Rice is macaroni macaroni made from rice or rice flour. A wide range of pasta shapes can be made with rice flour, with macaroni rice being one of the most readily available pasta shapes, thanks to the lasting popularity of macaroni. Some large supermarkets carry macaroni rice, and can also be purchased at health food stores and through specialist suppliers who focus on gluten-free or wheat-free offerings.
There are many reasons for people to turn to macaroni rice instead of the more conventional macaroni grain. Some people avoid wheat in their diet because they are sensitive to wheat and would like to avoid upsetting their stomachs and intestinal tracts. Other people are sensitive to gluten, a component of wheat and other cereals, and avoid wheat pasta together with products that include rye or barley. Other people simply love the taste and texture of macaroni rice.
Just like rice, macaroni rice is available in a range of forms. Some companies produce with shiny white rice, creating a relatively simple straw-colored flavor. Others use rice, which generates a coarser, grainy paste that can have a slightly nutty flavor and a dark color. Rice macaroni can be dyed or mixed with vegetables to make macaroni spinach, macaroni tomato, and so on.
Preparing macaroni rice is very similar to preparing normal pasta: cooks bring a pot of water to a boil, add the pasta and cook until it is tender. However, the pasta will give out a lot of starch during cooking, turning milk into water, and it can begin to stick together. It is a good idea to use an extra large saucepan to cook macaroni rice, and to stir frequently so that it does not have a chance to stick. Rice macaroni is also very ruthless when it comes to cooking time; there is a fine line between resilient, firm dough and polenta.
Once cooked, rice macaroni can be used exactly like normal macaroni. It can be cooked in casseroles such as the classic macaroni and cheese, added to soups, eaten on its own, or served with a variety of sauces. Rice macaroni can also be used in chilled pasta salads and any other cook’s dishes you can imagine.
For people who buy rice macaroni for food sensitivity reasons, it is a good idea to check the package in the store. It is sometimes produced in a company that also processes wheat or cereals containing gluten, which means it can be contaminated.
