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Spice it up!

Taste Test Herbs and Spices with White Rice!

Not sure what spices to use when you're cooking or what they even taste like? Try cooking up some rice and do some taste testing. The whole family can participate!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Let rice steam... 10 minutes
Calories 206 kcal

Equipment

  • 8- or 9-quart pot to cook on stovetop OR
  • Rice cooker, if you have one OR
  • Instant Pot, if you have one
  • Small bowls - the number of bowls you'll need will depend on how many spices you are taste testing
  • Forks and/or spoons
  • * Pencil & Paper To take notes of what spices you like and which ones you do not for future cooking!

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Cups Rice white dry
  • Dashes Spices and herbs of your choice to test

Instructions
 

  • Cook a big batch of white rice as directed on the package, any white rice will do.
  • Set-up your mise en place of spices you want to try and bowls where the rice will be placed once cooked.
  • Scoop a small amt of rice into each bowl. Organize your small bowls of white rice to taste test.
  • Try one spice at a time. Make your notes, then try the next spice. You may want to take a sip of water in between tastes to clean your pallet.

Notes

More from Melissa

Knowing what a spice tastes like, if you have never used it in cooking, is a must! There are so many spices to choose from, especially considering the cuisine you are preparing. This fun kitchen activity can be very helpful in cooking and choosing the right spices for your health as well. 
Using white rice to taste spices and herbs before you use them can give you a tasty heads-up on pairing the right spices when you prepare a recipe. 
You may be wondering do I have to buy a whole container of the spice to test? What if I do not like it? 
You do not have to go out and buy a bunch of spices that you may never use again. Instead, check for a spice shop nearby. It's fun to go there and do some taste testing in the shop. You can purchase a small amount to do your testing on the rice in your kitchen. A national online example is The Spice House.   
Experiment with some herbs and spices that you haven’t ever cooked with. Hopefully you will discover some new flavors to add to your cooking repertoire!
Spice it up for the health of it!
Melissa

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 206kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 4.3gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 0.6gSugar: 0.1g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!