Cooking parboiled rice is easy and is not that different from preparing traditional rice. Boil 2 parts of water with a pinch of salt, add 1 part of rice, then cover the pot and reduce the heat. Some classic rice varieties need to simmer for 45 minutes, while the parboiled rice has been pre-cooked, so it will be ready after just 20-25 minutes. Parboiled rice can also be cooked in the microwave or rice cooker. The term “parboiled” indicates a specific processing method for rice and can refer to different varieties of this cereal. You can prepare parboiled rice yourself at home by boiling it for a limited time, until it is "al dente", and then cooking it in a soup or risotto.
Ingrediants
- 250 g of parboiled rice
- 500 ml of water
- 1 pinch of salt (optional)
Yield: 4 servings
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Cook Parboiled Rice in a Pot
Step 1. Soak it in water for 30 minutes to reduce cooking time and enhance the flavor of the rice
If you have time to do this, submerge the rice in hot water and let it soak for 20-30 minutes, then drain it with the help of a fine mesh strainer.
Soaking is optional, but it can reduce cooking time by about 20%. The shorter the cooking time, the tastier the rice will be
Step 2. Pour the water into the pot, add a pinch of salt and turn on the stove
Use a 2: 1 ratio of water to rice, which is 2 parts of water for each part of rice. For example, if you want to cook 250g of rice, use 500ml of water. After pouring the water into the pot, add a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil over high heat.
If you are cooking for 4 people, use 250 g of rice and half a liter of water. Divide the doses in half if the guests are only 2 or multiply them by 2 if the guests are 8. The important thing is to respect the ratio of 2: 1 between water and rice
Step 3. Add the parboiled rice
When the water is boiling, pour the rice into the pot and stir it to separate the grains.
If you soaked it before cooking, remember to drain it using a fine mesh strainer before pouring it into the boiling water. Add it to the pot a little at a time to avoid burning yourself with hot splashes. The rice will have absorbed some of the soaking water, so it will have become a little heavier
Step 4. Cover the pot and cook the rice for 15-25 minutes
Stir, adjust the heat to medium-low and put the lid on the pot. If you skipped the soaking step, the rice will cook in 20-25 minutes; if you have left it to soak in hot water, it will be ready after 15-20 minutes.
Parboiled rice is pre-cooked, so it has a shorter cooking time than traditional rice
Step 5. Parboiled rice of the Basmati variety requires a longer cooking time
Stir, reduce the heat and cover the pot. Compared to traditional white rice, basmati rice requires about 40-45 minutes of cooking.
- If you have soaked the basmati rice before cooking it, check if it is ready after 35 minutes.
- If you can't identify the variety of rice, cook it for the time indicated on the package.
Step 6. Turn off the heat, then stir the rice with the fork to separate the grains
When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 5 minutes. Then remove the lid from the pot and mix the rice gently using a fork, then serve immediately.
Method 2 of 4: Microwave Parboiled Rice
Step 1. Pour the water, salt and rice into a microwave-safe pot
You will need to cover the rice, so choose a pot with a lid. Follow a proportion of 2 parts of water to each part of rice and add a pinch of salt. Stir to distribute the rice and salt in the water.
- The rice will gradually increase in volume as it cooks, so make sure the water and uncooked rice don't take up more than half the pot.
- Use 250g of rice and 500ml of water to serve 4 diners. Respect the ratio of 2: 1 between water and rice if you need to increase or reduce the doses.
- Before starting, you can soak the rice in hot water for 15 minutes to further reduce the cooking time.
Step 2. Cook the rice in the uncovered pot for 5 minutes
Set the microwave to full power and let the rice cook for 5 minutes. If the water is still not boiling when the timer rings, turn the oven back on at full power for another 2-5 minutes.
Leave the pot uncovered for now, you will cover the rice later
Step 3. Cover the pot and cook the rice on medium power for 15 minutes
When the water is boiling, cover the pot and set the microwave to medium power. Cook the rice for 15 minutes, then check if it's ready.
