18 Black Rice Recipes That Will Make You Crave the *Forbidden* Grain (2024)

FAQs

Does black rice need to be rinsed? ›

You don't need to rinse black rice before cooking it; doing so might wash away some of its nutrients. In a large, heavy saucepan, combine 1 cup black rice, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 cups water (less for chewier grains; more for a slightly softer texture). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Black brown rice is a healthy food that is both nutritious and helps to lose weight because of its high fiber content, creating a feeling of fullness and fat metabolism, releasing excess fat in the body.

Compared with other types of rice, it has a low yield, so it's not grown as much as higher-yielding, mainstream varieties. Even in ancient China, it was rare. In fact, the name “forbidden rice” comes from the fact that only the ancient Chinese royalty were allowed to eat it. Still, black rice is worth seeking out.

Being rich in fibre, black rice might lead to problems like gas and abdominal pain if consumed in excess.

“While black rice is highly nutritious, rather than eating it daily, it's best to rotate it with other whole grain options for more dietary variety and to reduce your intake of arsenic [which is found in most types of rice],” says Chatfield.

For example, whole grains are better for our health when compared to simple carbs – which is why brown rice or black rice are regarded as the healthiest options. You should certainly be looking into eating whole grain rice.

Brown rice is said to be the best type of rice for weight loss. Since it is a great source of fibre, it helps boost metabolism and fastens the weight loss process.

Like many foods, rice doesn't have a magical weight loss or weight gain property, but it can be a part of a healthy diet. Too much of anything, even healthy foods, can lead to weight gain. If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, rice isn't usually included because it's a high-carb food.

Eating Black Rice was believed to promote longevity, vitality, and bring good fortune. Commoners were forbidden from consuming it, and because of this, it was referred to as "forbidden rice" or "emperor's rice." But what makes Black Rice so special?

Black rice is not as easy to grow as other rice varieties because it only yields about 10 percent of the harvest that other rice varieties do. That makes the rice very expensive, which is why it was initially reserved only for the richest of the rich—which meant Chinese royalty at the time it was first discovered.

Is black rice healthier than quinoa? ›

Definitely, Quinoa is healthier than rice. Although they provides same calories but quinoa has lesser amount of carbs as compare to rice. Quinoa is also rich in dietary fibre and other nutrients like proteins, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc as compared to rice.

Black rice has been known for its many beneficial effects to our body because it contains several chemical compounds that act as anti-inflammatory agents.

As far as taste is concerned, black rice has a mild, nutty flavor, similar to that of brown rice. It also has a very chewy texture, which is why it's often used in porridge, puddings, and rice cakes. And those who avoid gluten will be pleased to learn that black rice is naturally gluten-free.

Brown rice contains higher amounts of arsenic than white rice. If you eat large amounts of rice, the white variety may be a better choice ( 12 , 49 , 50 ).

Recent studies have also discovered that, as it is grown, rice can pick up arsenic that is found naturally in soil. Arsenic is an element that can exist in soil, water, plants, animals, and the air. It can be toxic when consumed in large amounts. Some experts suggested rinsing in order to remove the arsenic.

Leave in for 30 minutes to an hour and then rinse out the rice water just with normal water. Dry and style your hair as normal and you shall start to see results over the weeks! The more you keep to this routine, the more results you will see.

Some rice varieties are more nutritious than others, and as the Chinese believed thousands of years ago, black rice is near the top of the healthy rice list. In fact, it has more fiber and protein than red, brown, or white rice, and gets an extra nutritious boost from those aforementioned anthocyanins.

Eating black rice can give you a worthwhile boost on your heart health and overall fitness. Along with protective anthocyanins, black rice contains high amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids known for their role in supporting eye health.