Rice:  A dish of many flavors.

Rice is a stable grain used all over the world.  This is one grain used in soups, salads, entrees, desserts in multiple cuisines. There are 8,000 varieties.  The more common varieties we see in our stores are Arborio, a round grain used in the Italian dish, risotto.  Basmatic rice is an aromatic nutlike fragrance and light texture.  Sweet Rice is very sticky to make sushi and Jasmine is a soft textured rice.  More common in U.S. groceries are the long grain, medium grain, brown rice and wild rice. 

Brown Rice

Brown rice has the most benefits. It has abundant amounts of fiber, complex carbohydrates, essential B vitamins, manganese and selenium . There are several layers to a grain of rice, the hull, the outermost layer and  inedible is removed to get brown rice.  White rice is milled and and polished which removes the bran and germ removing important layers of nutrients. Polished white rice must be “enriched” with vitamins B1, B3 and iron which are destroyed in the processing.

Health Benefits of Brown Rice

It is recommended to include in your diet a serving of whole grains, such as brown rice, 6 days per week to get the most benefits from grains.
<  Manganese , provides antioxidant protection , helps in energy production, and lowers type 2       Diabetes Risk.
<  Those  eating fiber-rich food of whole grains gained less weight than  when eating refined             grains.
< Cholesterol is lowered by the oil in whole brown rice.
<  Nutrients in whole grain protect again heart disease.

Put Rice in your Menu

After the big discussion on brown rice, I have to admit I frequently use long grain rice.  Last week in my blog, I talked about the Creamy Rice Pudding that I had made to go with the Chicken Schnitzel and Roasted Mixed Vegetables.  I used white long grain rice.

The  Creamy Rice Pudding recipe I used is a favorite of the family.  I have adapted it from Chef Ron Lock‘s recipe.  I made changes in the milk I used, I used vanilla soy milk and evaporated milk and added the toasted sliced almonds.

 

Here are ideas for other rice recipes to try.

Oriental Vegetable and Rice Bowl   

 

 

 

 

 

Red Bell Peppers Stuffed with with Beans and Rice

Chicken & Mushrooms in Herb Sauce served over Rice

 

 

 

 

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