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Capers: Delicious Bud With Healing Properties?

Anyone who likes capers appreciates their piquant taste, which is created by fermentation. In addition, they are considered healthy – as long as no germs spread…

What exactly are capers and caper apples?

Most people only know capers pickled in salt or brine in a jar. If you pass one of the thorny caper bushes on a journey through the Mediterranean region, you may not recognize the capers: They are the closed flower buds of the “true caper bush”. Its flowers are white-violet and smell like capers as we know them. Capers, on the other hand, are the fruit that develops when the buds are not harvested.

The raw buds are comparable to freshly picked olives: they are bitter and inedible. Only when the capers ferment in brine or vinegar are the bitter substances broken down by microorganisms. The capers are then pickled or salted in vinegar or oil.

Enterococci in capers: helpers with hooks

Mustard oils are responsible for the savory taste of capers – capers and cabbage are closely related. Capers also contain other secondary plant substances: They are among the foods that are particularly rich in quercetin, as are apples and onions.

According to current knowledge, the secondary plant substances have a health-promoting effect on human metabolic processes: According to the German Society for Nutrition, studies suggest that they can protect against cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

However, capers are only healthy if no germs such as enterococci end up on the plate with them. The none can get into the glasses due to lack of hygiene.

The lactic acid bacteria enterococci have a fundamentally important function in fermentation and maturation processes: They not only give foods such as capers, cheese or raw sausages their desired taste, but are also important for a healthy intestinal flora. Fermentation is therefore a common way in many cultures to preserve food and – as has now been scientifically proven – to improve health. However, only as long as poor hygienic conditions do not lead to food being contaminated with undesirable strains of enterococci. These can cause infections in immunocompromised people.

Caper buds as a cooking ingredient

In southern Europe, caper apples are known as tapas or as a side dish, in this country the caper buds are used as a spice with a fine acidity. The rule of thumb with them is: the smaller, the better, the more expensive. You can also find different sizes in grocery stores. The smallest are called “Nonpareilles” in French.

Well-known kitchen classics with capers are:

Meatballs
Vitello tonnato
Beef tartare
chicken fricassee
Spaghetti alla puttanesca
Tips for preparing capers:

To prepare: taste some capers to check their intensity. Vinegar and salt could spoil your dish. If the taste is too strong for you, you can wash the capers, squeeze them out lightly or cut them into small pieces. You should definitely soak salted capers first.
For hot dishes: Do not cook the capers, but add them at the end, otherwise the aroma will be lost.

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Make Delicious and Healthy Smoothies

Are smoothies healthy? Yes, freshly prepared you can create delicious and healthy smoothies that are good for your health. We explain why smoothies are healthy and give great tips for making them from leftover vegetables. We have recipes for summer and winter.

Are smoothies healthy?

Do you often ask yourself are smoothies healthy or is it all just a marketing strategy? Of course, it depends on the preparation of the smoothies whether they are healthy or not. But when you make smoothies yourself, it’s in your hands. That’s why smoothies have experienced real hype in recent years. Because freshly prepared, they can be full of healthy ingredients. As a result, smoothies are healthier than juices because they use whole fruit or leafy greens. This preserves important fiber, which is important for good intestinal health, regulates blood sugar levels, and curbs appetite.

Make delicious smoothies and avoid flavor enhancers

And the good thing is that delicious smoothies are quick and easy to make yourself. You avoid unhealthy flavor enhancers. This is important because these, especially glutamate, are suspected of being harmful to health and of being a co-trigger of various diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. It is also said to contribute to migraines, asthma, allergic reactions, nausea, dizziness, and a constant feeling of hunger, which in turn leads to obesity. However, it should be said here that glutamate is controversial in science.

Eat healthy with homemade smoothie juices

As a result, you are on the safe side if you consume flavor enhancers such as glutamate in moderation. So try to eat healthily. That means: eating as much unprocessed food as possible, mainly basic, home-cooked dishes. Also, eat little or no sugar and also avoid other artificial sweeteners of any kind. As a result, you should have raw or lightly cooked food on your menu that is as fresh as possible. Wild herbs and organic products are also beneficial. The purer the food, the better. Keyword Clean Eating. So you can eat healthily and still eat deliciously. Various smoothies will also help you with this.

