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A slight change in direction with today’s post – it’s all about my other big passion: food. I’ve dragged myself back onto the healthy path again by running and combining that with eating a balanced diet.
Looking for healthy eating options is not easy especially when you are trying to cut down on carbs. When you’ve been raised on rice, it’s even harder. I love rice, probably more than pasta and potatoes. Brown rice is a better alternative but takes so long to make and often I’ve given into the convenience of the white stuff instead.
That may now be in the past thanks to Tilda, purveyor of Basmati rice, who has launched three new wholegrain Basmati rice blends this month. These are:
- Wholegrain Basmati & Quinoa (dry)
- Wholegrain Basmati & Wild Rice (dry)
- Steamed Brown Basmati & Wild Rice in a pouch
Wholegrain Basmati is naturally gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians, offering a nutritious meal solution to suit everyone’s busy lives.
Now here’s a confession: coming from a hardcore Asian household rice was spoon-fed to me since I was a baby. In fact it was liquidised! But I didn’t learn to cook it until last year. Don’t act like it’s sacrilegious. Rice is NOT easy to cook, I don’t care what others say. Not when it’s my mum’s mad method – random cup size measurements, pour in water, dip your finger in and make sure an inch of water is above the rice, boil, drain, cook again…effort! Somehow that’s mama Shaikh’s way of making rice. It always comes out perfect (whereas mine sticks to the bottom of the saucepan) but why does it have to feel like you’re preparing a gourmet meal? This is why I have avoided cooking rice.
For convenience. Tilda’s steamed rice in a pouch takes 2 minutes in the microwave or a quick stir-fry with a bit of oil. There is a series of flavours to choose from and you can easily get two portions out of it. If you want to save half the pouch for another day, clip a washing peg over it and store in the fridge but use within a couple of days.
I gave the Wholegrain Steamed Brown Basmati & Wild Rice* pouch a try and loved it from the first mouthful: it’s nutty and delicious, and made me forget the taste of white rice, in fact it tastes better. I liked it so much that I rushed to the nearest supermarket to stock up but to my dismay it was the only one that wasn’t on the shelf. Begrudgingly I had to settle for plain old Basmati Brown Rice, which is actually fine but the wild rice added that extra something.
It’s made me look at instant rice in a different light. When I’m short of time, I can get a healthy meal ready in under 5 minutes. Here’s one that beautifully compliments the rice: grilled salmon with asparagus.
Ingredients:
1 salmon fillet
a few Asparagus stalks
1 avocado (optional)
½ packet of Tilda’s Brown Basmati & Wild Rice
Method:
- Heat a griddle pan with some oil (I used olive).
- Throw in the asparagus, season and fry for a few minutes.
- Then add the fillet and cook on both sides.
- Meanwhile heat Tilda’s Brown Basmati & Wild Rice in the microwave for 1 minute.
- Serve immediately with sliced avocado.
Alternatively try with spinach – just cook that in the griddle pan about a minute before serving.
The dry version of Wholegrain Basmati & Wild Rice comes in a 500g packet for £2.65, which is better value for money. After acquiring a taste for it, I am willing to give cooking it a go. I’ve also got a feeling I will embrace Wholegrain Basmati & Quinoa – pairing up a superfood with super rice sounds like a winning formula.
To find out more about how the food you eat can affect your mood and to download a handy seven-day meal planner, including recipes, visit tilda.com. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check your local supermarket for these bad boys.
