Simple Stovetop Parmesan Brown and Wild Rice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does wild rice take longer to cook than brown rice? ›

Substitute wild rice in most recipes that call for white or brown rice. Simply allow more time for precooking, or an additional 30 minutes of cooking time for oven dishes. For firmer texture, decrease cooking time five to ten minutes.

Soaking Wild Rice is optional unlike other grains and seeds that should generally be soaked to reduce phytic acid. This is because during the finishing process like any other Real Wild Rice it is parched over Wood Fire to help remove the hull.

I use a 1:1.5 ratio for boiling white rice, 1:2 for brown rice. The ratio depends on how processed the rice is and on cooking method used rather than rice type. My method is to add rice and water (salt) to pot, keep a lid on at all times, bring to a boil, leave on low heat and turn off heat 5-10 min before done.

Brown Rice vs.

Brown rice contains the whole part of the grain, including the fibrous bran, germ and endosperm. Because the bran is intact, brown rice takes longer to cook (almost twice as long as white rice) and tends to have a chewy consistency.

The chief reason to rinse is to remove surface starch from rice grains, which can make them gummy as they cook. Soaking allows rice to absorb water, giving it a leg up on cooking. This helps it to have a better, more even texture, instead of drying out while the inside is not evenly steamed and fluffed.

Cover the pot, reduce to a simmer and cook for about 25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Check the rice for doneness and keep cooking if it is not tender enough. If most of the water has cooked out at this point, add a ¼ cup more and continue to cook.

The Right Ratio: Although it's printed on the package, the standard 2-to-1 ratio makes mushy rice. For long-grain brown rice, use 1 1/4 cups water to 1 cup rice. For short-grain brown rice, use 1 1/2 cups water to 1 cup rice.

The wild rice grains will pop open when they're done and will have a chewy “al dente” feel when you taste it. You don't want any crunch left, but also don't want it to be mushy. Once it's cooked, turn off the heat and leave the wild rice covered for an additional 15 minutes.

What's the water to rice ratio for wild rice? Although it's pricey, the good news is that with a 1 to 4 ratio (1 cup wild rice to 4 cups water) you get a big bang for your buck.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the rice, reduce the heat to a gentle boil, and cook until the rice is tender but still has a slight bite, typically 35 to 55 minutes.

Why is wild rice so expensive? ›

Because of its unique harvesting needs (learn more about it here), wild rice is significantly more expensive than brown rice. In fact, it's one of the most expensive grains. In Washington State, as of January 2023, wild rice costs $5.16 per pound and brown rice costs 80 cents a pound.

Bring water to a boil before adding it to the rice.

Meanwhile, bring 2 parts of water to a boil. Pouring already boiling water on top of the rice helps control the exact amount of water you're adding, something that's important for basmati and jasmine rice because they're on the starchy side and can end up gummy.

Ginger and garlic both make for exceptional brown rice. If you're going the spice route we love turmeric, cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika with brown rice. Try adding some of these spices to the pot as you cook your aromatic vegetables. Cook in a flavorful liquid.

Drizzle with soy sauce. Add lots of pepper. Stir in a couple of tablespoons minced fresh herbs, ideally warmed first in melted butter. Cook a couple of tablespoons minced garlic, leek, scallion, or shallot in olive oil or butter until just soft to add while fluffing.

That being said, wild rice looks and cooks like rice. Similar to cooking brown rice, it takes longer to simmer on the stovetop because it's a whole grain. You need to simmer until the hull splits and gets tender, which usually takes about an hour.

Brown rice has a richer flavor and a chewier texture than white rice. It also takes longer to cook. Brown rice is much higher in nutrients than white rice.

Brown rice is a healthy alternative to white rice, but it takes a little bit longer to cook, and you'll need slightly more liquid. Brown rice is a less-processed form of rice, which means the grains still have the outer layer of bran on them.

Maybe you took the lid off of the pot too early, letting the steam escape. Maybe you didn't add enough liquid to begin with. Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on.