There are those who consume it a Breakfast, in milk or with yogurt; who in the form of biscuit instead of bread for lunch; who as an ingredient for breading. We are talking about the puffed rice that we used to buy in the supermarket. IS if we did it at home instead? The principle is that of popcorn: just like these are 'burst' corn kernels due to the effect of heat, puffed rice is 'blown' rice grains, then dilated hot.
Here all the steps to prepare it and many recipes in which to use it.
Puffed rice: properties and nutritional values
From a nutritional point of view, it isn't nothing but rice. In terms of calories, without exaggerating the addition of salt or sugar, they are approx 400 kcal per 100 grams: the quantities consumed in the morning for breakfast (about 2 soup spoons) bring to our body about 150 kcal, the energy requirement necessary to resist hunger attacks until the mid-morning break.
How to prepare puffed rice
To swell with heat, rice grains must absorb the right degree of humidity. To prepare puffed rice, first, soak the rice and then rinse, repeating the operation until the water becomes clear, a sign that the rice is well washed.
So take a pot and fill it with water. When this reaches a boil, pour in the rice grains, add on low heat and cook for about 30 minutes. The rice must be well cooked and absorbed the water. During cooking, according to your tastes and needs, you can add a handful of salt or sugar.
After cooking, lay the beans on a sheet of parchment paper, to let them dry slowly for a whole day. Don't you have time to wait? Put them in the oven at 50 ° C for about 5 hours.
Once they have dried well, place them in a scattered but uniform way over the dripping pan (the metal plate of the oven), greased with a little oil or butter. Preheat the oven to 135 ° C and then cook them for about 2 hours. At the end of cooking, let them cool. And here's your puffed rice.
Ideas for alternative recipes with puffed rice
Puffed rice is not only great for breakfast, along with milk, but it is a versatile ingredient that can add crunchiness to your recipes. Some idea? If you want to stay on the sweet, why not create gods cookies? These are based on a mixture of eggs and flour, to which puffed rice has been added. Or try it this cake, crisp and soft together. Always remaining on the desserts, there is the classic crispy puffed rice and chocolate or this Crisp garnished with port-flavored zabaglione and apricots: an elegant and effective end of the meal. Another idea? This caramelized apple with puffed rice. But puffed rice is also excellent for breading meat or fish: like these sea bass fillets or these slices of veal, which become crunchy, thanks to a batter made with puffed rice and cornflakes. And how about some puffed rice chips for an aperitif?
