Rice casserole - general principles and methods of preparation
Rice is the bread culture of the East. It is hard to imagine that entire nations use it in their diet in the same way that we use bread. Some Japanese eat 4 kg of rice per day during the hot summer. In every place of honor in each house is a pile of rice cakes, as well as ordinary boiled rice - a symbol of prosperity and good luck. However, rice is appreciated not only in the countries of the East. Almost throughout the world, this popular grain crop is used for the preparation of first and second courses, confectionery, jelly and other goodies.
Rice casserole is suitable for any meal. You can feed as many people as you like with a hearty meal, no matter what ingredients are there other than rice. Rice itself provides the nutrition and usefulness of the dish. After all, this balanced product has everything - potassium and sodium, B vitamins, a large number of useful components. It is most useful to use unpolished unpolished grains. No other cereal can boast so much starch.
Rice casserole - preparation of products
In order to cook a casserole, rice needs to be boiled. Let us tell you a big secret - despite the fact that the stores have a huge assortment of this healthy cereal, absolutely any variety is suitable for cooking casseroles. Expensive rice varieties, of course, are of better quality, they are easier to boil, and they remain intact. But even from the simplest rice you can cook a wonderful casserole.
How to cook rice? Measure rice with volume rather than weight to make it easier to calculate the amount of water. There should be two volumes of liquid per 1 volume of rice. For rice casseroles with meat, you can boil rice in a broth (preferably natural, and not from bouillon cubes). You can cook it in a pan with a lid, a casserole or a thick-walled pan. At the bottom, pour a little vegetable oil, then put the rice and pour water. The butter will make boiled rice crumbly, white is boiled for 15 minutes, brown - 40 minutes.
If in doubt of readiness - try a grain to taste. Another way to check readiness is to tilt the pan to determine if there is water. If there is still water, leave it on fire for a few more minutes. Then turn off the heat and dig a saucepan or pan with a towel, leave it for a while. Thus, dry friable rice is obtained, which is used as a side dish or component of various dishes.
Recipe 1: Rice Casserole with Minced Chicken
For any dish of their rice, you can harvest it in advance. Cooked rice can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Minced meat can be taken any - chicken, beef, or mixed.
Ingredients: rice (1 cup, 230 grams), minced meat (chicken, 40 grams), onions (1-2 pcs.), eggs (2 pcs.), salt, vegetable oil, spices.
Cooking method
Boil rice. Fry chopped onion in vegetable oil with minced meat. Salt and pepper. We mix raw eggs into the rice, prepare the oven - preheat it to 190 degrees. In a greased form, put half of the whole rice, then the minced meat, and again rice on top. Put in the oven for 30 minutes. In a dish with meat, you can add vegetables - carrots, bell peppers and tomatoes. In this case, it is better to fry them with minced meat.
Recipe 2: Rice-curd casserole with oranges
Rice is great for making sweet dishes. Think, for example, of dried fruit pilaf. Casserole with oranges is just a fabulously tasty dish. His children are especially fond of, but there is nothing to hide - and many sweet tooth men. Please your loved ones, because it is completely simple.
Ingredients: rice (150 grams), cottage cheese (400 grams), raisins, egg (3 pcs.), sugar (half a glass), flour (1 glass, orange (1 large).
Cooking method
Boil the rice until half cooked, rinse the raisins and spread the curd mass in a large plate. Add cottage cheese to rice, raisins, 3 tbsp. tablespoons of sugar, 3 eggs, then a glass of flour and mix thoroughly. On a low fire, melt in the form of 30 grams of oil and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of sugar. Cut the orange into rings and spread on melted butter. Then we spread the dough, send it to the oven for 30-40 minutes. Cool the casserole, cover with a plate and turn the pan over. The orange rings will now be at the top. It is not only tasty but also beautiful.
Recipe 3: Rice Casserole with Mushrooms and Cod
Ingredients: rice (200 grams), cheese (450 grams), mushrooms (500 grams), flour (2-3 tablespoons), flour (2-3 tablespoons), egg (1 pc.), garlic (1-2 slices) , tomatoes (2-3 pcs.), salt, pepper, mold release oil, canned cod.
Cooking method
We do not boil the rice to the end, we rub the cheese on a coarse grater. About 1/23 of the cheese is mixed with rice and add a raw egg, flour. It turns out a kind of strong dough. Fry mushrooms with onions and garlic, salt, pepper to taste. Add the flour, in a minute or two pour the milk and sour cream to make the sauce. The first layer in the oiled form is rice, then mushrooms and canned cod is laid out on top. On top of sliced tomato rings, cover all with the remaining layer of cheese. In the oven, after 30-40 minutes, an appetizing golden crust is formed. Cool the dish a bit and serve. The casserole holds in shape, it is easy to cut into neat pieces.
Rice casserole - tips from experienced chefs
Rice is a very democratic product, casserole can be cooked with various ingredients, for example, with fresh fruits. Imagine what a delicious casserole taste can be made with apples, pears, or other fruits. Peel them from the skin and seeds, cut into small pieces.
Extinguish in a small amount of water. Add fruit, cinnamon powder, beaten eggs, a little butter to the rice and bake. Enjoy your meal.
The legend of the origin of rice
The legend of rice came to us from the island of Kalimantan. In ancient times, when the heavens were still closer to the earth, the righteous and the Gods sometimes changed places. The gods descended to the earth, the righteous ascended into heaven. Once a young man who came to heaven saw rice seeds and asked what it was. God graciously offered the young man boiled rice. The spirits guarding the rice were not allowed to take with them to the ground, explaining to the young man that this was the food of the Gods.
The next time the young man came to heaven, he hid several grains of rice in the cracks on his heels, returned to the ground and presented it to people. So rice came to Earth. The rice deity is in Japan today, on the steps in front of the sacrificial altar are bowls of rice and cups of salt and water. To ask the God of rice for help, you need to walk around the stone 100 times and repeat your most cherished desire. Then it will come true. That is why the newlyweds are offered rice cakes on their wedding day.
