Real Brazilian rice requires the grains to be browned at some point in preparation. The traditional one is flavored with onion and garlic, but other common variations include ingredients such as coconut milk, brown sugar, and broccoli.
Ingrediants
Traditional recipe
For 4 people
- 300 g of rice raw long grain
- 1 small onion, chopped or chopped
- 1 or 2 two cloves of minced garlic
- 22 ml of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 500 ml of boiling water
Coconut
For 4 people
- 300 g of rice raw long or short grain
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 500 ml of coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- A pinch of salt
With Broccoli
For 4 people
- 800 g of white rice cooked long grain
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 medium-sized head of broccoli, cut into pieces
- A pinch of salt
Steps
Before starting
Step 1. Put the rice in a fine mesh colander
Gently shake the colander so that all the rice is well distributed.
- The holes in the colander must be very small. For this reason it is better to use a tool with wire mesh because plastic ones usually have larger holes.
- Do not use cheesecloth as the grains of rice tend to stick to the fabric.
- Remember that this step must be carried out only for those recipes that include uncooked rice. If you use the cooked one, you don't have to wash it beforehand.
Step 2. Rinse the rice thoroughly
Wash it under running water until the one that comes out of the colander becomes transparent again.
- It is essential to wait for a transparent rinse water, only at that point the rice is considered clean.
- Gently swirl the rice in the colander or use your hands to move it while washing. This allows you to clean it completely and quickly.
Step 3. Wait for the rice to dry
Put the colander down and let all the excess water run off. Wait until the rice is dry before cooking it.
- Do not dry it with kitchen paper or a dish towel.
- The rice must be perfectly dry before adding it to the pan.
Method 1 of 3: Method One: Traditional Recipe
Step 1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan
Put it on the stove over medium heat.
Wait for the oil to heat up for 30-60 seconds before proceeding. It should be shiny and should slide smoothly along the bottom of the pot when you tilt it. Don't let it smoke, though
Step 2. Add the onion
Stir it into the hot oil and toss it alone, stirring often. It will take a minute.
The onion must begin to release its aroma and become translucent without caramelizing
Step 3. Add the garlic
Add it to the onion and cook them together, stirring often until the garlic is golden.
- It will take 2-3 minutes. The mixture should become fragrant and lightly toasted but not brown.
- Cook the onion and garlic carefully. If they start to burn, the bitter taste will affect the whole dish making it less appetizing.
Step 4. Mix the rice and salt
Add both to the pan and mix well to even out the ingredients.
Basmati and jasmine rice are best suited, but any long grain variety is fine
Step 5. Wait for the rice to roast
Stir the contents of the pan until the rice begins to be well toasted.
At this stage you have to mix very well to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot
Step 6. Pour the boiling water into the pot
Mix well making sure all the rice is submerged.
- For best results, use water that you boiled in a saucepan, kettle, or microwave. Hot tap water is fine, but make sure it's as hot as possible.
- After adding the water, wait for the mixture to boil.
Step 7. Simmer until cooked
Cover the pan with its lid and turn the heat down. The rice must simmer for 20-25 minutes or until all the water is absorbed.
If the water evaporates before the rice is tender, you need to add more and continue cooking. Add only 60ml of water at a time to avoid making soup
Step 8. Serve the rice hot
The Brazilian rice is ready and you can enjoy it.
Method 2 of 3: Method Two: Coconut
Step 1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan
Put it on the stove over medium heat and wait until the butter is completely melted.
- To minimize the number of pots you are going to dirty, use a large, deep pan with a lid or a pot of the same size. If you start cooking with these types of tools, you will not have to change containers during the preparation.
- The butter should melt, but don't let it start smoking or burning.
Step 2. Toast the rice
Add it to the melted butter and cook for two minutes, stirring often.
- You need to stir almost continuously to prevent the rice grains from sticking to the bottom of the pan during this stage.
- When done, the beans should be partially roasted, however be careful they don't burn or roast at all.
- You can use any type of white rice for this recipe. Whole wheat is fine too, but the white one respects tradition better.
Step 3. Add the remaining ingredients
Add the coconut milk, brown sugar and salt. Mix well to even out everything.
- Make sure all the rice is coated in coconut milk.
- Wait for the liquid to boil before continuing.
- If the pan isn't deep enough, transfer the roasted rice to a larger pot and then add the other ingredients.
Step 4. Cover and simmer
Turn the heat down and put the lid on the pan. Wait until the liquid is completely absorbed, it will take 20-30 minutes.
- Once ready, the rice should be quite tender. If it isn't enough, add another 60ml of coconut milk (or water) to finish cooking.
- You need to stir frequently to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan during cooking.
Step 5. Serve it very hot
At this point, the coconut flavored Brazilian rice is ready to taste.
Method 3 of 3: Method Three: Broccoli
Step 1. Heat the oil
Pour it into a large saucepan and heat it over medium heat.
Wait 30 seconds or until the oil becomes shiny and fluid to coat the entire bottom of the pot
Step 2. Sauté the onion and garlic
Add both to the hot oil and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
- The garlic and onion must become soft and fragrant but must not become dark.
- Check them carefully as you cook them. If they start to burn, they will spoil the whole dish with their bitter taste.
Step 3. Add the broccoli
Put the chopped vegetables in the pan with garlic and onion. Mix everything together to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- For this preparation use only the flowers of the broccoli, do not add the stem.
- For best results, remember that broccoli must be finely chopped. This allows cooking times to be minimized.
Step 4. Cover and cook for 3 minutes
Let the vegetables "stew" for about 3 minutes.
- In practice it is an almost steamed cooking and in the humidity of the vegetables themselves. This technique is only effective if the broccoli is finely chopped.
- At the end the broccoli should be tender. If after three minutes they are still hard, put the lid back on the pan and wait a little longer.
Step 5. Add the rice
Pour the cooked, hot rice into the pan with the vegetables and mix well. Wait a couple of minutes to blend the flavors and make the colors more intense.
- Unlike other recipes, note that the rice has already been cooked before being stir-fried.
- You can use any type of long grain rice.
- For best results, use freshly cooked, still hot rice.
Step 6. Season with salt
Add a pinch to the pan and mix thoroughly.
Step 7. Serve the rice boiling
When everything is well blended, you can bring it to the table and enjoy it immediately.
