Rice comes in many shapes and colors. Some better known than others, but they all share some characteristics, such as its adaptability. Jasmine rice is just one more type of white rice coming from Southeast Asia, especially typical in Thailand and Thai gastronomy.
The
main characteristics of this specific type of rice is its aroma. When you cook
Jasmine rice, it releases a soft and subtle perfume so, even though you can use it for all
kinds of dishes, it is perfect for desserts. If you’ve never tried it, this is
your sign to get a package and start experimenting with this aromatic rice: https://mahatmarice.com/products/jasmine-white-rice/
Characteristics
and benefits of Jasmine rice
In
general, rice is not particularly high in calories, but Jasmine rice is one of the best types
when it comes to healthier options as a portion is less than two hundred
calories. It is gluten free and it is a fitting alternative for vegetarian and
vegan people.
Considering
the recipes, Jasmine rice brings together the overall flavor of the dish thanks to the aroma.
Even
though this type of rice is perfect for desserts, it is also a good option when
cooking broth-based meals. Jasmine rice cooked in vegetable or chicken broth
will heighten the experience of this soft and fluffy variety.
Basmati
rice is also an aromatic type of rice. However, they are not exactly the same.
For example, compared to Jasmine rice, Basmati rice is longer grain and, once
cooked, it stays more separate than the other type.
A
second difference resides in how long it takes to cook each type. Jasmine rice
takes a shorter time to cook than Basmati, but they are equally fluffy and they have a sticky texture.
Concerning
the aroma, while Basmati rice has more of a floral fragrance, Jasmine rice has
a buttery fragrance, which makes it the perfect match for a fruit.
A
common mistake when cooking this type of rice is soaking it and rinsing it
first. But this is not recommended as Jasmine rice is naturally
soft.
Unless you buy it from a rice farm, rinsing is not necessary. If your recipe
requires rinsing the rice first, beware the water you use to cook it.
Another
frequent question has to do with how much water is needed to cook Jasmine rice.
In this case, the water to rice ratio is also different to most kinds of rice.
To cook it, you can use a cup and a quarter of water for every cup of rice.
Some even recommend a one to one proportion, that is, one cup of water for
every cup of rice. Feel free to try booth methods out and choose whichever fits
most your own taste and the recipes you make.
Note
that the less water you use, the less water the rice will have to absorb. The
more water you use, never more than what mentioned above, the softer it will
be.
One
last point to make about this, Jasmine rice is also suitable for instant pots and microwave cooking.
Suitable
recipes for Jasmine rice
If
you go through any Thai food cookbook, you’ll find many fitting recipes for
Jasmine rice. In most of them, you will also see that however aromatic this
rice is, there are ways to further exalt the aroma and the taste. We’ve mentioned the broth already. But,
because of its buttery aroma, another way is adding butter to the water in
which you’re cooking it. You can also add the classic olive oil too, the mix of
flavors is nothing but excellent!
Here
you’ll find the way through a classic Thai vegan recipe.
●
1
cup of Jasmine rice.
●
1
¼ cup of water.
●
1
onion.
●
2
cloves of garlic.
●
1
tomato.
●
Cabbage.
●
Tofu.
●
2
tbsp of soy sauce.
●
1
tbsp of sugar.
●
2
tbsp of lime juice.
●
1
cucumber.
1.
Follow
the instructions in this article to cook your Jasmine rice first. Remember this
type of rice takes shorter to cook so let it over the stove for ten to fifteen
minutes.
2.
In
the meantime, peel the onion and halve it. Cut it into slim slices and set
aside.
3.
Take
the cabbage and shred it all down. Set aside together with the onion.
4.
Now
take the tomato and chop it down too, cut them in whatever shape you like.
5.
Mince
two cloves of garlic (or just one if you’re not that much into it!)
6.
In
a medium-size pan, pour some extra virgin olive oil and heat it up. Add the
onion and saute it until it is translucent and soft. Keep the heat to medium.
7.
Add
the garlic and mix. Add the chopped and sliced vegetables and saute everything
together.
8.
In
that same pan, move the vegetables aside and add the tofu to the other half of
the pan. Previously, add some more olive oil. Shred the tofu down and salt it.
9.
Cook
everything until the tofu is browned and mix everything together.
10.
Add
the previously cooked Jasmine rice and pour the soy sauce and the sugar.
11.
You
can also add some lime juice and mix everything together. Cook for an extra
five minutes and turn the heat off.
12.
Serve
and top the mix with any garnishment you like.
13.
Place
some sliced cucumbers on the side and enjoy your vegan meal!
