder
3/4 teaspoon ginger garlic paste,or 1/2 a teaspoon each of freshly minced ginger and garlic
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 green chillies
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoon fresh herbs like mint,cilantro or parsley, chopped.
1 tablespoon lemon juice,freshly squeezed
Method
Wash rice and soak it for 15 minutes.Heat oil in a saucepan on medium heat flame. Add chopped onions ,whole green chillies and cumin seeds. saute for a minute and add ginger garlic paste. saute for a minute with turmeric and other spices. Add the cauliflower ,cover and cook for 10 of minutes until tender,I like it a little crunchy.
In mean time bring 4 cups of water to boil in a skillet with lid,drain the water from rice and drop carefully in the boiling water.Season with salt.Cover and let cook until tender about 25 minutes for brown rice and lesser for white rice,until water is all soaked up or drain any excess water using a colander.
Mix the cooked rice ,lemon juice in the cauliflower mixture,let cook for another 4-5 minutes until flavors come together.Garnish with fresh herbs and spring onions,serve warm with tomato Chutney.
This recipe is off to JFI event started by Indira of Mahanandi, Cauliflower is the Ingredient in focus for this month.
Comments
Lemme check this Cauliflower one dear...Can imagine the taste!!
i remember a big deal being made about the benefits of brown rice in the 1980s in new zealand - it was like newly discovered food. as you yourself say, it isn't something you've been used to eating, especially since you have always eaten soft white rice.
i think we should stick to healthy food choices that we are used to eating. for example, traditional cretan pilafi cannot be made with brown rice - the cooking time, texture and taste will make it so different that it will not be cretan pilafi. to top it all off, my family would revolt.
This gobi rice looks yum !!
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I do cook often enough with brown rice, although I do tend to cook my most special meals with white, because the blander flavor does more justice to biryanis and pilafs. Besides, although long-grain white rice has been stripped of its fiber, it still has a glycemic index comparable to brown rice, so I figure it's okay to use white once in a way.
Yep,being a S.Indian myself used to eating W.Rice ,the nutty texture of B.Rice seems a bit unusual.But I do manage to nibble on it at least once a week.
I do have other recipes with B.rice,stay tuned:)