Perfectly Steamed Rice from Perky’s Le Cordon Bleu Notebook

Tonight I thought I would share my Perfectly Steamed Rice from Perky’s Le Cordon Bleu Notebook.  This recipe comes from my Cuisine Across Cultures Day 2 notes.  My Chef … my oh my:)  He was one of the best instructors at Le Cordon Bleu.  Chef Susser would never accept excuses for anything.  Things had to be done the way he said or forget it, you just wasted your time.  Chef really taught us to do things properly and in an orderly fashion.  Now, sometimes I thought he was a bit nuts… but… it all paid off in the long run.  Chef Susser wanted to teach us things that would stay in our head forever.  He wanted us to do things properly without thinking:)  I am not sure about the other students, but he certainly gave me a whole new second nature!  I never, and I mean never walk past a pot that is boiling without attempting to turn it down.. I never let a tomato get mushy when blanching…. I am always cognizant of the dishes that I dirty.  I stop in the middle of things sometimes to clean them:)  I am always aware of the rules of sanitation…. which I like to call the rules of sanity:)   If at all possible, before anything I make a ” sample” to make sure that the outcome is going to be what I had anticipated.  I have Chef  Susser to thank for my second nature in all these areas and in all the other areas that he stamped on my brain.  Before his class I had to think.. and in the kitchen thinking takes up valuable time.. time that just cannot be wasted on lolly gagging… Now I go into the kitchen and I am thinking but it is not about things that Chef Susser taught us, those I just DO!…:)  Thank you, Chef Susser:)  This one is for you:)

Now a word about the rice.  This is the simplest no- fail way to do rice.  I have done it with all sorts of rice.  It always works:)  It turns out just like the rice in Chinese restaurants.  The other day my boyfriend wanted to buy pre-made rice in a microwave bag.  Are you kidding? I told him there was no way I was paying that much money for rice!  This recipe is great for making ahead and freezing in vacuum sealed pouches.  It is also great for children, since there is no flavoring in it.. it is just rice, which most children like to eat.  It is great anytime you want rice as a side dish.  This rice is great for company, when it is soaking shower & finish setting the table… have a drink.. then make sure your silverware has no spots or fingerprints on it… make sure all the glasses are sparkling..( a newspaper is great for this.. http://theperkypoppy.com/2012/07/20/no-more-dirty-glass/ – check out my post on dirty glass- use a mixture of vinegar and water for your drinking glasses.) Then when and hour is up, drain the rice & bring to a boil; simmer for five minutes, then off heat and let sit for 10 minutes and that is it! That is it… Perky Perfection:)

Perfectly Steamed Rice from Perky’s Le Cordon Bleu Notebook

1 cup of rice makes 2.2 cups of rice 

• 1 cup of rice ( for this you can use any kind of rice…the cheap rice at the grocery works..plain white rice (just make sure it is not par cooked.. basmati rice works.. jasmine rice, etc)
• 1 cup of water

1. Put rice in colander and rinse… rinse … rinse 

   

   See the cloudy water… this rice needs to be rinsed MORE!

2. Do not skimp on this step (if you do you will have gross rice that just sticks together & and is a glob of starchy yuckiness)
3. Keep rinsing until your water comes clear (once again … DO NOT skip this step, it is vital to the final product’s success) 

   

   See the clear water? This rice has been rinsed properly:)

4. Once water runs clear for the rice, place in a large bowl fill bowl with water so that it covers at least 2 inches above the rice.
5. Then let the rice soak for an hour..Set your timer for this, the time is very important.  You do not want the rice to absorb too much water, or not enough water… ONE HOUR-NO MORE -NO LESS  (if you doubt me just ask Chef:)-
6. Then strain the rice in a fine strainer (a larger strainer will let too many rice grains through) 

   

   Using a fine strainer to strain the rice

7. Then put rice in a sauce pan with equal amounts of rice to water ( ie: 4 cups rice, 4 cups water)
8. Then place on stove top.  Bring to a boil, meanwhile take a piece of aluminum foil that is at a little larger than the size of the saucepan; and get a heavy pot that is at least the size of the mouth of the sauce pan.
9. Once rice & water come to a boil, quickly turn down to low, as low as it will go..
10. Then cover the saucepan with the foil, making a tight seal ( be careful, as the pot is very HOT) 

    

    Tight foil to seal in the steam

11. Then cover the foil covered saucepan with the heavy pan that you gathered earlier.  If you see steam escaping, crimp the foil tighter around the pan. (Be careful STEAM IS VERY HOT!!!! ) 

    

    Heavy pot over the foil to seal in the steam. This may look a little ghetto, but when properly done, it seals in the steam!

12. Set the timer for 5 minutes.. yep just 5 minutes.. no more no less!!!
13. Once timer goes off immediately remove pot from the heating element.  (Do not disturb the foil or the heavy pot.. KEEP THEM ON)
14. Then once pot is off heating element, set the timer for 10 minutes (Remember to keep the foil & heavy pot on at this time)
15. After 10 minutes, your rice is ready!!!
16. Take off the foil & heavy pot, then fluff with a fork 

    

    Fluffing with a fork

17. At this point, you can serve your rice.  Personally I like a little pink sea salt from the Himalayan mountains on my Himalayan Mountain Basmati rice & a touch of extra virgin olive oil.  Or you can place this on a sheet tray or a cookie tray to cool then package up for the vacuum sealer:)  Or put a little milk & honey or maple syrup on it with some freshly grated nutmeg & cinnamon. Anyway you make it, this is some tasty rice:) 

    

    Himalayan Basmati Rice & Himalayan Pink Sea Salt go perfectly together:)

18. Enjoy your fluffy,  Perfectly Steamed Rice from Perky’s Le Cordon Bleu Notebook  

    

    Perfectly Steamed Rice from Perky’s Le Cordon Bleu Notebook