Mediterranean Butter Rice

So the next time you want to up the ante of any dish you’re going to make, serve it with Mediterranean butter rice on the side. 🙂

Here’s What You’ll Need

Tips On Cooking Rice On The Stove

• Always rinse your rice before cooking them. This will wash off the dusty starch along with any stray particles. To wash rice, put the grains in a deep bowl and fill it half-way with water. Gently mix the grains using your hand. You should see the water is turning white from the starch. Take out any stray particles (if there are) then pour off as much of the water as you can or drain it using a strainer. Repeat the process again until the water is almost clear. I usually do the whole process 3 times.
• Measure the rice and water. For most rice the ratio is 1:2. For every 1 cup of uncooked rice, you’ll need 2 cups of water. Some rice varieties need a little less or a little more water as it cooks. For best results, check the package directions of your rice.
• Rice is cooked on low heat. Never rush it by cooking on high heat or you’ll end up with burnt rice.
• Check the rice at 15 minutes to see if it’s done. A cooked rice should be firm but tender.
  Definitely not crunchy. If there is still water in the pan and the rice is already done, tilt the pan to drain the extra water. You don’t want a rice that’s too wet and mushy. If the water is all dried up and the rice is still hard or crunchy, add water in small increments (about 1/4 cup) and check again after 10 minutes.
• As a guide for servings: 1/2 cup of uncooked rice is equal to 1 cup of cooked rice or 1 serving per person.

Print Recipe

Mediterranean Butter Rice

This Mediterranean butter rice has just the right hint of butter and lots of extra flavor from the stock. Though it says Mediterranean, it actually goes well with anything – from pork chops, steaks, fish, kebobs, souvlakis, sausages, fried chicken. Up the ante of any dish by serving it with Meditteranean butter rice on the side!

Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons (45 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (190 grams) uncooked white basmati rice or any long grain rice
• 2 cups no salt vegetable or chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• Wash the rice. (Note 1)
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the rice grains and stir them briefly, about 30 seconds, just to separate the grains and remove clumps. Add the vegetable broth and salt (Note 2). Stir then let it boil. Once boiling, turn heat to lowest setting then cover the pot. Cook on lowest heat setting for about 15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed (tilt pot to check). Remove from heat and let it sit for about 10 minutes. This steams the rice a little bit more. Do not uncover the pot. 
• Before serving, uncover, fluff up rice with a fork. Let it stand for a few minutes to "dry out" and lose that wet, just-steamed texture. Top with additional butter if you wish.

Notes

(Note 1) To wash rice, put the grains in a deep bowl and fill it half-way with water. Gently mix the grains using your hand. You should see the water is turning white from the starch. Take out any stray particles then pour off as much of this water as you can or drain it using a strainer. Repeat the process again until the water is almost clear. I usually do the whole process 3 times.
(Note 2) For most rice the ratio is 1:2. For every 1 cup of uncooked rice, you’ll need 2 cups of water. Some rice varieties need a little less or a little more water as it cooks. For best results, check the package directions of your rice.