Make smoothies from leftover veggies

It’s in our kitchen, in our freezers, or on the shelf. The vegetables are no longer attractive, but thanks to the smoothies you can conjure up something very special from them. So you don’t have to throw away what you paid dearly for and thus contribute to food waste. So put the vegetables in the practical kitchen helper called a blender, add water and some fruit, and you’ve created something completely new that doesn’t look as wilted or shriveled as it did before.

Benefits of a vegetable smoothie

But a smoothie is not always a healthy smoothie. Because there is a difference between whether you put vegetables or fruit in a smoothie. A lot of vegetables are one of the most important basic nutritional elements. Fruit, on the other hand, should only be eaten in moderation, in whatever form, as it contains fructose. Although this does not work like industrial sugar, it causes blood sugar to skyrocket. As a result, fructose can promote obesity and other unhealthy side effects. This contradicts the general belief that a lot of fruit is also healthy, but as mentioned, that is only partially true. Consequently, not all smoothies are suitable for successful and healthy weight loss.

Make your own green smoothies

Green smoothies have become particularly popular. They contain a lot of green leafy vegetables such as spinach, green salads, and wild herbs, which in turn contain a large number of vital substances, chlorophyll, and antioxidants. Chlorophyll purifies the blood, promotes detoxification, accelerates wound healing, and much more. A green with particularly sweet fruit, such as a ripe banana, still tastes very sweet with greens.

Green smoothies can also be prepared with cucumbers, broccoli, savoy cabbage, and other green vegetables. In addition to celery and garlic, other possible ingredients include tomatoes and peppers. You should always add some oil so that the body can also absorb the fat-soluble EDEKA vitamins. If you want to try wild herbs first, you can start with nettle, chickweed, and sorrel. When using dandelion, you should be careful, especially at the beginning, because it can be very tart and bitter.

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Food

Roasting Sunflower Seeds: Simple Instructions and Delicious Variations

You can roast sunflower seeds in the pan or in the oven for a delicious and healthy snack. We will show you what options there are and what you should pay attention to when preparing them.

Roast sunflower seeds: The seeds go particularly well with this

Sunflower seeds are known to contain a lot of unsaturated fatty acids. They are also rich in vitamins and provide valuable fiber. This makes them a healthy snack that you can eat raw or roasted. If you roast the sunflower seeds beforehand, their nutty taste will develop even better.

The roasted sunflower seeds taste particularly good in salads, as a topping in soups or in muesli in the morning. They are also suitable as an ingredient in bread and biscuits or as a basis for homemade pesto. Roasting the seeds not only develops a stronger aroma, they also have more bite.

Roast sunflower seeds: Fat-free in the pan

The quickest way to roast sunflower seeds is to heat them up in a pan. A coated pan works best for this. This means that the sunflower seeds are less likely to burn during roasting.

Place the pan on the stove and heat it on high.
Add the sunflower seeds to the heated pan and turn the heat down to the lowest setting. The kernels only need a few minutes to finish roasting.
Swirl the sunflower seeds around as you toast them, being careful not to burn them.
The kernels are ready as soon as they are slightly brown in color and smell aromatic.

Roast sunflower seeds with oil

If you don’t have a non-stick pan or want to add spices, you should also use some oil to roast the sunflower seeds.

Put a tablespoon of oil in a pan and heat it on high. Use sunflower oil, for example: it has a high smoke point.
Add the sunflower seeds and toast them over low to medium heat for a few minutes until golden brown.
Swirl the sunflower seeds regularly while toasting or spread them out with a spatula.
Finally, you can season the roasted sunflower seeds with a little salt and spices.

Roasting sunflower seeds: This is how it works in the oven

If you want to roast a larger amount of sunflower seeds, it is best to use the oven. This method works like this:

Preheat the oven to 175° C top/bottom heat. Tip: If you want to save energy, you can also do without preheating. Simply roast the sunflower seeds a little longer.
Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the cores are not on top of each other.
Put the tray in the oven and roast the sunflower seeds for a few minutes. Turn them occasionally so they can brown evenly.
Tip: You can store roasted sunflower seeds in an airtight container for a few days, but they lose their aroma very quickly. They taste best freshly roasted.

