A bowl of white rice is a nice evening meal, and a satisfying one at that. But how many of you know that there’s a distant, darker cousin of white rice you’ve hardly heard of?
Yes, Black Rice is a thing for real, and this article elaborates on this lesser known, much healthier variety of rice. Keep reading.
To speak of its gastronomical legacy, Black Rice was a part of Chinese royal food culture. Barring a handful of wealthy families and kinsmen, this unique variety of rice wasn’t available for the general public for consumption. And it continued to be an ‘elite’ staple, which earned it a new label - ‘The Forbidden Rice’ or ‘The Emperor’s Rice’.
Health Benefits of Black Rice
Black Rice is a powerhouse of nutrition. It’s incredibly healthier, and was primarily consumed by Chinese royals for the better functioning of stomach, liver and kidney. It’s a potent antioxidant agent with healing benefits for diabetes, and also supports heart and brain-related activities. Moreover, it’s loaded with Vitamin-E content, which improves skin and hair. If you wish to eat something low on calories, but tasty, serve yourself a platter full of Black Rice, which is also rich in dietary fiber and iron content. You’ll surely love it.
Soon, it slid out of the privileged plates and its ‘many’ benefits were available to all.
Today, Black Rice is cultivated in relatively larger quantities, and not just in China, but various parts of the world. To talk of India, the North Eastern state of Manipur is popular for its black rice cultivation, where it’s known as Chak-Hao. Besides Manipur, it’s grown in southern regions, where it’s known as Kavuni in Tamil.
Now, if you’re eager to try out dishes made using Black Rice, you’re on the right page. We’ve rounded up healthier, highly nutritional black rice dishes you can try out. Take notes!
Manipuri Black Rice Recipes :
Dish 1 - Baked Orange Cauliflower & Black Rice
It’s a burst of delectable flavors, we tell you. Coat cauliflower flower in panko breadcrumbs and bake them all. To make it palatable, top it with sweet orange chili glaze and slip into a food stupor.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 2 - Black Rice Pudding with Coconut & Mango
image source - http://www.bourbonandhoney.com
A very comforting dish to tickle your sweet tooth. Coconut milk, mixed with a bowl of black rice, and a dab of coconut sugar makes an amazing dessert to satiate your sweet cravings. It’s the perfect dessert for a summer day.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 3 - Black Fried Rice With Snap Peas and Scallions
image source - http://feedmephoebe.com
Delicious, nothing but delicious! Try it once, and you’ll be asking it greedily every time. It’s a bowl of black rice, armed with scintillating flavors of veggies, seafood and a tea-smoked egg in the center.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 4 - Miso Forbidden Rice Bowls
image source - https://fullofplants.com
This recipe is stunning to look at, and has a very agreeable nutty flavor. Black rice blends with baked sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and miso sauce, to create a whirlwind of flavors in a mouthful. It’s a bowl of divinity.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 5 - Thai Chicken Forbidden Rice Soup
image source - https://www.gatheranddine.com
A simple soup to relish and slip into a food coma! It’s totally a feel-good recipe with the exoticness of Black Rice, and the tangy flavors of lemongrass and ginger. This’ll be your go-to comforting food, we bet.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 6 - Black Rice And Arborio Risotto With Artichokes
image source - https://cooking.nytimes.com
It’s the coming-together of two amazing variety of rice - Black ‘Forbidden’ Rice and Arborio Rice - for a taste that replicates the flavor bomb what Italian Risotto is. And, Artichokes does a magic.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 7 - Black Rice And Spinach Salad
image source - https://www.seasonalcravings.com
A health snob? You’re in for a ultra-nutritional salad surprise. Spinach, combined with a great antioxidant like Black Rice, makes for a sumptuous meal like ever.
Read the Full Recipe here.
Dish 8 - Black Rice Tabbouleh With Chickpeas Feta and Pistachios
Take it from us, you’ll go bananas over the pistachios and feta in this Black Rice recipe, so much so, that you wouldn’t mind serving it seven days a week. It’s pure explosion in a spoon.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish 9 - Soy Ginger Shrimp with Forbidden Rice
image source - https://www.thelittleepicurean.com
It’s little more than an epicurean feast; a must-try if you’re craving for the SEA. Try this, and you’ll love yourself for loving the ‘shrimp’.
Read the full recipe here.
Dish - 10 - Black Rice, Beet, and Kale Salad with Cider Flax Dressing
image source - http://yummybeet.com
Bliss, where’s it? Well, here it’s. This salad is a marinated bliss over your tongue, and a perfect side buffet dish for a thanksgiving dinner. Simple as heck, this salad will be your rushing-thought-idea-of-food if you’re short of time.
Read the full recipe here.
Bonus :
Black Sushi Burger
image source - http://aime-mange.com
Rice-to-a-burger kind of transformation? Aha, you don’t get to see it often. Sushi burgers are a racing passion these days, and if you’re a huge gastronomic, this Black Rice is all you’re looking for. A little pain, however, is involved here: you need Google Translate to get the recipe in your native language. Sorry, but you’ll thank us later!
Read the recipe here.
These are the Oh-so-amazing Black Rice recipes you must try. If you haven’t switched to black rice already, these mouth-watering recipes are big enough an encouragement. Try any of these and let us know your experience in the comments section below and if you are Interested to try these dishes at home? Order a pack of Manipuri black rice from ASSAMICA AGRO today.