HOW TO MAKE SEASONED RICE WITH SPICES, HERBS & MORE

Before you begin cooking your seasoned rice, you need to rinse off the excess starch from the grain. Place the rice inside a rice strainer and run it under cool water, stirring with your hands to allow each grain to be rinsed. When the water that comes out of the strainer runs clear, your rice is ready to cook. Once you’ve rinsed your rice, gather your ingredients and prep as necessary.

Set your cooktop burner to medium heat and heat oil in your saucepan and add garlic, onions or other aromatics. Saute until they’ve become soft and translucent. If you want to infuse more flavor into the rice itself, you can also saute the rice during this step. If you aren’t adding any vegetables or aromatics, you can skip this step.

After you’ve sauteed your aromatics, add in your rice, seasonings, broth and/or milk to the saucepan. Stir your ingredients together and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover until rice is cooked and all the liquid has been absorbed.

You can also cook rice in your microwave for a simple and fast alternative.

Using a rice paddle, fluff your rice by scooping the paddle to the bottom of the pan and turning it over. This helps to prevent clumps so that each grain of rice will be more distinct when it’s time to serve.

Seasoning your rice before adding water or broth helps to deeply infuse the flavor into the recipe. When you season rice after cooking, the flavors don’t have a chance to cook into the rice and will simply layer on top — similar to sprinkling a finished dish with salt.

Yes, add your seasonings before starting the Rice Cycle. You can use oil, butter, salt, spices and broth or milk to enhance the flavor of your rice dish. Fresh herbs can be stirred into seasoned rice at the end of the cooking cycle before allowing the rice to rest.

It is typically recommended to use long-grain rice like basmati or jasmine when making seasoned rice as shorter grains like sushi rice can become sticky or mushy depending on the ingredients you use to season your rice. Long-grain rice is perfect for seasoned rice recipes like sazon rice, Spanish rice, cumin rice, citrus rice and more.

Seasoned rice is a versatile grain that can be used in a variety of recipes. You can make a rice dish any time of day, whipping up a sweet rice topped with fruit for breakfast, a rice pudding for dessert and even drinks like horchata to serve alongside a variety of dishes. Recipes featuring rice from around the world can serve as inspiration, whether you plan to indulge in the rich, aromatic flavors or Spanish rice or enjoy a taste of India when you top a bed of rice with creative curry variations.

Seasoned rice pairs well with a variety of proteins and vegetables. You can combine it with beans or roasted vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes or squash for a vegetarian fare or add chicken, fish or beef to make a hearty dish.

Serve seasoned rice with your mealtime favorite or get inspiration from the following recipes.

• Roasted Chicken with Rice Pilaf

• Creamy Herbed Chicken and Rice

• Sweet and Spicy Salmon with Roasted Summer Veggie Rice

• Plantain Rice with Chicken and Salsa Verde

• Eggplant Mapo Tofu

• Shredded Carrot, Arugula and Wild Rice Salad

If you’ve accidentally overcooked your rice, all is not lost. The soft, mushy texture can actually be an asset to a variety of recipes. You can use overcooked rice as a base ingredient for recipes like crispy rice cakes, porridge, soups, omelets or even rice pudding.

When the cooking process is disrupted, rice can end up being hard, crunchy and undercooked. If this happens, simply add up to ½ cup of water to your rice, cover and bring it to a simmer until the additional liquid has absorbed.

If you have leftover seasoned rice, you can store it in your refrigerator or freezer for later to save time on meal prep. Simply put it in an airtight storage container and keep it in your refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. 

When reheating rice, add 1-2 tablespoons of water for each cup of rice and put it in your microwave on 80% or Level 8 power, or steam it in a saucepan on your cooktop for a few minutes. You can also place the seasoned rice in a baking dish and splash it with a few tablespoons of water, then cover and bake. Your seasoned rice is ready to eat once it’s hot throughout. You can use a food thermometer to check that the internal temperature of your rice dish is at least 165° F before serving.