How to cook rice as a side dish

To ensure your rice turns out delicious and fluffy, it's important to know how to cook it properly, maintaining the correct proportions of water and time.

Step-by-step recipe:

Step 1:

Start by rinsing the rice. Place it in a bowl and cover with cold water. Gently stir with your hands to remove the starch, then drain. Repeat this process several times until the water runs almost clear. This helps prevent the grains from sticking together during cooking. Alternatively, rinse the rice through a sieve.

Step 2:

Choose a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. A thick-bottomed saucepan is best to prevent sticking. Pour the desired amount of water into the saucepan, add the rinsed rice, bring to a boil, and add salt. Stir once to distribute the rice evenly throughout the water. ####Step 3: Add sunflower oil to the rice.

Step 4:

Bring the rice to a boil over medium heat. Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer.

Step 5:

Let the rice cook for about 18-20 minutes for long-grain rice and 15-18 minutes for short-grain rice. Keep the lid on to keep the steam inside.

Cooking tips

Once the rice is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for another 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to rest and fully absorb any remaining moisture.

Serving: Fluff the rice with a fork to make the grains more fluffy. Add oil or butter for flavor, if desired.

Some varieties of rice, especially long-grain and jasmine, can be soaked for 20-30 minutes before cooking. This makes the rice fluffier and reduces cooking time.