5 Quick and Easy Red Rice Recipes To Try
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Red rice is excellent on everybody’s table to complement the day’s meal as it has an earthy taste and an impressive nutrient composition. Red rice is rich in fibre, antioxidants, and vital minerals since it does not lose its bran or germ layers like white rice does. This old grain is liked by lots of groups and is easy to use in different meals, making it a yummy and healthy pick. Red rice has changed into a main food that can help make simple dishes better as more people take on a healthy way of͏ living. From these five dishes, it has been proved that this ancient grain has the capacity to be utilised for preparing palatable and healthy new generation mouth-watering meals for those food enthusiasts who really care for their health and explore new horizons of culinary experience.

Red Rice Pulao

Incorporate the nutty goodness of red rice into your typical pulao. This is a tasty one-pot dinner; red rice's health benefits are enhanced by the colourful vegetables and pleasant aromas of the spices. To begin, sauté all spices, such as bay leaves, cinnamon, and cardamom, in ghee until aromatic. Cook till golden after adding the ginger-garlic paste and finely chopped onions. Add the pre-soaked red rice, beans, peas, and sliced carrots. Then add the required salt, turmeric powder and garam masala powder. Cook the rice until it is cooked but still retains its distinctive bite by adding boiling water in the proper proportion. Lastly, garnish with roasted cashews, crispy fried onions and fresh coriander. They are best enjoyed for dinner parties and packed for lunches.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Red Rice Khichdi

This protein-rich khichdi, which blends red rice and yellow moong dal, is comforting in a bowl. Wash and soak the dal with the rice after dry roasting it till aromatic. Heat curry leaves, asafoetida, and cumin seeds in ghee in a pressure cooker. Now add chopped tomatoes, green chilli and ginger-garlic paste.  Stir in the rice-dal mixture, red chilli powder, and turmeric. Put in water and steam until soft and tender, preferably using pressure to cook it. Serve hot with pickle and papad, then top with a dollop of ghee. Anyone looking for a healthy, soothing dinner or someone who is feeling under the weather will love this readily digested-dish.

Red Rice Kheer

Savour this unusual dessert that transforms traditional kheer into a nutritious option. To cook red rice, one should boil it tender, but it should not be overdone when soaked for several hours. Add the cooked rice to a thick-bottomed pan with boiling full-fat milk and simmer until the rice is creamy. For extra nutrition, add jaggery or palm sugar to sweeten, then garnish with saffron strands and cardamom powder. Red rice's inherent colour produces a lovely dessert with a hint of rose. Finally, splash on some rose petals, sprinkle some pistachios and blanch almonds on the top. Being low on calories and packed with antioxidants, this unbelievably delicious mithai is perfect for the festive season.

Red Rice Salad

Make a colourful, satisfying, and refreshing summer salad. Red rice should be cooked until it is soft but still chewy, then allowed to cool fully. Add roasted bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumber, and fresh herbs like parsley and mint. Use cooked chickpeas or edamame to add protein. To make the dressing, combine mustard, honey, and lemon juice with olive oil to get a tangy dressing.  For more tang, add a pinch of sumac and season with salt and pepper. This colourful dish is perfectly served as a large appetiser or a side dish that can easily be prepared. The incorporation of textures and flavours yields a tasty and healthy meal to balance nutritional needs.

Red Rice Vada

Make savoury, crispy vadas out of leftover red rice for the ideal teatime snack. Add boiling potatoes, curry leaves, finely chopped onions, and green chillies to cooked red rice. Season with salt, cumin powder, and coriander powder, then add rice flour for binding. For added crunch, coat it with seasoned semolina after forming it into tiny patties. Deep-fry until the inside is still soft, but the outside is golden brown and crispy. Serve hot with spicy tomato sauce and coconut chutney. These vadas can be said to be the same as normal snack foods; however, they are a healthier option.

These five recipes focused on the application of red rice in both savoury and sweets and described its taste benefits and health benefits. Not only does it help enhance the flavour of your foods, but red rice is also very nutritious.