A Delightful, Elegant Savory Rice dish that promises to deliver a comforting Savoury flavor to your taste buds. Whether you prefer the traditional method of preparing it on the stove top or utilizing the convenience of a rice cooker, this dish offers a symphony of comforting herbal flavors and contrast in textures that are sure to Satisfy. Pairs really well with Chicken.
Rice
Use a long grain rice like Basmati. If you cook in the rice cooker, then wash and rinse the rice well. The Stove top method, you really don’t have to, you can add it directly to the pan to toast. Although, you can wash it and strain dry, if you prefer.
Basmati Rice
1 cup of basmati or other long grain rice will work.
Barley
Barley is a very healthy grain. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial plant compounds. It’s also high in fiber, which is responsible for most of its health benefits, ranging from better digestion to reduced hunger and weight loss.
What’s more, making Barley a regular ingredient in your diet may offer protection from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and even certain types of cancer. It is an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Offering the eight essential minerals. It works so well with Rice, offering a nice texture to the whole dish. Albeit in very small amounts.
Whole or Pot Barley are much more nutritious than Pearl, but will cook up much denser or firmer than Pearl Barley. Some may not like it, and in that case use Pearl Barley.
Barely
Whole Grain Barley will cook up firmer than Pot Barley, and Pot Barley firmer than Pearl Barley.
Orzo
Also known as Risoni, a type of short pasta. Toasted Orzo is visually pleasing and adds texture contrast to Rice. This is best in Rice, when toasted in Oil until a brown color.
Orzo
Heat a pan over medium heat with 1 Tbl of Oil and toast the Orzo until Brown. Keep moving them around for even browning.
Savory Rice Seasoning
With the textural components set in place for the Rice, the Savoury Rice seasoning is what creates the Comforting Elegance to the Rice. It’s really simple too, just combine the below seasoning ingredients with 2 Cups of Water & 1 Tbl Butter for the Seasoning and Liquids that will be used for the Rice.
Savory Rice Seasoning
2 Tbl of Barley is included, because it gets thrown into the mix all at the same time.
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Onion, Savory, Thyme, Parsley – each
- 1/2 tsp Garlic
- 1/8 tsp Chili Flakes – more or less depending on taste, can exchange with Aleppo
Chicken Broth
Use either Chicken Broth Powder which can be included in the Savory Rice Seasoning or 1 Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cube, which will have to be dissolved in water before adding the Rice if doing this in the Rice cooker. To do that, add the Water to the Toasted Orzo with the bouillon cube and mix just until the bouillon cube is dissolved, and then empty into the rice cooker with the seasoning.
Knorr Chicken Powder
2 heaping tsp is used with 2 Cups of water to make Broth.
Maggi Chicken Bouillon
1 Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cube dissolved in 2 Cups of water to make broth.
Stove Top Savory Rice
With the Stove top method, you want to give the Orzo a head start, so fry Orzo in Oil for a few minutes until light brown. Then add the Rice, to toast for about 10 minutes. Before adding the Liquids, Butter and Seasoning to bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and leave for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, shut the heat off but leave it on the burner for another 10 minutes before fluffing and serving.
Rice Cooker Savory Rice
With the Rice cooker method, you can skip the browning of the Orzo and Rice, just throwing everything into the rice cooker and cook on the basic white rice setting. Optionally, you can still brown the Orzo and add it into the Rice cooker with everything else.
If using a Bouillon Cube, then add that with the Orzo after toasting it brown with Water so that the bouillon cube can dissolve, before emptying into the Rice Cooker.
Equipment
- 1 Rice Cooker if not doing stove top
- 1 Large Skillet
- 1 Fine Sieve
Ingredients
- 1 C Basmati Rice
- 2 C Water
- 1 Tbl Oil & Butter - each, separated
- 2 Tbl Orzo
Savory Rice Seasoning
- 2 tsp Chicken Broth Powder - heaping tsp or 1 Maggi Chicken Bouillon Cube, can exchange with Vegetable Broth Powder
- 2 Tbl Pearl Barley
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Onion Powder, Savory, Thyme, & Parsley - each
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/8 tsp Chili Flakes - more or less depending on taste, can exchange with Aleppo
Instructions
- Measure out the Rice, wash & strain if using the rice cooker. Else, you really don't have to for the stove top. Set aside until needed. Combine the Savory Rice seasoning, 1 Tbl Butter & 2 Cups of Water, set that aside until needed.
- Whether making Stove Top or with a Rice cooker: In a skillet add 1 Tbl Oil, 2 Tbl Orzo on medium heat. Mix often for even browning for a few minutes, until a light brown.
- Add the Rice in with the Orzo and mix around to cook for about 10 minutes, or until toasted to your liking. Add the Liquids & Seasoning and bring to a boil. Ensure the Bouillon Cube, if using, is completely dissolved and mixed in before covering.
Stove Top
- As soon as it starts to boil, drop the heat to medium low, cover and leave for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, shut the heat off, but leave it on the burner for 10 more minutes before fluffing and serving.
Rice Cooker
- Empty into the Rice Cooker and mix well. Cook on the basic white rice setting.Optionally, with the Rice cooker, you can just add everything in, mix and cook. Skipping the Toasting of the Orzo and Rice altogether, or toast the Orzo and then throw everything into the Rice Cooker.