Roasting sunflower seeds: delicious variations

For a special touch, you can season the roasted kernels with spices and other ingredients. Here you can find some ideas:
Sweet and hot sunflower seeds: When roasting the sunflower seeds, add one or two teaspoons of sugar and add some chili or cayenne pepper at the end. If you only want to add spices, it is best to heat the kernels in some oil.
Caramelized Sunflower Seeds: For this sweet twist, add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar or honey to the pan and let the seeds caramelize in it. A pinch of salt completes the aroma.
Add other nuts and seeds: If you’re toasting sunflower seeds, you can add other seeds like pumpkin and pine nuts if you like. Different types of nuts are also suitable.

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Food

Thirst Quencher: 5 Sustainable and Delicious Drinks in the Heat

Thirst quenchers get us through the day without thirst in summer temperatures. If you get bored with tap water in the long run, we have tips for refreshing and healthy alternatives.

Thirst quenchers are important

When the temperatures rise day by day, it is important to drink enough. If we neglect this, the lack of liquid can lead to headaches and circulatory problems not only in summer. Between 1.5 and two liters per day is recommended, although personal water requirements vary from person to person. In summer, however, we should try to drink more than usual. Because we sweat more often and lose minerals such as calcium, sodium and magnesium.

The best and most lasting way to quench your thirst is to drink tap water. Since large quantities and in the long run can taste a bit bland, we present refreshing and healthy thirst quenchers for hot summer days. Not only do they taste delicious, they also provide you with the minerals that you lose through sweating.

Refreshing thirst quencher: homemade ice tea

Juice spritzer: A fruity thirst quencher

Tap water cool – infused water as a healthy thirst quencher

Seasonal smoothie as a creamy thirst quencher

Water kefir: Probiotic thirst quencher

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Making Coffee: Preparation Methods for Delicious Coffee (6 ways)

A hot and soothing coffee – that’s what hardly any of us can do without. No other drink can match the popularity of the pick-me-up.

Classic coffee machine with filter

Filter coffee is one of the most popular ways to brew coffee. According to the 2016 Coffee Report, about 71.8% of all coffee drinkers own a filter coffee machine. Thus, it takes first place by a wide margin and leaves all competitors far behind. By the way, filter coffee plays a pioneering role in the automation of coffee preparation. Until the 1950s, coffee had to be brewed by hand in the traditional way. With the invention of the filter coffee machine and vacuum-packed ground coffee, all households have been able to brew coffee quickly and easily. Thus, all modern coffee machines and fully automatic coffee machines represent a further development of filter coffee machines.

pressure brewing systems

The so-called pressure brewing system is an offshoot of the filter coffee machine. An attempt was made to prepare espresso as filter coffee. The result is rather unusual: strong, strong coffee is produced. It can best be compared to mocha coffee.

Stamping pot: pure flavor

Making coffee doesn’t always have to be boring. The stamping pot, also known as the cafetere, was invented in France in the mid-19th century. It offers its users a fragrant and full-bodied taste. Anyone who loves strong coffee has come to the right place. The working principle of stamping pot mainly combines aroma extraction and brewing.

Cona Pot: chemical coffee

The Cona pot looks like a chemistry experiment and apparently has little to do with making coffee. The unusual brewing method came from Germany and was widely used, especially in the old days. Nowadays, the equipment is often used for decorative purposes, but, of course, it can also be used for making coffee. In a broad sense, this is the so-called glass piston coffee maker. It owes its name Cona-Kanne to its manufacturer.

Unforgettable Karlsbader Canne

Karlsbader Kanne has been celebrating its market success for over 100 years. Even today, the production of classics does not stop. The secret to their success story lies simply in their simplicity. The pitcher filter is made of porcelain and does not affect the taste in any way. The best filtered coffee with pure aroma is prepared in a short time.

The Karlsbader Kanne is made up of four different parts. It consists of a coffee pot, a lid, a two-piece coarse-mesh porcelain filter, and a brewing attachment.

Coffee maker without espresso?

Contrary to what the name suggests, espresso is not actually made in an espresso pot. The so-called “percolator” uses only the principle of steam, which is also used to make espresso. However, this does not create the necessary pressure to really make a strong espresso. So “only” normal strong coffee is brewed.

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Making Coffee: Preparation Methods for Delicious Coffee (7 Ways)

Hot and soothing coffee is something that hardly any of us can do without. No other drink can compare in popularity with a tonic drink.

