Golden Bouillon Basmati
Golden Bouillon Basmati is a delicious addition to any meal. A touch of turmeric for color and powdered chicken bouillon for flavor join together to create a beautiful golden and tasty rice dish.
Basmati is a variety of long, slender-grained rice with a distinctive spicy aroma. It is geographically exclusive to certain districts of India and Pakistan. The health benefits of basmati put it in the category of a “super grain”. It’s gluten-free, low in fat, and contains all eight essential amino acids and folic acid. Basmati is very low in sodium and has no cholesterol. It is is a good choice for diabetics due to its low to medium glycemic index. The open texture of the grain allows for exceptional flavor absorption. It is a perfect accompaniment to a wide range of recipes.
Global Staple
Rice is an important food crop for low and middle income populations. Wheat and maize are consumed worldwide, but human consumption is not as high as that of rice. In order to feed the world’s population, one hundred million tons of rice must be produced for every one billion people. Demand for rice has the potential to outstrip supply. Production faces the challenge to be efficient and sustainable with good management of natural resources.
Vibrant Grains
Rice is a grain of many hues. Rice cultivars produce a variety of colors: white, brown, red, and black. White is whole grain rice with the outer hull, bran layer and cereal germ removed. Brown is whole grain rice with only the outer hull removed. Red and black are whole grain rices with a pigmented outer layer that contains anthocyanins also found in blueberries and other red-purple fruits and vegetables. Black rice turns purple when cooked.
Genetic engineering is behind golden rice, a controversial new type of rice. It provides much needed vitamin A to populations with diets devoid of the naturally occurring essential nutrient. Genetic engineering adds three beta-carotene biosynthesis genes to the edible parts of the rice. The beta-carotene is responsible for the golden color.
Other colors do not occur naturally in the grain, but are present due to the addition of coloring agents. Tumeric, saffron or annato added to white rice during cooking creates a yellow color. White rice infused during production with bamboo extract creates green rice also known as Jade rice. The vibrant green color comes from chlorophyll.
Serve It Up!
Golden Bouillon Basmati is delicious with my Creamy Cremini Coconut Chicken or Brined Boneless Pork Loin Chops.
Creamy Cremini Coconut Chicken 
Brined Boneless Pork Loin Chops
Golden Bouillon Basmati
Equipment
- Rice Cooker or large pot with lid
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 tbsp chicken flavor bouillon powder or paste
- ⅛ tsp tumeric powder
Instructions
Preparation of Rice and Soaking Time: 1 hour
Cooking Time: 20 Minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Prep and Cooking Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- One hour before cooking: Place rice in a medium sized pot or bowl. Add about 2 cups of cool water and agitate the rice to release the excess starch. Drain off the cloudy starchy water. Repeat until the water is clear. Drain off the water.
- In a separate container, add the bouillon and tumeric to the 2 cups of warm water. Stir until dissolved.
- Add the bouillon and tumeric water mixture to the rice. Set the pot aside for 30-60 minutes. The longer the rice sits, the more it absorbs the water and will be a fluffier texture when cooked.
Cooking Rice Stovetop Method
- Use the smallest burner with the lowest capability of a setting. Bring the water and rice to a boil on a higher setting and then reduce the heat to a simmer over the lowest setting. About 5 minutes. Cover the pot for 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN the lid. After cooking for 20 minutes, check the rice. Be careful not to release too much steam as you take a peak. At this stage, there should be enough moisture to create a strong steam that will continue to cook and fluff the rice while it rests. The rice on top should look fluffy and separated. If not, replace the lid and allow the rice to cook another 5 minutes. Add a little hot water if the rice has dried out on the bottom and there is not enough steam. Turn off the heat and REST the rice for 15 minutes. Keep the lid in place until ready to serve.
Cooking Rice with a Rice Cooker
- Cook soaked rice according to manufacturer's instructions. Note: review the instructions above for perfect fluffy rice! Here's a tip: when the rice cooker on/off switch "pops" and the cooker switches from cooking to keep warm setting, do not open the lid! Let the rice REST for 15 minutes. Keep the lid in place until ready to serve.
Notes
