Rice

Notes:

  • I really love rice. When Mima and I were dating, I was eating rice for dinner one night, and I texted her that I love rice. She agreed, but I don’t think she understood, so I explained, “No, I just love it so much.”
  • The quantities have to be learned. I never measure for rice. You pour how much rice you want into the pot (500g for 6 people over 2 meals is about right), add water, salt, oil.

How much water?

You have to find a reference point of your body. For me, I use my first knuckle on my right hand’s middle finger. I pour the rice into the pan, then add water. I shake the rice to make it somewhat level, then I lower my finger into the water until it touches the rice. I do this in several places in the pan in case the rice is high or low in one area. The water comes up just below my knuckle.

Ingredients

  • Rice (פרסי is best for most dishes. בסמטי for Indian curries)
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Oil

Directions

Stovetop

  1. Get a saucepan.
  2. Add rice and water.
  3. Add more salt than you think is necessary.
  4. Add more oil than you’re comfortable with.
  5. Add a bit more oil.
  6. Put a lid on the pot.
  7. Heat on high until it boils, then set to simmer.
  8. Cook for 15 minutes, and turn off the heat.
  9. Leave sealed for 10 more minutes
  10. Open and delight in rice. Optionally stir to mix oil and salt.

Oven

  1. Get an oven safe pan and optionally line it with baking paper.
  2. Add rice and water.
  3. Add more salt than you think is necessary.
  4. Add more oil than you’re comfortable with.
  5. Add a bit more oil.
  6. Seal well with foil and place in the oven for an hour at any temperature from 150 to 200 Celsius.
  7. Take out of the oven and leave sealed for at least 10 minutes.
  8. Open and delight in rice. Optionally stir to mix oil and salt.

Fixing rice

Sometimes rice comes out real good like. Other times, work is needed.

  • Mushy rice

    Leave uncovered and return to oven or reheat a bit. It won’t come out perfect, but it’ll be better.

  • Hard rice

    Add a bit more water and return to oven or stovetop for 5-10 minutes

  • Crispy top or bottom

    Find a weirdo who likes those bits. Call the bottom “הקרקע,” and serve it to Mima’s family.

  • Bland rice

    Add salt.

  • Perfectly done rice that needs to be reheated on Shabbos

    Get it warm on the bottom layer of the plata, and then move it on top of something that is preferably liquidy. For daytime meals, take some water out of the קומקום and put it in a pan on the plata. Then, place the rice pan on top of that one.