Black Rice Per Person Calculator – Perfect Serving Sizes

Black rice is known under several different names. One also calls it purple rice, banned rice or even rice of the emperor. Its deep purple-black grains clearly separate it from average rices.

Various species exist, for instance Indonesian black rice, Filipino hereditary balatinaw rice, pirurutong black sticky rice and Thai jasmine black rice. Some of them are sticky so they become gluey after cooking.

All About Black Rice

The name “banned rice” comes from old China. Before, it was kept only for emperors, to help them live long and stay healthy. No other folk deserved its taste.

Now that secret went out, however the grains always remind us of its historic past.

The black rice receives its dark color from pigments in the bark. They are similar to those antioxidants that one finds in blueberries and black berries. Truly, one considers it “blue” food, because it has similar benefits as those fruits.

One species, the banned rice, is grown in teh region of Black Dragon River south of the northeast of China. It forms an intermediate hereditary rice group with surprisingly deep purple shade after cooking.

The taste strongly differs from that of white rice. It is nutty, a bit chewy and has light tenderness. It is more like brown rice, but with more marked nutty note.

The Chinese black rice, occasionally called rice of the emperor, becomes a silky dark indigo colour when one cooks it, and it gives rich, sweet taste.

Black rice beats white and brown rices in several areas of health. It stores more antioxidants than brown rice. It also offers more protein then white rice and is rich in fiber and iron.

Compared to white rice, it has much more magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and plant nutrients like anthocyanins and tocopherols. For one serving it provides around 5 grams of plant-based protein, 3 grams of fiber and 45 grams of whole grains. Early studies link it with helps for weight control, improved eye health, reduced swelling and defense against cancer, diabetes and heart diseases.

The only downside deals with the cost. It costs more than brown or white rice. It is also hard to find in usual stores.

Asian stores work well for finding it. Brands like Lotus Foods and Lundberg Family Farms offer various black rices. It is important to note that some online products were already pulled because of possible dyeing insteadof natural color.

Soak black rice in water for 30 minutes before cooking to make it more soft. The ratio for cooking is one cup rice against two and half cups water. It cooks longer than white rice, because it stays whole grain.

A rice cooker or medium pot with a well closed cover both work well. Adding a little black rice to white rice in a one-to-three ratio gives a nice purple mix. It also works surprisingly well for coconut black rice pudding, prepared with coconut milk and a bit of salt.