Nigiri Sushi MAKES: 24 to 36 pieces TIME: 20 minutes with premade rice and topping Nigiri is simple hand-shaped sushi, which takes less practice than rolled (maki) sushi; see the accompanying illustrations. To top, you can use any filling from the Improvising Sushi...
Mixed Rice, Japanese Style Kayaku Gohan MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 40 minutes Kayaku gohan (mixed rice) may be thought of as Japanese paella. It's less sophisticated than sushi and, in the home at least, far more common. Like paella, it may be made with or without...
Japanese Rice with Edamame and Sea Greens MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes If you haven't yet discovered the wonders of sea greens (you might call them seaweed), this is your opportunity. And please try dashi here: It adds a complex flavor that simply can't be...
Rice Balls Onigiri MAKES: 4 to 8 servings TIME: 30 minutes Rice balls are a part of daily life in Japan, a fast snack, something to be grabbed on the run or part of a boxed lunch and clearly somewhat healthier than potato chips. There's almost nothing to them: cooked...
Yellow Rice, the Best Way MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes There is the right way to make this and a number of easy ways; even the easy ways are good, but this right here with saffron and other spices and a couple of vegetables is really the ultimate. Vegan with oil...
White Rice and Black Beans MAKES: 4 to 6 servings TIME: About 2 hours, largely unattended Seriously delicious and really easy. This technique semipureing the half-cooked beans and adding the rice makes a great case for cooking all rice and bean dishes this way,...
White Rice MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 to 30 minutes There are several ways to cook rice, and all of them get the job done. Unfortunately, the most commonly taught method in which rice is brought to a boil with one-and-a-half times its volume of water, covered, and...
Steamed Sticky Rice MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 2 hours, largely unattended Among the most incredible one-ingredient preparations in the world, sticky rice is popular throughout East and Southeast Asia. In Thailand, among other places, it's eaten at just about every...
Rice with Peas MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 20 minutes This can be made with leftover rice, but then you're essentially making fried rice, as in The Basics of Fried Rice. Prepared this way, it's a little more sophisticated. If you're using frozen peas, defrost them first,...
Rice with Chickpeas MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes with cooked beans Chickpeas are a great way to boost the flavor and texture of a rice dish; they add richness to the cooking liquid and don't turn to mush. (And, with the rice, they provide complete protein.) Add...
Rice with Cheese MAKES: 4 servings TIME: 30 minutes This delicious, over-the-top recipe has such a strong dairy component that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone trying to reduce their fat intake or eat vegan style. Everyone else will love it: It's simple, rich, and...
Rice Pilaf, Nine Ways MAKES: 4 servings TIME: About 30 minutes, plus a little time to rest Only a tiny bit more complicated than plain rice, but with enormous potential, as you'll see. Note that not only may this be made in advance, it should be made (slightly) in...