For many of us, cooking rice can be a bit of a challenge – from knowing how much to cook to making it taste of anything. But there’s a little rice hack that could be a game-changer and it costs just pennies.
On Quora under the title ‘how to make white rice taste better’, one person has come up with a tasty and healthy idea – and medical website WebMD backs him up. Taking to the discussion website, Pijush Mandal noted that one ingredient can transform your dish and boost your immune system – and that ingredient is a bay leaf.
Mandal said: “Many seasoned cooks know this trick. But that number is very low. So most people do not know the secret of basmati taste in plain rice. It doesn’t take much effort to get this taste. Just wash the plain rice well and add some spices while cooking the rice. Leave a few bay leaves especially when boiling the rice.”
Bay leaves are commonly available in most shops, typically sold as whole dried leaves. However, you may also find them in powdered or fresh form. They cost as little as 70p for fresh leaves whilst you can pick up dry leaves for around £1 – a cheap and effective option.
He added: “You will see that white rice is full of aroma. Also the rice will be neat. Nutritionists say that cooking rice in this way also provides health benefits.”
All you need are a couple of the leaves and ensure it’s removed before serving. He explained it will give the rice “aroma” writing: “Just adding two bay leaves while boiling the rice will bring out the taste of basmati rice. However, while draining the rice water, the bay leaves should be taken out.”
Talking about its other benefits, the user claimed that bay leaves contain “essential nutrients like vitamin A, B6 and vitamin C. Which increases immunity. Metabolism is also improved. Moreover, it has antibacterial properties. It reduces the effects of infections and allergies.”
WebMD revealed the ingredient “adds minimal calories to your food while boosting the amount of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.” It stated that it’s a “good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, and manganese.”
All of these vitamins are all known to support a healthy immune system and can even reduce the risk of diabetes. But if you’re not keen on putting it in your food, you can consume it another way.
WebMD explained: “A pair of small studies suggested that taking ground bay leaf capsules or drinking tea brewed from Turkish bay leaf may lower your blood sugar levels. However, one of the studies was small and the other tested bay leaves on healthy volunteers, not people with diabetes.”
The site also notes that bay leaf tea can help ease an upset stomach. The tea is also very aromatic, which can help relieve sinus pressure or stuffy nose.
Will you be adding a bay leaf or two to your rice? Let us know in the comments.
