Rice is a staple ingredient, and it brings so much to the dishes that it’s included in. Chili, curry, tagine, burritos, there are so many different recipes that include rice. Not only that, but it can be prepared and served in a whole range of ways that bring out unique colors and flavors, unlike anything you’ve experienced before. But how many cups of rice do you serve per person?
The serving size for rice is something that has left us all stumped at one point. Too much, too little, it can feel impossible to find that sweet spot. I used to get stuck on how much rice to serve all the time before I discovered that perfect amount. That’s why I’m here to help you through the process and teach you all about the perfect serving size.
Does it Depend on the Recipe?
Absolutely, there are recipes that call for more or less rice. For example, if you are making burritos you will need less rice as it’s not the primary carbohydrate and there are plenty of other ingredients to add to it. However, curries and chilis will need more rice because it is a central aspect of the dish that is complemented by the sauce and meats.
There are also desserts to consider, things like rice pudding that have the primary ingredient as rice and therefore require a lot more rice than a standard recipe. Most of the time, you can follow the standard rice measurements for individual portion sizes that you’ll find in the next section. Just remember that there are exceptions to the rule, as with everything.
How Many Cups of Rice Per Person?
If we are looking at a recipe that has rice as the main source of carbohydrates (curries and chili as an example) the conversion rates are very simple. You should give each person one cup of cooked rice as their serving size for this kind of dish. Keep in mind that rice tends to double in size when cooking, so you will only need half a cup per person of dried rice.
However, the serving of dry rice does have a few depending factors. Mainly the grain type in that you can use less brown rice per person than white because brown rice is more filling and nutritious. You also need to consider the fitness and diet of the person eating the rice, as this can impact portion sizes in the sense that they may need to be larger or smaller.
How to Prepare Rice Correctly
Preparing rice the right way is something that many of us don’t do. Fill the pot with water, boil it, throw the rice in, drain it after. If you’re doing it that way (the way I always used to) it’s actually completely wrong. Don’t worry, I can show you the correct way. Trust me, your rice will never be the same again.
Thankfully, the method is incredibly simple. For every cup of rice, add 1.5 cups of water. Bring the water to the boil, add the rice, and leave it to simmer. The rice will absorb the water until there is none left and you have a wonderfully fluffy and soft pot of rice. Ensure you keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn, and stir it as the water starts to disappear to keep it even.
If you do this, you will have the most delicious rice ever. You should also remember to season the water with salt before you cook it so that it soaks in the flavor while cooking. Of course, there are plenty of other ways to cook rice and we have some great advice on that lined up for you. This is the perfect method for those classic rice-based dishes such as curry.
To Conclude
There you have it, the ideal way to get that perfect rice ratio (with some cooking tips to help you achieve that perfectly fluffy result). Hopefully, this has taken some of the stress and struggle out of the process for you so that you can go on and enjoy perfect portions that keep the whole family happy. What more could you want at the dinner table?
If you want to learn more about portion sizes and measurement conversions, we have everything you could possibly need ready in our dedicated guides. Sticks of butter, grams to cups, no matter what you’re looking for it’s here. Make sure you check it out and let us know how helpful you have found these guides.