Culinary Techniques: How To Cook Brown Rice And Lentils In The Oven

Part of culinary basics is learning different cooking techniques to make your recipes come out perfect each and every time.

I confess that I love brown rice and lentils but I have a bit of a hard time getting them to cook to perfection on the stove top.

I have found that for me, baked brown rice works best for me. Same thing with a recipe I use with baked lentils and brown rice.

I like the consistency of knowing every time I make a dish that it will turn out perfectly and with these 2 recipes and using this cooking technique, you will see what I mean.  It is the perfect way to cook lentils and brown rice and achieve the perfect texture.

INGREDIENTS

• 1-1/2 cups long medium or short-grain brown rice
• 2-1/3 cups water (or substitute broth)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt if desired
• Herbs of choice

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. 
2. Spread your rice in an 8-inch square baking dish.
3. Bring water to boil - add olive oil.  Once boiling, stir in salt and herbs if using.
4. Pour water over rice. 
5. Cover dish tightly with a double layer of foil and bake in the oven until rice is tender - about 1 hour.
6. Remove baking dish and uncover.  Fluff with a fork.
7. Cover dish with clean kitchen towel and let stand for about 5 minutes.
8. Uncover and let it stand again for 5 minutes and serve.

ADDITIONS THAT ARE GREAT

• Diced celery and onion 
• Chopped walnuts
• Diced raisins or dried cranberries
• Steamed chopped carrots or broccoli
• Steamed chopped asparagus spears
• Cooked black beans or kidney beans

INGREDIENTS

• 2 small onions
• 2 cans low sodium chicken broth (each 14-1/2 oz)
• 1-3/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1-1/2 cups lentils rinsed and picked over (use yellow, orange or green)
• 1 cup dry brown rice (regular not quick-cooking)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• Clove of garlic minced/crushed
• Pepper if desired
• Salt if desired
• 1-1/2 cups reduced fat shredded mozzarella or Swiss cheese (optional)

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop onions and garlic.
3. Mix all ingredients EXCEPT CHEESE in a large bowl and turn out into a vegetable sprayed 13 x 9 pan or large baking dish.
4. Bake uncovered for 90 minutes.
5. After 90 minutes of baking time, sprinkle cheese over top and bake until the cheese melts.

This recipe serves 6 - 1-1/4 cup servings.

If you want a foolproof technique to cook white rice, brown rice and lentils, try a baking recipe.  It eliminates the decision of trying to figure out how high is simmer, will you end up with soupy rice or dry rice.  Same goes with lentils.

I usually don't have too much trouble cooking anything but rice throws me sometimes with the inconsistency of temperature and what my finished product turns out like.  I like knowing every single time I make something that it will be 'perfect' in texture and taste. 

Baking brown rice and lentils has afforded me that luxury and that is my preferred method for cooking them.

Part of the culinary basics is knowing that methods work best for you, the cook, and this method has proven itself to be a winner for me over and over.