You Probably Didn't Know You Can Eat This Rice Raw
We know what you're thinking. Raw rice? Wouldn't that be rather ... crunchy? However, it turns out that you can actually eat some rice raw, no cooking required, which is great news for those of us who struggle to cook rice just the right way (because achieving the perfect water-to-rice ratio and then letting it cook without lifting the lid to check in on things is much easier said than done).
According to The Full Helping food blog, wild rice can be eaten totally raw because it's not really a grain. Instead, the blog explains that wild rice is "an aqueous grass." So, rather than cooking the rice, you can soak it over the course of a few days, and then you have tender, perfectly-textured rice ready to eat or use in your favorite wild rice salad recipe. While this method might not be as quick as boiling some rice on the stove top, it's certainly easier.
How to prepare wild rice for raw eating
If you'd like to chow down on your next helping of wild rice in its raw state, The Full Helping recommends soaking about a third cup of raw wild rice in 1 to 2 cups of water and then soaking the rice for three days, changing the water out at least twice daily. This process is referred to as "blooming" the wild rice, according to food blogger Mariko Sakata. The resulting rice should be soft, swollen, and chewy, with a texture similar to spelt or wheat berries. Before using the rice, rinse it and give it a quick pat dry before adding any other ingredients, such as spices, fresh veggies, or a salad dressing.
Don't want to wait three days for your raw rice dish? Sakata says you can get your raw rice ready to go in about 18 hours if you score the rice first by running it through a food processor for a full minute, then placing the rice in a tightly-closed mason jar to soak.