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Black Rice

Black Rice

By Food & Wine

Updated May 25, 2017

Credit: © DANA GALLAGHER

Black rice, which often turns dark purple once cooked, has a mild, nutty taste similar to brown rice. Also referred to as “forbidden rice,” it’s a great source of iron, vitamins and antioxidants. You can use black rice anywhere you’d use white rice—as a simple side dish, in stir-fry and even in a rice pudding. Here, our best black rice recipes.

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Brazilian Black Rice

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This dish from Uxua hotel chef Aladim Alves traces its roots to the 1970s, when the beaches of Trancoso, Brazil, were a favorite hippie destination. It combines richly flavored Bahian seafood with healthy whole-grain black rice.

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Black Rice Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Edamame and Pomegranate

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Black forbidden rice was made for salads, with its pleasantly chewy texture and mild taste. It absorbs the flavors of the dressing, giving other ingredients a solid background and a chance to shine. The beauty of this dish is undeniable, and it would make a great addition to any holiday spread, with the striking colors of green edamame and crimson pomegranate seeds against the purplish hue of the rice. Shaved raw brussels sprouts bring seasonal freshness and crunch to this flavorful salad.

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Black Rice Veggie Burgers

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These gluten-free vegan burgers are made with coconut black rice, edamame and fresh herbs, then topped with marinated golden beets.

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Black Rice with Stir-Fried Cabbage and Peanut Sauce

Credit: © Sarah Bolla

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Forbidden black rice is a favored heirloom variety of rice that's especially high in anti-oxidants and treasured for its deep hue and nutty taste. In this dish, it's served with stir-fried cabbage and a spicy peanut sauce accompaniment.

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Arctic Char, Black Rice and Napa Cabbage En Papillote

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"Roasting fish in a foil packet is nice because it's like serving a present to each person. Plus, the aroma of the fish stays contained, rather than lingering in the kitchen," says Sara Forte of SproutedKitchen.com. Adding miso to the black rice here gives this light dish incredible depth of flavor.

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Forbidden Black Rice with Ginger and Cardamom

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This rich-tasting black rice from chef Akasha Richmond is fragrant with cardamom.

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Black-and-White Coconut Rice Pudding

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Rice is a staple for more than half the world's population because it costs so little to grow. But just because it's inexpensive doesn't mean it can't look positively swanky, as in this riff on traditional rice pudding. Marcia Kiesel of the F&W Test Kitchen simmers black rice and jasmine rice in coconut milk, adds vanilla, pineapple and a pinch of nutmeg, and presents the puddings in elegant black and white layers.

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