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Ok, this is a serious question. My husband and I have constant discussions about Egyptian rice and I argue that it is NOT real rice, he insists it is. I prefer the regular long grain or basmatti (YUM Wild Rice, can't find that here in Egypt).
I have tried to cook Egyptian rice the same way I cook all other types of rice I've ever found in the states, but I can't seem to do it! It comes out so nasty and slimy and gooey. Can native Egyptians please give me the secret? Also, is there a way to cook it without using grease/oil/butter?
Thanks for serious replies.
7ayat- nefsi fe sobya Member # 7043
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my kingdom gave me a few tips in the "BURNED PAN" thread. you know the first time i shopped for rice in australia, it took me about 20 minutes to figure what i wanted, i've never seen so many choices!
by the way how do you cook rice in the states?
Dalia Member # 1230
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I prefer long grain and basmati as well, don't really like Egyptian rice.
It's great for making sushi, though!
With a name like Smuckers Member # 10289
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True there are many types of rice elsewhere. It's very simple, just clean the rice, and double the amount of water that you use of rice. Example: If you use one cup full of rice cook it in 2 cups full of water.
You take the water and boil it first. Then add the rice. Stir well and cover the pot tightly. Cook ON LOW for about 15-20 minutes (check and taste the rice until it's perfect). Usually 20 minutes is the average.
It's done.
7ayat- nefsi fe sobya Member # 7043
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oh the egyptian way is differnt. clean the rice, and get all the dirt out of it (very important in egypt. then put some egg noodles with oil, or samna, and fry until golden (i can never get this right) when its done add the rice, and mix them up together. then add an equal amount of water. so, one cup or rice= one cup of water. add some salt. then put it on medium fire until most of the water is gone, then lower the fire, and wait until its cooked.
quote:Originally posted by *Tigerlily*: Which makes you a semi-vegetarian.
And I thought fish are animals too......
They are and I don't eat them.
In Japan the word sushi refers to a broad range of food prepared with sumeshi or sushi meshi, which is vinegared rice. Outside Japan, sushi is often taken to mean raw fish, which is a confusion with sashimi, the properly generic term for fresh seafoods served raw.
Nanouk Member # 10384
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quote:Originally posted by With a name like Smuckers: Ok, this is a serious question. ....
Can native Egyptians please give me the secret? Also, is there a way to cook it without using grease/oil/butter?
Not secrets but some hints: - Wash thoroughly until the water runs clear (cuts down on the starch surrounding the grains) - Use less fat, just enough so that the all the grains are coated and have an opaque look. (Can always add a couple of tablespoons of butter into the rice after cooking) - Use less water than the two to one ratio used for basmati rice.
Madame M. Member # 8386
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It really helps to use one of those heat diffuser things also. When I cooked rice in Egypt I did it much the same as rice at home only I couldn't get the heat under control, the rice kept sticking and wanting to burn. My SIL showed me that the heat diffusers do the trick. I much prefer basmati rice as well.
Enigma Member # 9314
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This is sooooo weird.........I was thinking about this only last night!! I know, I lead an exciting life
It's just that whenever I have rice in Egypt (which is alot!!) it seems to taste so much nicer. I was going to ask someone exactly how it's cooked.
Thanks Smuckers for asking, and thanks to everyone else for their responses Let's see if I can do this without burning the house down............
Salam
tootifrooti Member # 9824
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Are rice cookers not available in egypt? Just scoop cup of rice to cup of water put lid on, plug in switch on, and the bell goes off when it is done. It then goes low to keep warm. Very cheap to buy, around $30. Perfect rice everytime, no matter what type of rice.
Mimmi Member # 3606
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quote:Originally posted by tootifrooti: Are rice cookers not available in egypt? Just scoop cup of rice to cup of water put lid on, plug in switch on, and the bell goes off when it is done. It then goes low to keep warm. Very cheap to buy, around $30. Perfect rice everytime, no matter what type of rice.
Egyptian rice is cooked differently, it is supposed to be fried a bit before cooking . It takes time to make egyptian rice ,no fast food. I have been trying to get it right , I have it almost right but not exactley according to my husband. I think that the real egyptian rice the grain is bigger. Here I have tried to make the brwon rice egyptian style and with that I have got closest to the real thing but I can not get it compleatley right.
7ayat- nefsi fe sobya Member # 7043
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quote:Originally posted by tootifrooti: Are rice cookers not available in egypt? Just scoop cup of rice to cup of water put lid on, plug in switch on, and the bell goes off when it is done. It then goes low to keep warm. Very cheap to buy, around $30. Perfect rice everytime, no matter what type of rice.
yeah i bought that, but havent used it yet. it just feels like cheating
Dalia Member # 1230
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Wow! I didn't know cooking rice could be so complicated.
I just put the rice into a pot, add twice the amount of water (and some salt), wait until it boils, then turn down the heat, cover and let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes ... et voilà!
It's important not to stir it because then it will get sticky.
suzy24/7 Member # 10317
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I LOVE Egyptian rice!! I got my aunt to tell me how to cook it and my rice never comes out the same But I guess I'll keep trying.
7ayat- nefsi fe sobya Member # 7043
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quote:Originally posted by Dalia: Wow! I didn't know cooking rice could be so complicated.
