Whole grains, such as brown rice and barley, are fantastic: they’re delicious and nutty-tasting, super-versatile, and better for you than white rice, since they’re full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. We boil them in lots of water and then drain them — the way you’d cook pasta. Once you get the hang of making them, you’ll find that it’s really pretty easy. Use them in custom one-bowl meals, or as a base for stew, soup, or chili.
kitchen gear
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Measuring cup
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Large pot with lid
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Large spoon
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Mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup short-grain brown rice
Instructions
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Fill the pot half full of water, then cover it and set it on the stove. Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. (You’ll know the water is boiling when you see bubbles breaking all over the surface.) Meanwhile put the rice in the strainer and rinse it under running water.
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Add the rice, stir it, then cover the pot again and boil the rice for 30 minutes.
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Pour the rice into the strainer in the sink and drain it really well.
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Return the rice to the pot, cover it, and leave it to steam, off the heat, for 10 minutes.
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Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Notes
Cracked Wheat (also called “Bulgur Wheat”): Boil for 5 minutes.
Quinoa: Rinse really well in the strainer (it’s got a bitter coating) then boil for 20 minutes.
Barley: Boil for 50 minutes.
Spelt, Farro, or Kamut (all are types of wheat): Boil for 1 hour.
THINK AHEAD:
Freeze 1-cup portions of cooked grains in labeled zipper-lock bags, then you can thaw whatever you need whenever you like.
