5 simple ways to add flavour to your rice this Christmas

They must find new methods to manipulate the ingredients that will stimulate and surprise their guests.

How do you turn unadorned and plain rice into something beautiful and sumptuous? Are you struggling to cook rice? Follow these easy steps before we soak the rice in flavours.

Step 1

Rinse long grain rice or local rice under running water until the water runs clear. This step will stop the rice from becoming overly sticky.

Step 2

Add a dash of oil (olive oil or vegetable oil) to a saucepan and gently heat. Add the rice and a large pinch of salt, and continue stir to coat the grains. Stir the rice over a medium heat until it becomes opaque and fragrant.

Step 3

Pour the water in at a steady pace and do not stir it after adding the liquid. Bring to a gentle boil, then turn the heat to low and cover the saucepan.

Step 4

Check the rice after about 15 minutes. When the water has all evaporated and small holes appear on the surface it's finished cooking. Fluff up the rice with a fork and serve immediately.

How to favour your rice

Add spices

There are many spices on the market that you can use to flavour your rice this Christmas. The good news is that these spices are good for your health and can you fit into shape.

You can also mix these spices for best results.

Saffron

Cinnamon

Bay leaves

Ginger

Cloves

Nutmeg

Add coconut

Coconut is a versatile food that can give you that sumptuous taste you have been craving this Christmas. You can either opt for shredded or desiccated coconut for a little bite or substitute part of the liquid for coconut milk.

Here are our best coconut recipes for this yuletide.

Read: How to prepare coconut cabbage stew

Add onion or garlic powder

For a little depth, and a warming flavour that pairs well with meat, try adding a ¼ teaspoon onion or garlic powder to the pot. Simply add the powder with the salt in step 2.

Read: How to prepare chicken curry at home

Add herbs

The best thing about cooking with herbs is that you can choose to either add them to a precooked pot of rice to maintain their colour and delicate flavour, or add them to the pot along with the liquid.

Try these popular herbs for your Christmas dinner.

Coriander roots and stem

Thyme

Sage

Rosemary

Mint

Read :Pulse Food

Add stock

One of the simplest ways to flavour rice is to add liquid or powdered stock to the pot. If you opt for powdered stock, add it in place of the salt in step 2.

If you choose liquid stock, add it in place of the water in step 3. If you would prefer a lighter flavour, try adding half stock and half water.

Read: How to make fried rice with leftover food