Description
Rice infused with garlic butter elevates simple grains into a delectable side dish. Fragrant herbs and rich butter create a memorable accompaniment that home cooks will savor alongside main courses.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 mL) chicken broth or water
- 1 cup (200 g) long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati works best)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Unsalted butter (for serving)
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Rinse rice under cool water until liquid turns clear, minimizing starch content and ensuring pristine grains.
- Aromatic Foundation: Melt butter in medium saucepan over moderate heat, sauté minced garlic until fragrant and lightly golden, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Toasting Technique: Add rice kernels to butter-garlic mixture, carefully coating grains and allowing them to develop a delicate golden complexion through gentle toasting.
- Liquid Integration: Pour chicken broth into pan, season with salt and pepper, then increase heat to trigger a vigorous boil, creating a flavorful cooking environment.
- Simmering Stage: Reduce heat to lowest setting, cover saucepan tightly, and let rice simmer for 15-18 minutes, allowing grains to absorb liquid and achieve perfect tenderness.
- Resting and Finishing: Remove from heat, keep covered for additional 5 minutes to complete moisture absorption, then fluff rice with fork to create light, airy texture.
- Final Flourish: Gently fold in freshly chopped parsley and optional Parmesan cheese, serving the aromatic rice while still warm and inviting.
Notes
- Rinse Rice Thoroughly: Use cold water and stir gently to remove excess starch, preventing clumpy and sticky texture during cooking.
- Butter Browning Technique: Sauté garlic slowly over medium heat to develop rich, nutty flavors without burning, which can create bitter undertones.
- Liquid-to-Rice Ratio: Maintain precise measurements of broth to rice for perfect moisture and fluffy consistency, typically 2:1 ratio works best for most rice varieties.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow rice to sit covered after cooking to redistribute moisture evenly, ensuring each grain absorbs liquid and becomes perfectly tender without becoming mushy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg