It’s time to get innovative with your chef game! As much as you may enjoy preparing your favorite dishes with Jasmati® White Rice, Brown Rice or opting for the occasional quinoa meal, the moment has come for you to try something exotic: Black rice!

Black rice, also known as purple rice, is considered a superfood that will broaden your culinary horizons and introduce you to a whole new world of mouthwatering recipes.

Read on as we let you in on some expert rice knowledge including learning more about black rice, how to cook it, and which decadent recipes you can add to your next dinner party menu.

What is Black Rice?

Simply put, black rice is different. The first thing that sets it apart is its color, but its history is also interesting. In ancient China, it gained the name “forbidden” rice because it was reserved exclusively for emperors and royals due to its rarity and nutritional properties.

To this day, it’s mostly grown in Asia, particularly in China, India, Thailand and Indonesia, but there’s no need for you to travel to the other side of the globe to get your hands on it - RiceSelect® is happy to bring our very own Black Rice 22oz straight to your kitchen.

So why choose black rice over the more familiar white or brown? Black rice is higher in protein, minerals and antioxidants than traditional white rice. It’s also low in fat and free of cholesterol.

Aside from its unique nutritional properties and distinct appearance, it's also known for its slightly nutty flavor and chewy texture. This gives you the opportunity to make something that truly stands out from the crowd!

Before we jump into some delicious black rice recipes, let’s look at how to prepare it.

How to Cook Black Rice

  1. To soak or not to soak? All RiceSelect® rice products are pre-rinsed, saving you time in the kitchen! However, home chefs can control the texture of their grains. By soaking black rice 30 minutes before cooking, you’ll end up with a more tender and moist texture. Otherwise, you can also prepare it straight from the jar for a texture that’s firmer and more chewy.

  2. Get the right ratio. 1 cup of black rice is best prepared with 2 cups of water.

  3. Heat on the stove. When the black rice and water are in the saucepan and on the stovetop, bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.

  4. Cover. While simmering, cover with a lid and leave it that way for 30 minutes.

  5. Check it. The texture should now be chewy and tender enough to eat.

  6. Let it sit. Once you’ve turned off the heat, you should leave your black rice to sit for 5 minutes while still covered and removed from the hot stove.

  7. Now it’s ready! Simply, remove the lid from the saucepan, fluff the rice with a fork and serve!

Now that you know how to prepare black rice, here's some delicious inspiration for your next favorite recipe!

Elevated Black Rice Recipes

For a Thai-inspired dish that makes a weeknight dinner to savor, try this Thai Chicken and Black Rice Soup. The nutty rice pairs perfectly with the bright, peppery ginger and lemongrass.

Thai Green Vegetable Curry with Black Rice makes a highly satisfying vegetarian option for those who want a meatless meal but still want to enjoy Thai cuisine.

Kitchen Tip: Whether you’re cooking black rice, Whole Grain Meals for Foodies or any other kind of rice recipe, it’s normal to have plenty of rice leftover in the saucepan. For that reason, it’s worth knowing How to Make Delicious Dishes with Leftover Rice!

How to Build an Unforgettable Black Rice Bowl

Once you know the Keys to Elevated Bowl Recipes, you’ll know how to prepare an unforgettable black rice bowl. These dishes are easily customizable, meaning you can add and remove ingredients with ease to cater for different dietary preferences.

One of those could be this Vegan Bang Bang Tofu Black Rice Bowl, a meat free dish that’s rich in color and flavor and is bound to impress your guests. After all, with its rich flavor profile, black rice goes well with spicy sauces.

Equally impressive is this Miso Black Rice Bowl Recipe, packed with tantalizing tastes and topped with miso dressing to take your taste buds on an unforgettable journey! Double down on nutty notes with sesame but contrast black rice’s earthy flavors with sweet maple syrup and spicy cayenne pepper. For a home chef, a rice bowl is the perfect canvas for culinary creativity: experiment with the flavor profiles to create unforgettable meals!

Black Rice Recipes with Loads of Vegetables

Black rice also gives you the chance to add some more veggies to your meals. You can do so by preparing Black Rice Nasi Goreng with Bacon, Green Beans and Roasted Garlic. If you haven’t tried your hand at cooking up something from Indonesia before, there’s your chance!

Or for a classic rice pilaf dish that’s vegetarian and gluten-free, this Forbidden Rice and Greens Pilaf has it all. You can serve this up either as a main or a side dish.

Light Yet Satisfying Black Rice Salads

There’s more to black rice than large hearty dishes and rice bowls. It also makes a fantastic addition to light and tasty salads. Nothing sets the stage for an unforgettable dinner party menu like an impressive salad right off the bat. Bringing out a vibrant Thai Beef Salad with Black Rice dish – loaded with flavors of grilled sirloin, fresh mint and a tangy lime dressing – will surprise and delight your guests!

For another show stopping starter, toss together this Black Rice and Edamame Salad with Grapefruit Soy Dressing, bursting with the flavors of tangy grapefruit!

Plating Tips: For the extra wow factor, make sure to use contrasting colors in your dishes. Including vibrant citrus and bright leafy greens with black rice to give your plates an extra pop!

With black rice, you’ll have plenty of options to make dishes that are unique in appearance, texture and taste. For more ways to up your chef game, stay tuned to our cooking tips for home chefs.