How to make rice: want to learn?
Making rice might seem intimidating, but it’s really not that hard. In this post, we’re going to teach you how to make Afghan challow, or white rice.
This recipe takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to make perfect rice every time. So let’s get started!
Rinsing the Rice
The first thing you need to do is rinse the rice. You can do this by putting the rice in a colander and running cold water over it until the water runs clear. This step is important for two reasons. First, it gets rid of any impurities or dirt that might be on the surface of the rice. Second, as you will see when you rinse the rice, there is quite a lot of starch.
The water starts out cloudy but, by the time you are done rinsing, it should be almost clear.
Health Benefits of Rice
Eating rice has many health benefits. Especially when you learn how to make rice this way, Afghan Challow. Some of the health benefits are:
- Diabetes Control
- Increase Hearth Health
- Cancer Risk Reduction
- Digestive Help
Making your own rice will become a true joy to you, and will help your family stay in good health.
What to learn something cool? Check out our exclusive recipe for Afghan Nachos.
Keys to Remember
There really is no way to get good at making rice except through practice. You might not make the best rice your first few times. That’s ok! It happens to all of us.
The most common mistake is to not drain your rice thoroughly. This will add more starch to your rice and increases the chance that your pieces of rice will stick together while they cook.
Taste-wise, there is nothing wrong with the rice. In fact, many cultures make sticky rice on purpose and it is delicious.
After a few practice rounds, you’ll be a rice expert in no time.
Conclusion
Do you have any tips for making perfect rice? Share them in the comments below! And if you’re looking for more Afghan recipes, check out our blog post on Kabuli pulao. Until next time, happy cooking!
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How to Make Rice: Afghan Challow is the Way
Description
Afghan Kabuli pualo is our national dish. But, we don’t make that every day. Challow is our go-to everyday rice.
Ingredients
5 Cups of Long Grain Rice
Vegetable Oil
Water
Salt
1 Teaspoon of Cumin
Instructions
1. First you must rinse your rice. After bowl is filled with rice, add water to the brim of the bowl. Run your hands through the rice thoroughly and and then strain the water out. You will notice it is very cloudy. Then, fill rice bowl again with water and repeat these steps. You will do this until the water is almost clear. Then let the rice soak in the water for 30 minutes – 4 hours.
2. After it has soaked, add salt to large pot of water and bring to a boil. Salt generously. Once boiling, add the rice. Let the rice cook for 5-7 minutes.
3. After the rice has cooked, drain the rice.
4. While the rice is draining you want to prepare two pots on your oven. (Pot A and Pot B). In Pot A, the pot you just dumped the rice out of, add 2 tablespoons of oil. You want to heat that pan until all the water has evaporated from when you cooked the rice.
5. In Pot B add 1/2 Cup of water, 1 Tablespoon of Oil, and 1 Teaspoon of Cumin seed. Head that mixture up.
6. Back to Pot A, add your drained rice. Now, pour the mixture from Pot B and pour over the top of Pot A of rice.
7. In your pot of rice, make holes in rice for steam to escape. (watch video)
8. Now, cover your pot with aluminum foil. Next, put the lid on it. Finally, add your towel. (watch the video)
9. Cook covered rice on stovetop, med-low heat, for 30 minutes.
Notes
Great served with our green chutney or yogurt sauce, a salad, and bread.
HELLO MIRRIAM LOVE YOUR EASY RICE (challow) RECIPE. I HAVE EATEN AFGHANI RICE AT RESTURANT AND IT’S USUALLY LIGHT BROWN IN COLOUR HOW DO THEY DO THAT – THANKYOU
Hello if you look up on my website I have the brown rice recipe, I share the secret 😊
Hi mirriam,
Love your helpful video, looking forward to making it! What is a brand of long grain rice you recommend? I assume that you don’t mean basmati rice.
Thanks,
Beatrice
We always use Aahu Barah sela rice. Enjoy!
Hi mirriam,
My husband i are are sponsoring an afghan family of nine and are getting close to the finish line where they will be able to get to canada. Since we have no idea how long it will take for the medical and other immigration stuff to be finalized we are unable to secure a home for them. We will probably have them stay with us until we can find ACCOMMODATION for them. My husband and i are CAUCASIAN and have never eaten nor cooked afghan food before. I am collecting as many recipes as i can find so i can cook comfort foods for this family. Since we do not speak pashto, nor are we of the same faith, i feel it is massively important to speak the same food language.
I truly appreciate how you carefully explained how to cook afghan rice. I will be practicing cooking rice, naan, and many other dishes before they arrive. My biggest fear is trying to find food that is Halal as we live in a small city that isnt very ethnically diverse in terms of grocery shopping. Thanks again for your recipes this will be a go to site for me.