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Black Rice: How to cook the new antioxidant super food

By editors |

Have you heard the news? Researchers have discovered a great new source of antioxidants: black rice. Packing more cancer-fighting goodness than even blueberries, black rice might just be the newest super food.

If you’ve never had it before, black rice is a gorgeous, glistening, typically dark purple cousin to “conventional” rice, typically used in Asian desserts. But you can also use it as the base grain for Chinese, Southeast Asian, and even Mexican or Indian food.

A word of warning, though: you don’t want to make a pot of just black rice. Instead, mix it with brown rice for Mexican or Indian dishes, one part black for every 4 parts brown and cook normally (the end result will still be black-colored). For Asian dishes, mix one part black with 6 parts white rice, and cook a bit longer than you would with just white rice (end result will be purple to black, depending).

Use it as the base grain for Chinese (like this hoisin-glazed salmon), Southeast Asian (Thai slow-cooker chicken), and even Mexican (chili con carne) or Indian food (curried chick peas with spinach).

So get yourself a bag of black rice and have a go. Once you go black, you might never go back.

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0 thoughts on “Black Rice: How to cook the new antioxidant super food

  1. Di Willard says:

    Why would you not want to make it by itelf if only using as a side dish?

  2. Ekekela says:

    Would it be ok to soak the black rice overnite and than mixing it with the white rice? The cooking time might be less,if soaking is advised.Do you have to wash the black rice as you would do with the white rice?

  3. Lisa says:

    I love black rice and find it is better if you cook it in the oven rather than on top of the stove. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over 1 cup black rice, add 1 tsp salt and any other seasonings. Cover and bake in a 350 oven for about 30 minutes. It should be a little watery when you take it out, but the liquid eventually absorbs and leaves perfectly cooked fluffy rice every time. Enjoy!

  4. Gabi says:

    yes!! cooking in an oven is MUCH easier especially if you use a covered baking dish. You wash the black rice as you would any rice, cover with water until half an inch covers the rice – you can add salted water or broth – cover and bake at 350 for 45 min. Rest about 15-20 min before serving and incorporate into meals as sides, mix with colorful veggies like corn and red pepper or let cool and mix with cranberries, almond slices and scallions with a dash of soy-sauce for a cold rice salad!

  5. Joe says:

    I say make it by itself…no mixing of white rice needed.

    3:1 ratio…3 cups water, 1 cup black rice, bring water to boil, simmer for 20 min, strain the excess water, enjoy. I’ve heard, haven’t tried…that the excess water is great for soups :)

  6. Tina says:

    I’ve seen all the different recipies, but what does it taste like?

  7. Gerelene says:

    I love black rice-rather difficult to find in this part of the US. Black rice has a bit of a nutty taste. I live in the eastern part of NC and if anyone knows where I might be able to find black rice in this area I would love to heard where. I bought what I have in Greenville, SC

  8. Wanda says:

    can Black rice be cooked in microwave? I usually cook white rice that way

  9. Mary Yamabe says:

    I just discovered black rice at a new Korean restaurant and it is delicious! I am able to buy it at a Korean grocery store and understand it is a common dish used by Koreans. I have not seen it elsewhere here in Los Angeles. I cook it in a rice cooker without mixing it with another type of rice and it always comes out great even when I vary the water. I make more than enough for one meal and keep the leftover in the refrigerator to reheat in the microwave. My husband loves it and we eat it regularly. I am glad to find that it is also very nutritious in addition to being so tasty.

  10. Lynne says:

    Who would want to destroy the nutrition by putting it in a microwave? I love it with no white rice which has very little if any nutrition. I especially love it with coconut milk.

  11. susie says:

    I found it at Whole Foods. It came highly recommended Roby Mitchell, M.D., and Ph.D. He practices Nutritional and Preventive Medicine. Also known as Dr Fitt.

  12. Galaxy says:

    when I wash black rice, black color stain keeps coming out…when do we stop washing? I could keep washing and never see the color stop coming off

  13. Carol says:

    I love to make Korean “red” rice. Mix 1 cup of black rice, 1 cup of quinoa, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup mixed beans (uncooked). I usually use adzuki, white or navy beans, black beans, etc. Rinse all ingredients with water. Place in rice cooker and add 1 cup of water for each cup of ingredients plus an additional cup for each cup of quinoa and brown rice. Let everything soak for 3-4 hours. Click the on button and you’ll have wonderfully delicious and fluffy “red” rice and beans. I usually make a lot and freeze for future meals.

  14. Biiftuu says:

    I was amazed , I was just eating black rice, when I just went on the web and searched for it, thinking what is the content? It is just has a nice taste that is why I wanted to find out more and discovered your discussion . Ye Black rice is tastey and nutritional as well. I cook it in rice cooker and without mixing with other ricie:), I like brown rice as well but I will try red rice.
    Eat with any of my favourite curry, vegies

  15. Greeksc says:

    This was the worst stuff I have ever tried to eat. Nutty? Try industrial cleaner taste and aftertaste. It came from whole foods, followed the bag instructions and it was nasty. Had to salt it which is not healthy and it still tasted bad, reading these other comments, I am wondering if anyone actually still has their taste buds. There has to be some way to fix this rice so that it isnt so gross.

  16. desai says:

    today i brought black rice ie burma rice i want to know more about its medicinal benifits can it control blood sugar levels . and how often one should consume in a day and what quantity any suggessions please

  17. Melanie E. says:

    GreekSC, I don’t know what kind of black rice you bought, but I just got some today from Hinode and it was *delicious*! I wish it weren’t so expensive, I think I’d switch to it entirely if I could.

    And a little salt is not bad for you. Yes, most rice is going to need to be salted for the American palate.

  18. Donna Lusher says:

    I just bought 4 lbs of black rice at Costco for about $ 6.00 . It makes great fried rice. also it looks great on the plate.

  19. DONNA lusher says:

    PS the brand is Natures Earthly Choice .

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