We've all been there, where you just wait and wait for that pot to cook up the perfect, fluffy rice, and then find out it has turned mushy and sticky inside. It is a common goof in the kitchen, especially in time pressure-juggling multiple tasks or when one is confused with some other variety of rice. Overcooking rice may seem like a culinary disaster, but the good news is, it's not the end of your meal. In fact, there are ample ways Indian cuisine can turn this kitchen mishap into a delectable delight. Whether that mushy rice is turned into a creamy dessert or a savoury snack, there is no need to trash it. Let's take a look at the ways to salvage overcooked rice and just let you know how to shape it into dishes any person will savour.
How to Fix Mushy Rice
Before we dive in with the delicious rice dishes you can make with overcooked rice, it is worth trying to salvage it if possible. If your rice is just a little overcooked, you might be able to restore its texture using one of the following methods:
Dry in the Oven
Spread the excess cooked rice on a baking sheet and reheat it in the oven at 180°C/350°F for about 5-7 minutes. This will help extract extra moisture from the rice, making it more presentable.
Stovetop Solution
If it's just a teensy bit too sticky, try straining the rice in a fine-mesh strainer and rinsing under cold water. Then, return it to the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, to evaporate excess water.
Bread Trick
If the rice is extra mushy, it's a good trick to place a piece of stale bread on top on low heat while cooking. The bread can absorb some excess moisture, thereby helping to restore rice texture.
3 Ways to Repurpose Overcooked Rice
If the rice is beyond repair, don't lose your heart! Here are three creative ways to make delicious Indian dishes using overcooked rice:
Kheer
Kheer, in Hindi, means rice pudding. Overcooked rice works excellent to prepare rice pudding. Since rice contains extra moisture upon excessive boiling, it incidentally gets mixed well with milk to produce a creamy base for preparing this dessert. To prepare kheer, overcooked rice should be mixed with milk, sugar, and cardamom, and kept on a slow simmer until it thickens and becomes aromatic. It is also garnished with chopped nuts and saffron to make it extravagant.
Chawal ke Pakode
Transform mushy rice into a delicious snack with chawal ke pakode. Overcooked rice is mixed with gram flour (besan), chopped onions, green chilies, coriander leaves, and spices like cumin and turmeric. Shape the mixture into small balls or patties and deep fry until golden brown. Crispy fritters are perfect for having with tea or as a party appetizer.
Tawa Pulao
If the rice is not over-mushy, make a tawa pulao, one of the street foods of Mumbai. Do the sautéing of onions, tomatoes, capsicum, and peas in butter or oil, add to it the overcooked rice, also a good quantity of pav bhaji masala. Toss everything on a hot tawa or pan until the rice absorbs the spice and becomes crispy. Serve hot, with a dash of lemon extract and a dollop of raita.
Burnt or overcooked rice is one of the most common kitchen mishaps. Well, little do we know, it definitely does not belong in the garbage. With a little creativity and some cunning tips, the rice can be either salvaged or utilised to create delicious Indian concoctions. These recipes turn what was supposed to be a catastrophic mess into a culinary jackpot-from creamy kheer to crispy rice fritters. The next time your rice goes awry, remember that a delectable solution is always waiting.