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Jasmine rice is the most famous side dish in Vietnam. You can serve it with meat and fish dishes. No wonder that Jasmine rice has such a beautiful name. And in fact, the almost flawless snow-white grains of this rice is very similar to jasmine flowers. This fragrant product belongs to the category of white long-grain varieties of rice, which is grown mainly in Thailand.
History of appearance
The history of Jasmine rice began a hundred years agо. Thai farmers engaged in the cultivation of this rice. After the Second World War, Jasmine rice appeared on the market. This happened in 1959 when the Green Revolution began for rice.
Jasmine rice grows only in Thailand, it is a local variety. It appeared on the sandy soils of the eastern part of the country – Chachoengsao. Unlike the Indian varieties bred then by the International Rice Research Institute in India (IRRI), Jasmine rice turned out to be more drought-resistant. This allowed it to be cultivated even by poor farms that do not have funds for chemical additives and additional irrigation.
Jasmine rice is high-quality rice that is appreciated in Thailand and beyond. Its exports are growing, which gives farmers confidence in the future and an incentive to maintain the high quality of the product. All Thai Jasmine rice is produced by 5 million farmers in the northeast of Thailand. The monthly income of these farmers does not exceed $ 200, and earnings depend on the harvest of Jasmine rice.
At the end of the 90s in Thailand, they tried to expand the area of growth of Jasmine rice. However, these attempts were unsuccessful – the harvest was higher, but the quality of rice deteriorated significantly. Moreover, the new varieties could not resist the voracious cicadas.
Since rice exports are significant for the Thai economy, the government decided to grow and sell Basmati rice, but its yields were low, and the quality was never as good as Jasmine rice. In 1994, the government tried to grow and export Japanese rice, but its quality was also lower.
Jasmine rice – what is it?
Jasmine rice is a fragrant rice that grows only in Thailand, but it is known and loved all over the world. The aroma of Jasmine resembles the fragrance of a white jasmine flower, which is why the Thais called this rice Khao Dawk Mali (“White Jasmine Flower”).
In Thailand, this is the main product: you can prepare it with hot spices and serve as a side dish to fish, seafood, meat, and vegetables. You also can prepare it as a separate dish with oyster or fish sauce. Desserts made of Jasmine with coconut milk are also popular.
Residents have long used jasmine rice to prepare a lot of dishes. This unique cereal with an indescribable milky taste and aroma of jasmine flowers can turn everything into a real gastronomic masterpiece.
Health benefits
Jasmine rice has a positive effect on health and is a valuable component of diets for weight loss. Jasmine rice is considered one of the most versatile cereals. The exact amount of nutrients contained in it may differ, but each of them is considered a rich source of carbohydrates and fiber. Eating a portion of jasmine rice after training eliminates digestive problems, and, in addition, replenishes the level of all necessary vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and fats – especially with the addition of fruits and milk.
Fiber, in addition, prolongs the feeling of satiety and has a slightly dehydrating effect. It also contains protein, saturated fats, and valuable elements, including magnesium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, iron, as well as many vitamins of group E, which positively affect the functioning of the nervous system. The human body easily assimilates rice.
The great advantage is that it does not contain gluten, so people with celiac disease can eat it. In addition, jasmine rice has a beneficial effect on the digestive processes, reduces cholesterol in the blood, and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.
Possible harm
Unfortunately, careful processing of grains leads to the fact that many beneficial substances lose their natural properties. That is why the use of ground rice is significantly less. You can store unbroken rice for several years, then it begins to lose its qualities. The most useful is brown rice, the composition of which is the richest in vitamins and minerals, compared with other varieties, even after processing. Possible contraindications:
- a tendency to constipation
- exacerbation of pancreatitis
- individual intolerance to the product
- children under three years of age
- pregnancy
Jasmine rice grown in an ecologically clean area has a small list of contraindications. It is necessary to consult a specialist in the case of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the endocrine system.
Is jasmine rice vegan?
Jasmine rice is a good alternative for vegans. In a diet for weight loss, for athletes, or gluten-free, you can use jasmine rice not only in its natural form. You can make flour from it, which will successfully replace the traditional ones, but gluten-free. You can prepare many vegan dishes using jasmine rice.
You can also prepare vegan milk from rice (although mainly from brown varieties), which does not contain cholesterol and lactose, but at the same time has a lower content of protein and phosphorus. It contains more carbohydrates and often contains additional vitamins and minerals.
What is the healthiest rice?
Each species has benefits for the body thanks to the richness of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Brown rice is considered the most useful. Nutritionists appreciate all dark sorts of rice. In the second place – steamed rice. And polished is valued little. There are practically no beneficial substances in the refined grains.
How is jasmine rice made?
To properly prepare jasmine rice, you need to add a minimum amount of water. In this case, the rice should be steamed, and not cooked. Thai cooks tie washed rice in muslin knots and hang them in a steamer.
