The Secret to Perfect Rice: What Hotels Do That You Might Not Know

Although it may appear simple to cook rice, there is a little-known trick that can turn ordinary rice into spectacular. You’re losing out on a quick tip that many hotels utilize to make delightfully fluffy and flavorful rice if you’ve been cooking it with just water. I’ll tell you this little secret so you can get restaurant-caliber rice at home.

The Unknown Ingredient: Aromatics and Broth

Adding a few aromatics and utilising broth rather than just water are the keys to making great rice. This improves the texture of the rice and gives it a deep flavour. Here’s how to go about it:

Components:

1. One cup of rice, any kind
2. Two cups of broth (vegetable, beef, or chicken)
3. One tablespoon of butter or olive oil
4. One little onion, diced finely
5. one or two minced garlic cloves
6. To taste, add salt and pepper.
7. Adding a bay leaf, fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley, or a dash of white wine are optional.

Guidelines:

• Rinse the Rice: Begin by running cold water over the rice until it runs clean. This keeps the rice from getting too sticky and helps get rid of extra starch.
• Get the Aromatics Ready: Heat the butter or olive oil in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and onion and sauté until aromatic and tender. For additional flavour, add the fresh herbs or bay leaf at this point.
• Toast the Rice: Place the rice in the pot with the aromatics after rinsing. The rice should lightly toast for two to three minutes while you stir continually. This process brings out the rice’s nutty flavour.
• Add the Broth: Fill the space left by the water with the broth. Generally, you want to use a ratio of 1:2 between rice and liquid, but you can change it depending on the kind of rice you use. You may also add a splash of white wine at this point for even more flavour depth.
• Season and cook by adding pepper and salt to taste. After bringing the mixture to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and place a tight-fitting lid on the pot. Simmer until the rice is cooked and the liquid is completely absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• After the rice is cooked, take the pot from the stove and cover it. Leave it for about five minutes to rest and fluff. The rice can steam during this resting time, giving it a fluffier texture. After that, use a fork to separate the grains in the rice.

Savour the Perfect Rice.

• You can enhance even the most basic dishes with layers of flavour by cooking your rice with broth and aromatics. This is a very adaptable method that works well with brown, white, or jasmine rice. You’ll discover that this simple adjustment has a significant impact, elevating an ordinary side dish to a main course on your dinner table.
• Keep this hotel tip in mind the next time you prepare rice for a more aromatic, flavourful, and filling meal. Have fun in the kitchen!