Parboiled white rice will cook in about 15 minutes, while Basmati rice generally needs about 5-10 minutes more cooking
Step 4. Let the rice cook for another 5 minutes if needed
After 15 minutes check if the rice has absorbed all the water and taste it to evaluate its consistency. If it's not ready yet, let it cook for another 5 minutes on medium power.
- Cook and check the rice at 5 minute intervals until ready.
- If the consistency of the grain is right, but there is still water in the pot, drain the rice.
Step 5. Stir the rice gently to separate the grains and then serve
When cooked, stir it gently with a fork. Bring the pot to the table or transfer the rice to a serving dish.
Method 3 of 4: Cook the Parboiled Rice in the Rice Cooker
Step 1. Read the instruction manual of the pot
The basic directions are the same for most models, but some details may be different, so it is best to read the instruction manual carefully to know the proportions and recommended cooking times.
Check the instructions to find out if it is advisable to soak the rice before cooking. In this case, the cooking instructions may vary. In general, almost all manufacturers recommend soaking brown rice. You can follow the same directions for basmati rice as well
Step 2. Pour 2 parts of water, 1 part of parboiled rice and a pinch of salt into the rice cooker
Add the water, salt, and rice, then mix the ingredients.
- Using 250 g of rice and half a liter of water you will get 4 servings of rice. Duplicate the quantities if there are 8 diners or half if there are only 2. What matters is to respect the ratio of 2: 1 between water and parboiled rice.
- If the instruction manual lists different quantities, follow these guidelines.
Step 3. Turn on the rice cooker
Some models allow you to set the variety of rice: in this case, choose the “white rice” option. The pot will switch itself off automatically when the cooking time has elapsed, which is generally 15-20 minutes for white rice.
If your rice cooker does not include the basmati variety, select the brown rice option. In this case the cooking time will be about 30 minutes. Several manufacturers recommend soaking brown rice before cooking. You can also adopt the same guidelines for basmati rice
Step 4. Once cooked, let the rice sit in the pot for 10-15 minutes
Do not lift the lid and let the rice rest inside the rice cooker after it has turned off on its own. This quarter of an hour of rest serves to prevent the grains from becoming mushy or sticking together.
You can cook the rice in advance if the rice cooker has the "warm" function that allows you to keep it warm until mealtime
Step 5. Stir the rice to separate the grains and then serve it
Stir it gently with a fork to release the steam, then bring the pot to the table or transfer it to a serving dish.
Method 4 of 4: Making Parboiled Rice At Home
Step 1. Boil 2 parts of water and a pinch of salt
Use a proportion of 2 parts of water for each part of rice. Pour the water into a saucepan, add a pinch of salt and then bring it to a boil over high heat.
If you are cooking for 4 people, use 250 g of rice and half a liter of water. Increase or reduce the quantities if the number of diners is higher or lower, respecting the ratio of 2: 1 between water and rice
Step 2. Add white or brown rice when the water is boiling
Stir to evenly distribute the beans, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with the lid.
Step 3. Cook the white rice for 5-10 minutes
Lower the heat and let the rice simmer until it is al dente.
White parboiled rice is widely used in the cuisines of various traditions, for example in Middle Eastern countries and Nigeria
Step 4. Cook the brown rice for 20 minutes
The brown rice will be "al dente" after about 20 minutes. It can be useful to cook it partially before adding it to a soup or if you intend to use it instead of arborio rice to make a risotto.
Step 5. Remove the pot from the heat and drain the rice
Once you have reached the "al dente" degree of cooking, turn off the stove. The rice will most likely not have absorbed all the water, so you will need to drain it using a fine mesh strainer. Leave it in the colander instead of returning it to the pot after draining it.
Step 6. Stop the rice from cooking with cold water
After draining it, dip the rice (still in the colander) into a bowl full of ice water. The change in temperature will prevent the beans from becoming mushy during the second cooking phase.
Step 7. Use the parboiled rice however you like
Add it to the other ingredients as indicated in the recipe or about 15 minutes before the end of cooking. For example, if the soup is to simmer for 25 minutes, add the rice after the first 10 minutes of cooking and then let the flavors and textures blend.