Jasmine rice sticks together less than regular long-grain rice, and if it is properly cooked, it will be soft, holding its shape well. If you just cook rice in water, cooks recommend putting rice and water on the fire at the same time, in the ratio of 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water (unlike ordinary rice, for one tablespoon of which they take two tablespoons of water).
After boiling the water, cover the pan with a lid, reduce the temperature and cook until the rice is ready. If the rice was pre-soaked, then the cooking time is 10 minutes, and if not, up to 20. After preparing rice, you need to remove the pan from the heat, gently beat the rice with a fork, close the lid and let it stand for 5 minutes.
How to cook jasmine rice
- Wash 1 cup of jasmine rice in cool water. Continue rinsing until the water becomes clear. Drain the jasmine rice in a colander or sieve.
- Pour 2 cups of water into a large, deep saucepan. Add the jasmine rice and 1 teaspoon of salt. Turn the burner on high and bring the rice mixture to a full boil.
- Cover the pot with a lid. Reduce the heat to low, then let the rice simmer for about 10-12 minutes, or until the water is absorbed and the rice becomes soft.
- Remove the pan from the stove and stir the jasmine rice with a fork or spatula. Put the lid back in place and let the rice stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
How to serve jasmine rice
Cooked jasmine rice is considered an excellent ingredient in a variety of salads. You can use it as a hearty and nutritious side dish for fish, served together with Chinese marinades, soy sauce.
You can serve Jasmine rice in a portion order or a deep serving dish. Boiled cereals are best used as an independent dietary food or served with a meat/fish dish.
This rice is perfectly combined with vegetables and fruits, a variety of sweet, sweet and sour, spicy sauces. You can imagine boiled cereals as a nutritious side dish for meat or fish, use them as a hearty and high-calorie, completely independent dish, decorating the food with fresh green leaves.
How to cook jasmine rice with butter
The recipe for jasmine rice with butter is common. It is simple and does not require much time. To prepare this dish, you will need the following ingredients:
- ½ cup of jasmine rice
- 4 heads of garlic
- 1 tsp fresh green onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 tsp butter
- 1 can of chicken broth
- 1 cup of water
Instructions for cooking:
- Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cover the pan with a tightly closed lid and reduce the heat to a minimum.
- Simmer for 20 minutes. Do not remove the cover.
- Remove the rice from the heat. Beat the rice with a fork, let it stand for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
How to cook jasmine rice with oil
Olive oil helps the rice not to stick together. How to cook:
- Peel and cut into small cubes carrots, peppers and onions.
- In a preheated deep frying pan, pour olive oil and fry the chopped vegetables for about five minutes.
- Add green peas to the vegetables and fry for about 5 minutes more. Now we put the selected spices: salt, pepper, coriander, paprika, a mixture of dried herbs, and a pinch of saffron.
- Pour the rice on top in an even layer over the entire area of the vegetables.
- Without stirring, pour boiling water over the whole mixture – it is better to pour it out of the kettle at once.
- When the rice boils, reduce the heat and close the lid. The water in the pan should boil a little.
- Keep under the lid for about 20 minutes. When there is almost no water left, we gently shovel the rice from the walls into the center with a spatula to make a slide.
- Let the rice steam for another 10 minutes. So that the rice does not stick together and does not stick to the pan, stir it and put it back into the slide.
How to make jasmine rice not sticky
If the rice is too sticky and stuck together, you have digested it. After you have discarded the rice and drained the excess liquid, rinse it under a stream of cold water directly in a colander. Gently peel the rice grains with your fingers. To prevent the rice from sticking together during cooking, follow the following rules:
- Measure the amount of water accurately.
- Fill the rice only with hot water.
- Before cooking, rinse it under running water several times until the water becomes completely transparent.
- Do not add seasonings to the water with rice.
How to cook fragrant rice
Jasmine rice itself has a unique aroma. However, there are ways to make it even spicier. The best option is to fry jasmine rice with saffron.
- Fry and caramelize the onion.
- Chop the saffron.
- Boil the rice.
- Fry the boiled rice with caramelized onion and chopped saffron for 5-10 minutes.
The dish will turn out fragrant and will serve as a good side dish to any meat dish.
What is the ratio of water to jasmine rice?
If you cook rice in a rice cooker, and not on the stove, very little water is lost during the cooking process. That’s why for jasmine rice, the ratio of water to rice is 1: 1. So, for 1 cup of rice, use 1 cup of water, and similarly, for 3 cups of rice, you will use 2 cups of water. Just remember that you should use the same cup to measure rice and water. Do not use different cups, as the sizes will be different.
Summing Up
Jasmine rice is a type of white rice. Like all white rice, it is heavily processed, which leads to the loss of fiber and many nutrients. However, whole-grain varieties of jasmine rice, whose color varies from brown and red to black, a healthier option than white rice. They contain more fiber, nutrients, and plant compounds.
Despite all the usefulness, cereals can also hurt human health. Nutritionists do not recommend getting carried away with jasmine rice during the weight-loss period because of its high-calorie content. In addition, the product can cause constipation if consumed excessively.