Black Rice Recipe for the Holidays
Usually in the fall, I spend months focusing on apple recipes, Halloween treats, and Thanksgiving side dishes. I get super excited about cutesy Halloween goodies, so I tend to get a little carried away. However, today’s black rice recipe will make a statement on your holiday table, yet is a bit more sophisticated than some of my earlier offerings.
What Is Forbidden Rice?
I love forbidden rice. Love. It. The color is so striking, it immediately draws attention when you serve it. There are two main varieties of whole-grain black rice: Forbidden Rice and Wild Rice. Forbidden rice (sometimes called black sticky rice, purple rice, or emperor’s rice) comes in various shades of black. As a glutinous rice, it tends to be softer and clump a little when cooked. It has a light nutty flavor and chewy texture. If you rinse it well before cooking it will clump less. Forbidden rice is great to use in dishes in which you might normally use long-grain or short-grain white rice varieties, such as rice pudding, rice porridge, or stir fried rice dishes. Wild rice comes in different shades of dark brown and black. It stays firm and separated when cooked, similar the brown rice. It is great for pilafs because the grains offer chewiness and fluff easily. Whether you like the hearty texture of wild rice or the tender texture of forbidden rice, either variety is fine for this black rice pilaf. To this Forbidden Rice, I added roasted acorn squash and toasted pecans for sweetness and nutty crunch. Roasted acorn squash is one of my favorite fall ingredients. It brings a sweet earthy note to this black rice recipe as well as a festive punch of orange color. If you aren’t crazy about acorn squash, this would be the perfect place to substitute diced butternut squash or sweet potatoes. Both offer the same appeal. This black rice recipe is for you, grownups. But don’t worry your kids will love Forbidden Rice with Acorn Squash and Pecans too!
How to Cook Black Rice
Ingredients You Need
Black Rice (forbidden rice or black wild rice) Butter (oil for vegan) Shallots Pecan Pieces (or cashews, walnuts, or almonds) Orange Zest Fresh Thyme Leaves Vegetable Oil Acorn Squash (or butternut squash) Salt and Pepper
Pilaf Method Steps
Is Forbidden Rice Gluten Free?
Yes, all rice is gluten-free, unless you add ingredients to it that contain gluten. This recipe is completely gluten-free.
Can I Cook Chinese Black Rice in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?
Yes, you can! Rinse the black rice several times to remove some of the starches. Place the rice in the Instant Pot and add 1 1/2 cups water. Pressure Cook on HIGH for 18 minutes, then perform a natural release for 9-12 minutes.
Can I make forbidden rice the day before?
Yes! I would tightly cover the cooked black rice with foil and warm it up in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.
How long will Forbidden Rice last in the fridge?
You can keep this black rice recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 6 days.
Can I freeze cooked Black Rice?
Yes. Store the rice in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Then thaw at room temperature before rewarming in the oven.
Other Holiday Recipes and Dishes:
Chicken Sausage Apple Squash Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe Three Sisters Butternut Squash Chili Recipe Bacon Pecan Brittle Recipe Smoky-Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Whiskey Cream Sauce Recipe Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto ~ Just a Taste Butternut Squash Cakes ~ The Bite House
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