Cooked wild rice
When you want a break from boring old white rice, there are many options to choose from. Never fear, you'll be experimenting with new varieties of rice in no time.
Instructions
1. Did you know that wild rice isn't a rice at all? It's actually the seed of a long-grain marsh grass that grows wild in the northern Great Lakes region of the United States and is cultivated in Canada. It's called "wild rice" because the European explorers who first saw it growing in the shallow water there thought it resembled rice paddies. Brown rice, sometimes called "whole grain rice", is rice in its natural state. In order to make "white" rice, the bran (the brownish outer covering of the rice that contains most of the nutrients) is removed and the rice is polished. That bran makes brown rice chewier, more rich in fiber and more nutritious.
2. So how do these two varieties compare as far as taste goes? Well, many people think that brown rice tastes lightly nutty. It has a firm, chewy texture, is available in many of the varieties (jasmine, basmati) that you may recognize from white rice, and works well in most dishes that call for white rice. Like brown rice, wild rice is chewy, nutty and full of flavor. Some people even say they detect a bit of a smoky taste. Wild rice lends itself well to rich and hearty dishes, like mushrooms, wild game and even poultry.
3. Know the nutrition facts. Each 1/4 cup of uncooked brown rice contains 171 calories, 3.6 grams of protein, 1.3 grams of fat, 35 grams of carbohydrates, and 1.6 grams of fiber. Each 1/4 cup of uncooked wild rice contains 142 calories, 5.8 grams of protein, .4 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 2.4 grams of fiber. From a nutrition standpoint, it looks like wild rice is the clear winner.
4. Unfortunately, wild rice can be considerably more expensive than brown rice. However, don't discount the "growth factor." Wild rice's long glossy seeds tend to triple or even quadruple in volume once they've been cooked.
5. It's difficult to choose between wild rice and brown rice--both varieties have such great qualities. Why not experiment with blending the two to make your own signature rice pilaf?
Tags: brown rice, white rice, wild rice, wild rice, calories grams