All round the world, rice is a very well-known staple in the kitchen, is easy to include in any occasion due to its adaptability and is a good fulfilling meal considering its optimal levels of carbohydrates that make it a fueling source.
Adding rice to your recipes makes for a well-balanced diet and with all the delicious ways you can prepare it, it’s also fitting for every age and appetite, becoming a comfort food for many people.
Due to its versatile nature and great popularity, every country has its own formula for cooking this dish, whether it is fried or steamed, alone or complemented with a source of protein, veggies, rice is a universal food.
So continue reading to discover a great and complete alternative to try next time you want to impress your family or guests (or just for your own indulgence).
A special way to cook rice
In Asian cuisine – particularly in Thailand – rice is a big part of their culture and tradition.
Being that cereal is a major portion of the agriculture in the country, you could say they definitely know a thing or two about how to cook fantastic rice-based dishes!
The variations go from Jasmine Rice, Sticky rice, Brown rice and more Colored rice, therefore possibilities are endless.
There isn’t really a written in stone method of cooking Thai rice, since it’s usually based on the region where it’s prepared and the elements that go with the rice that determine the taste: Sweet for desserts or salty for lunch.
Normally though, ingredients can swing from chicken to pork, shrimp or more distinctive and maybe unexpected flavors, like mango!
If you are more used to cooking the traditional way but wish to take it up a notch, allow me show you an easy Thai Fried Rice recipe and you can be the judge of this exquisite delicacy.
Here is what you’ll need:
- 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil.
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped.
- ½ diced onion.
- 3 green onions (cut the white and green part, we will use both).
- 5 oz (150 g) chicken breast thinly sliced.
- 2 eggs lightly beaten.
- 3 cups of cooked jasmine rice (preferably overnight rice, I’ll tell you why in a minute). Jasmine rice is authentic for Thai Fried Rice, so be sure to have it for the full experience, but long grain rice would be ok too.
- 1 ½ tbsp. soy sauce (although some consider this sauce not to be inherent to Thailand’s fried rice, it’s actually used a lot!) You can also try 1 ½ tbsp. of Thai seasoning.
Thai Fried Rice preparation:
- On a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium high heat.
- Add the garlic and onion and stir fry for 30 seconds.
- Add the slices of chicken breast and the white part of the green onion. Stir fry for 1 minute.
- Push the ingredients to the side and pour the eggs on the space left, scramble them to your liking.
- Now you add the rice with the sauce and stir fry for about 2 minutes while adding the green part of the onions, continue until the rice is fully coated with the sauce. Using cooked and cold rice will help spread out the grains while stirring, otherwise they will get mushy.
- Add tomato or cucumber on the side, once finished cooking, you must serve immediately.
This dish is ought to keep you full and satisfied, it has a good portion of protein and a decent amount of carbohydrates.
However, please keep in mind everything in excess is not always ok, so please consider your portions carefully to enjoy comforting foods without any guilt.
There is really no set recipe for Thai Rice
After making the first Thai Rice recipe, you may not want to try normal rice again, so what’s next?
Now it’s time to get creative. I highly suggest trying this exotic Thai shrimp and rice recipe.
This will change up your menu and you’ll surely understand how much a “simple dish” to some, can turn into a staple in your household.
If you are ever hesitating on what to have for lunch one day, just open your fridge: Eggs? Check. Leftover chopped vegetables? Check. Protein or meat? Check. Rice? Definitely check.
There you go, you have the basics for a tasty, winner meal.