Multigrain Rice

6 cups (less than 1.5 L), Preparation Time 60 minutes


Multigrain Rice

We stumbled onto making a Multigrain Rice indirectly.  We had no interest in making it because our favourite rices had different cooking times, and we speculated that cooking them all together would result in some overcooked or uncooked grains. The alternative; making say three separate batches using their varying cooking times and mixing the end products seemed like too much work.  The idea of combining multiple grains popped into our head while reviewing a series of videos from NutritionFacts.org regarding the issue of arsenic levels and rice.  The video titled How to Cook Rice to Lower Arsenic Levels introduced the concept of cooking rice using the 'pasta method'.  It is then we realized the method is perfect for cooking different rice types all in one pot, and were rices vary the cooking times, you delay adding the shorter cooking rice types.  

In our Multigrain Rice we use Wild Rice with a cooking time of 50 minutes. We use Red Rice and Brown Basmati Rice, both with a 25-minute cooking time. Using the 'pasta method' we use a large pot of boiling water and boil the Wild Rice first for 25 minutes at which time we add the remaining types of rice thus ensuring that all three rice types are perfectly cooked and ready to drain all together. 

  • 1 cup (240 ml) long grain, whole grain Red Rice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Brown Basmati Rice
  • ½ cup (120 ml) Wild Rice
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 large pot of water ¾ filled with water
  1. Bring a large pot of water with salt to a simmering boil.
  2. Add the Wild Rice and cook for 25 minutes.
  3. Add the Red Rice and Brown Basmati Rice and continue to cook for a further 25 minutes.
  4. After 25 minutes, remove the pot from the heat source and drain away all the excess water.  Use a strainer if you wish to ensure that every grain of rice is kept.
  5. Allow the drained rice to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

The Pasta Cooking Method for Rice

When using the 'pasta method' as illustrated above to cook the rice, you will need to adjust the cooking times according to the rice varieties you use.  For example, you have three rices types that require an individual cooking time of 45, 40, and 25 minutes the 'pasta cooking' method would require: 

  1. the longest cooking rice, 45 minutes, is placed in the boiling water with salt and boils for 5 minutes, reduce to a simmering boil (45 minutes less 40 minutes for 5 minutes i.e. 45-40=5)
  2. add the next longest cooking rice to the simmering pot and cooks for 15 minutes (40 minutes less 25 minutes for 15 minutes i.e. 40-25=15)
  3. the shortest cooking rice is placed to the simmering pot and cooks along with the previous two rices for the last 25 minutes
  4. After 25 minutes, remove the pot from the heat source and drain away all the excess water.  Use a strainer if you wish to ensure that every grain is kept
  5. Allow the rice to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

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