Searching For Instructions On How To Cook Rice Noodles

Before we learn how rice noodles are cooked, let's answer an important question, 'What are rice noodles?' Simple, noodles made from rice or rice flour. Water and rice are the 2 main ingredients, besides cornstarch and tapioca, while preparing these noodles. What the latter ingredients do is make the noodles jellylike and chewy once cooked. Included in various Asian cuisines, they are commonly found in fresh, dry, and frozen forms. Rice noodles come in different shapes and sizes such as thick spaghetti style ,Thai flat rice sticks, laksa noodles (used in soups), rice vermicelli (used in spring rolls, stir-fries, soups), thin rice sticks (used in soups, cold salads, spring rolls), river rice noodles (used in stir-fries, soups, and served with seafood), and many more. While cooking these varieties, it's important that you know how long it takes to cook and what are the specific steps.

If you are new to Asian cuisine and have never experimented with rice noodles, the process can be frustrating because of lack of proper information. When you take a look at the rice noodles package your purchased from the store, they don't include any directions on how to perfectly cook rice noodles. Again, as I said, frustration. But we are here to give you simple solutions on cooking rice noodles correctly. So read the following article properly and get the answers you are searching for.

Ways to Cook Rice Noodles

As we discussed earlier, there are different types of rice noodles, it may seem that you might have to use different directions to cook them. Well, not really. Even though the shapes and sizes may be different, in the end, they are still rice noodles. So the instructions don't necessarily have to change. The only alterations to cooking them would be after they are ready, would you like to add them in stir-fry or soup. So depending on your recipe, the uses of cooked rice noodles will change, but not the way the rice noodles are cooked in the first place.

Rice Noodles for Stir-Fries
Unlike wheat noodles, rice noodles are delicate and can break if not cooked properly. While cooking rice noodles, it's essential to know how long it should be soaked in water. Otherwise, you will be left with nothing just mushy noodles for your soups and stir-fires.

• The best way to cook these rice noodles for stir-fries is to take a big bowl.
• Add warm water in first and then add the noodles.
• Let them soak for no longer than 30 minutes. It's essential that you don't let them soak for longer time.
• The extra time these noodles stay submerged in the water, the more mushy they become.
• If you want to know how to fry rice noodles, take the wok add these soaked noodles in a lot of oil so they can cook properly.
• Make sure none of the other ingredients like vegetables, meat, or seafood is being cooked along with the noodles.
• This way, you keep the noodles tender and not mushy to eat when added with the rest of the ingredients later on.

Rice Noodles for Soups
With soups, again you need to remember that overcooking them can be disastrous. As it is when they are getting transferred into the soup, they will be in warm water again. So it's essential that you don't make any mistakes while cooking them. Also, don't make too much rice noodle soup as they are not ideal as leftovers.

• To begin cooking rice noodles for soup, you can add them in the end of your recipe.
• Once all the ingredients of your soup are almost cooked, you can add the rice noodles then.
• You want the noodles to be al dente and not completely cooked.
• Till the time you serve and have the soup, the noodles will keep cooking and getting more and more soft.

Rice Noodles for Salads
Finally, the cold salads. Now this calls for an entirely different instruction for cooking.

• Don't soak them in warm water.
• Take a pot of boiling water and add the rice noodles in.
• Boil only for 3 minutes tops and remove them immediately.
• If you keep the noodles in boiling water for long, you will be left with mush.
• Rinse them under cold water and add to your salad in the end.
• Toss properly and enjoy.

Cooking rice noodles for stir-fries, soups, and salads is easy; and you just saw why and how. I hope that these instructions helped you and you won't be left with mushy, but perfectly tender rice noodles for your recipes.

Spice Up Your Dining Table With Sticky Rice

Sticky rice, also known as glutinous rice, sweet rice, waxy rice, etc. is grown in most Southeast Asian countries, and is part of the traditional cuisine. No important function is complete without it. In China, glutinous rice has been grown for at least 2,000 years, and was also used in the construction of the Great Wall of China. It is unlike other rice varieties grown in Asia, i.e., the grains stick to each other at a higher degree than other rice grains. Glutinous rice does not contain gluten, but a high level of amylopectin, a polymer of glucose which is responsible for its sticky appearance and texture.

Ways to Prepare Sticky or Glutinous Rice

One can make this in a steamer, a microwave as well as a rice cooker. Every method would result in the rice becoming sticky, although steaming is a traditional way of cooking the rice, a microwave will save you quite a bit of effort, and with a rice cooker - you can plug and serve as per your timing. Soak the rice at least for an hour before you begin cooking it. The grains have a tough exterior, soaking will soften it up, and make its texture sticky.

Steaming: Take a steamer, place water in it, and place the divider in place. Spoon the steam rice on the divider, and cover with the lid. The heat should be on medium, let the rice cook in the steamer for 20-25 minutes. Take the steamer off the flame, stand for five minutes and then remove the rice.

Rice Cooker: Add rice in the cooker along with water (1 cup rice with 1¼ cups of water). Plug and turn on the rice cooker for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Once the rice cooker gets switched off, stand the rice in cooker to soften with the steam for ten minutes. Uncover, and stir, serve hot.

Microwaving: In a microwave proof dish, add rice and water (½ cup rice and ¾ cup water). Cover the bowl, and cook on HIGH for three minutes. Stir it once, and aging cook on HIGH for two more minutes. In most cases the rice gets cooked in this much time, but given the variations of heat levels in each microwave, one may need to cook the rice for a few minutes more. Cooked rice should appear translucent.

Preparing Glutinous Rice Balls

This rice ball is easy to make, and has fillings unique to each Oriental country. Eaten round the year, and during special festivals, they can be flavored with interesting fillings or rolled in toppings. To make sticky rice balls, keep your rice cooked and ready. A note here, while cooking rice specifically for making balls, add in a little bit more water than usual. Prepare the filling and set aside. Take a tablespoon of warm rice (warm rice sticks better than cold rice) in your clean hands, and shape it into a ball, using a finger, dent a hole in the rice ball, add the filling, and round up the ball again. If you do not prefer to have a filling in the rice ball, roll them in crushed peanuts or sesame seeds.

Sticky Rice Dessert Recipe

Ingredients:

• Ripe yellow mangoes, 2
• Cooked glutinous rice, 1 cup
• Coconut cream, 1 cup
• Sugar, ¼ cup
• Salt, a pinch

In a small saucepan, mix together coconut cream, sugar and salt, and bring it to a boil, until consistency begins to thicken. Reserve, four tablespoons, mix the remaining in the rice. Let the cream set in the rice, meanwhile, cut mango slices. Spoon a portion of rice on a plate, top it with mango slices and the reserved coconut cream. Serve immediately.

Now that you know how easy it is to make rice in this form, spice up your dining table with this Oriental dish!