You’ve just started eating… fluffy rice, perfectly cooked… but it’s missing something. A little oomph, a flavor boost that takes it to the next level.
Trust me, there’s a simple trick that will change your rice game forever. And no, it’s not just a pinch of salt! Ready to find out?
Yes, you absolutely can cook rice with chicken broth! It infuses the rice with rich, savory flavor, making it way more delicious than plain water-cooked rice. Simply replace the water in your usual rice recipe with an equal amount of chicken broth – it’s that easy!
Is It Possible to Cook Rice with Chicken Broth?
Yes, it’s highly possible – and positively doable. Basically, you can cook the rice with any liquid that you want. But you NEED liquid, for sure.
Whereas most people will cook their rice with water, you can actually cook rice with chicken broth to enhance the flavor.
Most people are okay with the plain and bland rice flavor, but the others prefer a tastier and more flavorful rice.
How to Cook Rice with Chicken Broth
Basically, when you cook rice with chicken broth, it’s almost similar to cooking the regular rice.
- Measure your rice.
- Rinse it thoroughly to make sure that it’s clean
- Prepare the broth. You can either make one by yourself (which means it’s from a scratch) or use the store-bought one.
- During boiling the broth, you can add the already rinsed rice, if you are using the traditional method. If you are using a cooker, it’s the other way around. You add the broth to the rinsed rice within the cooker.
- Reduce the heat a little bit and then cover the rice pot with a lid.
- After a while, turn off the stove. Remove your rice pot. Let it be for a while.
- Fluff your rice.
Step-by-step Instructions
- Make sure that you have the right ratio of the rice. Don’t forget that the general rule is the 2:1 ratio with liquid to rice.
- Rinse your rice with cold water. Make sure that the water runs clear so you can have a perfect and fluffy rice.
- Prepare and boil your broth in a pot or a saucepan. When you want stronger taste, simmer your broth with extra aromatics, like herbs, garlic, and onion.
- Wait until your broth is boiling. Add the already rinsed rice and stir it gently. The grains should be submerged within the liquid.
- Turn down the heat. Cover your rice pot with the lid. It should simmer for around 15 minutes, 20 minutes top. Keep in mind that the timing depends on the rice type, which can be different from one another. Make sure to check it.
- After the time is up, remove the pot. Let it be for extra five minutes. The rice can steam, so it can absorb the left moisture.
- Fluff your rice. Your rice is now ready.
Cooking Methods
There are two different methods to cook the rice. You can use the traditional pot method on the stove, or you can use the rice cooker.
If you use the latter, you still need to prepare the broth. After it’s ready and warm enough, you can add it to the rinsed rice already in the rice cooker. Let it for a while and wait until the device ‘notifies’ you.
Tips for Perfect Rice
There are some handy tips that you can use when you cook rice with chicken broth.
- Whether you use the broth or water, keep in mind that ratio plays a crucial role. You want to start with 2:1 ratio, for the liquid to rice. So, it means that when you cook a cup of rice, you want to have 2 cups of liquid.
- Feel free to use any rice type with the broth. Keep in mind, though, that some varieties have this tendency to absorb the flavor much more than other varieties. Basmati or long grain rice will absorb more liquid, resulting in more flavorful rice.
- Some people like to season the broth before they add it to rice, but you should taste it first. In general, the broth already has salt in it, which means that adding more salt would make it too salty. But for a stronger taste, you should be able to add spices, herbs, or seasonings. But then again, taste it first so you can adjust how much extra addition to your rice.
- Is chicken broth similar to stock? They are basically the same. However, stock is made from simmering veggies, herbs, and chicken bones for a prolonged time, so it has richer flavor. Chicken broth, on the other hand, tends to be blander and more plain. That’s why people often add extra ingredients or seasoning to the broth.
- You are also free to add extra seasoning to the flavored rice, like diced onions, minced garlic, parsley, or even chicken (or beef) bits. It will create a complete dish that isn’t only tasty, but also fulfilling.
As you can see, you can generally replace water with any liquid you desire, including (chicken) broth. It will create a nice flavor that is rich and somewhat more ‘colorful’. Next time, try to cook rice with chicken broth and see how you like it.
