How to Cook Rice…the Filipino Way

Posted on Jul 25, 2011 by Chelo in Filipino Food, Food, Kusina Tips, Rice | 6 comments

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You might have heard this before : “Rice is the Filipino’s staple food”.  It’s true.

It is pasta to the Italian. Potatoes to the American. And chocolate to women…Okey okey maybe not the last one.

A lot of us Pinoys would not dare eat anything without rice to accompany the meal. In fact, I know of somebody—I’m not naming names—who’d eat rice with spaghetti! Yep she is that dedicated. Wooops. I said “she” didn’t I? Well, at least I didn’t tell you it was one of my siblings. Whoops! I did it again. Okey. Don’t be mean (I asked her permission to write that).

And Besides, It’s okey to be different!

Back to rice. Since a lot of the meals I will be sharing with you (Mondays) are Filipino food, I thought it fitting to start with the basics.

Here in America, I know of 3 ways we can cook our own rice.

First : The Quick  Way:

The boxed microwavable rice.  This one isn’t bad at all.  You can purchase these at Walmart or most grocery stores.  The rice is in a bag with holes.  All you do is boil water, put the bag in and boil for x  amount of time (I think its 3 minutes) and its done.  Easy. Convenient.  My mother-in-law makes this when we go over to visit.  We usually eat it with Salmon Cakes, grilled Chicken, or Tilapia.

Second: The Rice Maker Way

My hubby and I got one just like this for a wedding present 4 years ago and we've used it often

Cooking rice with an electric rice maker is also easy peasy. Madali lang din!   All you need is rice, water, and of course, the rice maker.  Follow steps 1 and 2 below and hit “cook” and that’s it.    We use this method in our home.

Third:  Pot on the Stove Way

Ever seen one of these?

We don’t cook rice pot & stove way anymore (unless I’m making Lugaw, or Aroz Caldo) but I decided I’d cook some just for illustration

You see most girls in the Philippines are taught how to cook rice…at least, I can say that about my clan.  We were taught by our Lolas, Mamas, and Titas.  What you’ll need: rice, water, stove, and a pot w/ lid.

Here are the steps:

Step 1 Wash the rice.  I usually just wash once.  Back in the Philippines, we washed about 3 times to make sure it didn’t have  pebbles or other such impurities. But with the rice we buy here, I don’t think it’s necessary.

 Step 2 Measure the water.  Most people follow the 1:1 rice to water ratio.  1 cup of rice needs 1 cup of water.  Some people like their rice a little more sticky and wet so they’d use more of the 1:2 ratio.  I personally don’t measure the water by cups.  I use the old fashioned “measure by hand” that my Lola (grandmother) taught me (I have a picture of her here).

 3 ways to measure the water:

• use a measuring cup and follow the 1:1 (or 1:2) rice to water ratio. The more water you use, the stickier/wetter the rice will be.
• (Left picture) The method I use.  Lay your hand flat over the rice. Water should only cover the fingers not the back of your hand.
• (Right picture) The less involved method is what I learned as a kid.  Put the fingers right on top of the rice and make sure the water comes up to the first line of tallest finger (middle).

Once the rice comes to a good boil.  You know…when you see lots of bubbles…change the stove setting to medium low and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  This will allow for the rice to absorb the water and this should give you enough time to take a shower or do whatever.

Just don’t go too far and you might want to set a timer…

otherwise you’d end up with burnt rice.  We’ve had a lot of those growing up…thanks to your’s truly.

After 15-20 minutes had passed, check back on the rice.  If it looks like this:

It’s done!

Unless you like fluffed rice…

Step 5 (Optional)

Some people like fluffy rice.   Use a fork to fluff the rice to your heart’s content.

(This rice was a little too wet for my taste.)

There you go!  Done.

1 Cup of uncooked rice will yield approx. 2 servings

Cooking time is around 20 minutes

When we were kids, we’d eat rice with just about anything:  tuyo (google it), cocoa and sugar, vegetables, etc.

I have so many tender memories involving rice.  My family went through some very tough times, there were times  my sister and I would eat rice by itself.  Sometimes we put a little salt / sugar depending on our mood.  We were never really without food.  Close.  But never truly starving unlike many of the children (Street Children) in the Philippines who actually have to beg  for money or food.

Photo Credit - Flickr Shane Grady (sgrady54)

I will eat the Italian’s pasta and the American’s potatoes.  But I will always be fond of eating rice.  I will still prefer thePinoy’s rice over pasta or potatoes because I am a Filipino.

The memories of my family’s past and memories of the starving people on streets of the Philippines, make me more thankful for the rice I get to cook and eat…wet or not.

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