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I am not known to be an adventurer with food … I never have been but when one of my friends recently suggested that I try Black Rice. I thought it sounded interesting and when I happened to see it at Costco, I decided to try it.
I don’t typically eat a lot of rice because it takes forever to cook and I really just don’t have the patience. After trying it and despite its appearance prior to cooking, I’m going to have to find the patience… I loved it. It has a deeper and more intense flavor than brown rice and turns a dark purple when cooked. The huge benefit, though, is in the antioxidants. One serving of black rice has the more antioxidants than a serving of blueberries!
The most interesting thing, though, about Black Rice is that it used to be called “forbidden rice”. In “ancient” times it was reserved for Emperors. Consuming the rice without approval from the proper “authorities” was not allowed and stealing even a handful of rice could result in death! The emperors thought that the Black Rice would extend their lives and they wanted to reserve it for themselves.
Personally, I loved this forbidden rice plain but if you are interested in trying it as part of a larger dish, you can find recipes here.
What new food have you tried recently? And, if you try black rice – let me know what you think!
Nutrition:
Serving size = 1/4 cup uncooked
160 calories;
2 grams of fiber;
34 grams of carbohydrates;
% Daily Value
0% Vitamin A
0% Vitamin Vitamin C
0% Calcium
4% Iron
Other Nutritional Benefits: Because of the “purple and reddish pigments” (otherwise known as anthocyanins), Black Rice has been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease, cancer, and improvement in memory.
