Recipe: Puffed rice (homemade Rice Krispies)

overcook the rice

Puffed rice can be a dramatic addition to an Asian inspired dish.  Why not just use Rice Krispies?  Well, you would then just be using Rice Krispies - no drama there at all.  By making your own, you get a whiter product for a greater visual contrast, and the rice itself has more crispness to it, pure texture.  You also have the satisfaction of knowing exactly everything going into your product and get to choose your own seasoning - togarashi tends to be among the first to come to mind, but you can go any way you want.

Beyond a garnish, a great use for puffed rice is much the same way you might use feuilletine - temper some chocolate, mix in the rice and spread it out in a thin layer as a deliciously crunchy base for a dessert.  As a cereal, why not dig into a bowl? (no togarashi in mine, thanks)  I might be a little more inclined to add it to the mix for the whole grain granola I wrote about back in April.  By the way, this recipe is almost impossible to screw up - over cook the rice, dry it out, then fry it - a snap, a crackle and a big pop.

spread it out to dry

You will need:

250ml / 1C               sushi rice
1250ml / 5C             water (at least)
to taste                      kosher salt
to taste                      seasoning of your choice (togarashi, black sesame, chili, lemon pepper - go nuts)

Method:

 - rinse the rice well under water to get some excess starch out

fully dried

 - add the water to the rice and season lightly
 - bring to a very gentle simmer and let it go for about 20 minutes
 - turn off the heat, cover and let stand for another 20 - 30 minutes
 - drain off any excess water and rinse under cold water so the grains don't stick together
 - spread out on a paper lined sheet pan and dry completely
 - if not using right away, store in a good container (at this stage, the rice keeps a long time)
 - heat some vegetable oil to about 340F / 171C
 - add the rice and fry it until it puffs
 - strain it out, season as desired, and drain on paper towel
 - serve, or store in an airtight container

fried and puffed