Mommy Needs A Minute

It seems so obvious that an Asian person should know how to make steamed white rice, but what if you’ve never been taught, or you don’t have a rice cooker? I think of my son when I write this recipe, and how he won’t always have me to teach him everything. One day, he’ll be an adult and off to college, or a grown man with a family to care of on his own, and as I age with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, I seem to want to cook less and less. I write these recipes so he has something to refer to when I am too disabled to be in the kitchen.

My grandma used to tell me stories about working in the Pangasinan rice fields in the Philippines. Her father was a farmer, and with many mouths to feed, rice was a staple food not just in her home, but in the homes of many others. It is a precious heritage that has been passed down from our ancestors, and although it is plain, it reminds us of times when food was more valuable than money. It’s okay to mess up a few times, as rice cooking is the first thing we learn to cook because of how central it is to Asian cuisine, but like all things, it sometimes takes trial and error. Whatever is ruined can always be portioned, frozen, and made into porridge later.

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 1 pot with see-through lid
• 3 cups Thai jasmine rice
• 4 cups water

Instructions: 

Add your rice to the pot and cover with water until the rice is submerged, leaving the rice to soak for 20 minutes. Scrub the grains of rice together between the palms of your hands to release starch and remove impurities. The water should turn milky white. Drain the rice of water and repeat until the water is almost completely clear. We don’t want too much starch. Level your rice using your hands so the rice is flat and even in the pot.  For every cup of rice, you must add 1 1/3 cups of water. Place a see-through lid over the pot and place over high heat. As soon as the water begins boiling, turn the heat to low and simmer. After 10 minutes have passed, turn off the heat and allow to sit and continue steaming for ten more minutes. Make sushi or serve as a side to your favorite dish.

Do you enjoy Mommy Needs A Minute? Check out our merch!

https://my-store-1084831.creator-spring.com

All proceeds go towards supporting Peanut’s Medical Fund