Brown rice is an inexpensive grain that can become the hearty base for a variety of gourmet meals. Use this step by step guide on how to cook brown rice on the stove to expertly introduce this grain into your meal plans for a dish that is both tasty and healthy.
I love incorporating grains into my meals including cooked pearl and hulled barley, quinoa and of course, brown rice. They can add texture, flavor, and diversity to your meal, plus they're filling without being overly heavy.
Jump to:
What is the Difference Between Brown and White Rice?
Despite all of the opinions about which rice is healthier, people should know that brown rice IS white rice. The only difference is that brown rice still has its husks, bran and germ. This makes it much more beneficial if you are wanting to add fiber to your diet.
Brown rice tends to have a nuttier flavor than white rice. It is filling, and will add nutrition to your recipes that white rice cannot. Because of this loss in nutrition when removing these components, white rice tends to be fortified with these nutrients (meaning they're added back to the rice). Brown rice is also lower in calories and carbs.
⭐I also made a recipe tutorial for how to cook asparagus on the stove if you're interested!
Ingredients
This recipe makes 2 servings of brown rice. You can scale up the servings using the slider on the recipe card.
- brown rice - I like to use long grain brown rice for its light and fluffy texture. The grains remain separated when cooked.
- olive oil - To fry the mushrooms. It will also help improve the flavor and texture of the rice. You can substitute with another oil if desired.
- green onions - For a flavor boost (optional).
- dried mushrooms - This can be a mixture of porcini, maitake, shiitake, portobello, chanterelle, etc.
*Check recipe card for full ingredient list with amounts.
Steps for Cooking Brown Rice on the Stove
Step #1. Clean the rice. Rinse the rice in a sieve under cool water.
Step #2. Bring water to a boil. Place the rice in a deep pot. Boil the water and add it to the pot along with a pinch of salt. Bring back to a boil. Lower heat to low and cover with the lid.
Step #3. Cook. Let it cook and steam for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, keep covered and let sit for 10 minutes.
Step #4. Fry the mushrooms. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the green onion and dried mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Reserve.
Step #5. Fluff the rice. Once the rice is ready, fluff the grains using a fork.
Step #6. Combine ingredients. Combine the rice with the scallions and mushrooms. Season with salt to taste. Serve!
Serving Suggestions
This brown rice dish makes an excellent side dish to protein-based meals like Cajun blackened chicken, bison steak or even fried tofu.
Prefer to eat it all on its own? No problem. This brown rice with the mushrooms and vegetables is a great vegetarian or vegan dinner or lunch option.
Storage
- Refrigerate. You can store your cooked rice covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze. Freeze it for up to 6 months.
- Reheat. To reheat on the stove, add a couple of tablespoons of water or broth per cup of cooked rice. Cook and stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until heated through. It can also be microwaved.
Brown Rice Recipe FAQs
Brown rice can be cooked on the stove relatively quickly. In this recipe, it only requires 20 minutes plus 10 minutes of resting time.
To cook brown rice on the stove, just use a 2 to 1 ratio of water to rice. So, for 1 cup of rice, add 2 cups of water or broth. You can also check the package for the best ratio.
If you skip rinsing brown rice before cooking, it might turn out a bit stickier. Rinsing gets rid of extra starch on the grains, making the cooked rice fluffier. It also helps remove any debris and can give the rice a milder taste. But, rinsing is optional, and some folks might skip it for simplicity.
❤️ More Rice Filled Recipes You Will Love
Did this easy recipe change your mind about including brown rice 🍚 in your meal plan? If you tried this recipe tutorial for How to Cook Brown Rice on the Stove or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
How to Cook Brown Rice on the Stove
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup green onions - chopped
- ½ cup dried mushrooms - soaked (can be a mixture of mushrooms)
- salt - to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rice in a sieve under cool water.1 cup brown rice
- Place the rice in a deep pot. Boil the water and add it to the pot along with a pinch of salt. Bring back to a boil. Lower heat to low and cover with the lid.2 cups water
- Let it cook and steam for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, keep covered and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the green onion and dried mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes. Reserve.1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ cup green onions, ½ cup dried mushrooms
- Once the rice is ready, fluff the grains using a fork. Combine the rice with the scallions and mushrooms.
- Season if desired and serve.
Equipment
Notes
- Dried mushrooms can include a mixture of porcini, maitake, shiitake, portobello, chanterelle, etc.
- You can store your cooked rice covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- You can also freeze leftovers for up to 6 months.
- To reheat on the stove, add a couple of tablespoons of water or broth per cup of cooked rice. Cook and stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until heated through. It can also be microwaved.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Leave a Reply