I just put the rice into a pot, add twice the amount of water (and some salt), wait until it boils, then turn down the heat, cover and let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes ... et voilà!
It's important not to stir it because then it will get sticky.
how about the "sha3riya" egg noodles, when do you add them
Dalia Member # 1230
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I don't.
I usually eat rice with Indian or Asian dishes, meaning I add veggies and sauce, so noodles wouldn't really fit in ...
Mimmi Member # 3606
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quote:Originally posted by 7ayat- nefsi fe sobya:
quote:Originally posted by Dalia: Wow! I didn't know cooking rice could be so complicated.
I just put the rice into a pot, add twice the amount of water (and some salt), wait until it boils, then turn down the heat, cover and let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes ... et voilà!
It's important not to stir it because then it will get sticky.
how about the "sha3riya" egg noodles, when do you add them
7ayat , I think it is the vermicelli=rice noodels you should add not egg noodels. You fry the vermicelli with the rice firts than add water and salt. Is there anybody who can tell exactley how to make egyptian rice! Is the grain of the Egyptian rice bigger and rounder than the one of the normal rice!!
7ayat- nefsi fe sobya Member # 7043
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you know in egypt we just call is sha3riya. when i moved to australia they told me that the equivalent is egg noodles. i guess they were wrong!
hassanli Member # 10683
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a rice cooker works wonders...
Charm El Feikh? Member # 10243
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ha ha... hassanli... i can tell your gonna be an asset to the board. active posters seem to join and post on old threads... it always makes me smile!!!
candy Member # 10393
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I was told that egyptian rice really is some kind of pasta > ??????????????
Mimmi Member # 3606
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quote:Originally posted by candy: I was told that egyptian rice really is some kind of pasta > ??????????????
No it is rice, brownish roundish biggish grains
Mai Member # 6172
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Heeeeeeeeeeey girls...ok as egyptian girl i'll tell u the secet of the egyptian mother's rice step BY Step for 2 persons ok 1- put 1 spoon (medium)butter 2-u can add sher3ria or no(may be u name it something else) 3-add about 1 and 1/2 cup of rice after washing it with water 4-the secret is in the next .... egyptians used to boil meat or chicken in water adding to it( 1 big onion +salt+ pepper and some spices (mara2a)) that is used in making egyptian soap..when is diluted with water or so any way egyptian women used this water in making rice 5-so when u add the rice in the butter and stirr it till it's coated and look shiny add the mara2a(or meat or chicken soap )to the rice just to cover the rice... 6- medium heat till the rice drink the water partly and then weak heat 7- secret no 2 never put the rice directly on the fire when u lower the fire..just put a metalic thing between.. That's allllllllllll don't worry it's easy in doing more than reading
With a name like Smuckers Member # 10289
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Guess what! Today for the FIRST TIME IN my life I cooked Egptian rice perfectly! My husband was so happy and just smiled There may be hope for me yet! THanks to everyone for the advice!!! (I used chicken bullion cubes since we aren't eating bird flu chicken lately)
el_la7w_el_khafy Member # 10639
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I'm a guy and I can probably make rice better than any of u ladies here!
With a name like Smuckers Member # 10289
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lol well probably so since I'm foreign. Can you give any new advice?
el_la7w_el_khafy Member # 10639
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Well I usually don't give out my cooking secrets but I think I can make an exception here The secret's in the amount of butter u put into the rice. Butter will give the rice a nice taste but too much will give it a strong buttery smell and taste which u don't want. For one cup of rice, about 5-10 grams of butter should suffice according to personal preference. Also use a teflon pan and put that metal thingy that someone mentioned above below the pan.
Happy rice cooking!
Black Joker Member # 10461
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quote:Originally posted by 7ayat- nefsi fe sobya: my kingdom gave me a few tips in the "BURNED PAN" thread. you know the first time i shopped for rice in australia, it took me about 20 minutes to figure what i wanted, i've never seen so many choices!
by the way how do you cook rice in the states?
Where in Sydney are you located ?!
bibo1978 Member # 9287
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quote:Originally posted by Dalia: Wow! I didn't know cooking rice could be so complicated.
I just put the rice into a pot, add twice the amount of water (and some salt), wait until it boils, then turn down the heat, cover and let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes ... et voilà!
It's important not to stir it because then it will get sticky.
Don't do this with Egyptain rice you might get a bad result "labba we call it"
With a name like Smuckers Member # 10289
posted
quote:Originally posted by el_la7w_el_khafy: Well I usually don't give out my cooking secrets but I think I can make an exception here The secret's in the amount of butter u put into the rice. Butter will give the rice a nice taste but too much will give it a strong buttery smell and taste which u don't want. For one cup of rice, about 5-10 grams of butter should suffice according to personal preference. Also use a teflon pan and put that metal thingy that someone mentioned above below the pan.
Happy rice cooking!
Thanks for the advice. Now if I could just figure out what the metal thingy is.....
newcomer Member # 1056
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quote:Originally posted by With a name like Smuckers: Thanks for the advice. Now if I could just figure out what the metal thingy is.....
Hi Smuckers!
The "metal thingy" is a heat diffuser and you should be able to get one for a few pounds at any kitchenware shop.
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But I guess I'll keep trying.
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