Original: porcelain coffee filter

The porcelain coffee filter has been one of the must-have items in every home. A somewhat older generation probably still remembers the original Melitta porcelain filter that you saw every day at your grandparents. Here, brewing was still done by hand by hand. There was a kettle of water on the stove. Then it was necessary to pour boiling water over a porcelain filter, which, in turn, stood on a coffee pot. In this way, the aromas of the ground coffee inside the filter have been dissolved and an incomparable aromatic coffee has been created. This brewing method is still used today to test the quality of many coffees.

Ibrik: Traditional Coffee Brewing Tour

Ibrik represents, so to speak, the beginning of all types of coffee making. Those who wanted to make coffee always used a small, inconspicuous coffee pot. About a third of all coffee drinkers still use this method. Especially in the Arab countries, Ibrik has a lot of fans. This is where he comes from. At the same time as coffee beans, the method of preparation came to us in Europe around the 16th century. Whether in China, in the south of Russia, in Turkey, Greece or anywhere else – the centuries-old cooking method is known everywhere.

Napoletana: coffee in the process of being turned

The Napoletana is a reversible pitcher that works on a very simple principle. It’s easy to recognize from the outside.
The jug consists of two small pots. They are located directly above each other and fastened with screws. There are handles on the upper and lower ends of the reversible jug – here you can immediately see the possibility of rotation.

State-of-the-art coffee technology: fully automatic machine

The fully automatic machine is an innovative all-rounder among coffee machines. No other device can make coffee in such variety and perfection. Less coffee is brewed here than coffee is “created”.

Espresso machine – coffee in its class

Who does not know them: espresso machine. Hardly any other coffee machine is as famous as a wonderful machine that brews delicious espresso. But unlike a fully automatic machine, you still have to do it yourself. This not only leads to some work, but also helps individual taste. The degree of grind, water, and use largely determine the taste of the coffee in the end. Of course, you should invest in a decent device beforehand. A good espresso machine is the key to first-class results. What you make of it is, of course, entirely up to you.

Lifestyle coffee discs and pods

With the invention of discs and pads, the coffee industry hit the nerves of our time. Small, filled containers contain exactly the amount of coffee needed to make a delicious and aromatic coffee drink. The founders of this movement are Philips and roaster Douwe Egberts. About 10 years ago, a new way of making coffee was invented.

World of coffee: pleasure for everyone

Anyone who wants to make coffee must, of course, choose the right kind of coffee in advance. Depending on the method, it is always worth varying individual varieties and tastes. A lamb pot, for example, is best filled with dark roasted coffee beans. On the other hand, fully automatic machines can handle any type of bean well.

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If Ice Cream, Please Organic Delicious!

Ice cream is one of the most popular sweets in Germany. Especially in summer. It should be sweet, fruity, creamy or extra chocolaty. And most varieties are really tasty too – but what makes the difference? You can probably already guess. Exactly – the ingredients.

You can get ice cream almost everywhere: whether in ice cream parlors, supermarkets, in cafés, at gas stations or on mobile ice cream trucks. If you fancy ice cream, you don’t have to look far and the selection is huge. In addition to your own personal taste, you can pay attention to what your ice cream is made of.

Ingredients – what you should pay attention to

How does the creaminess get into the ice cream? How much sugar does the ice cream need and how much fruit is really in your fruit ice cream? You can pay attention to these ingredients.

1. Milk

The classic milk ice cream is still the most common on the shelves and in the ice cream parlors. It usually consists of water, milk and/or cream, sugar and – in the case of conventional ice cream – certain flavors. If you consciously feast but don’t want to do without milk ice cream, find out where the milk used comes from. Because the proportion of milk is almost 70 percent and is therefore the biggest lever in milk ice cream. The seals on the packaging, such as the EU organic seal or the Demeter logo, give you information about this. Because: if you have milk ice cream, then please with sustainably produced organic ingredients.

Alternatively, you can of course also make sure that you buy creamy ice cream made from milk alternatives or fruity sorbets. These come without any milk alternatives and are still creamy. There is now vegan ice cream in almost every supermarket.

2. Sugar

Industrially produced sugar is repeatedly criticized. Nutritionists in particular always point out that too much of it is added to our food and that we eat too much of it – above all unconsciously and uninformed. Well, it can’t be missing in sweets most of the time. And if we consciously decide to feast, we can treat ourselves to some sugar. But then it is best to use the raw cane sugar that is not processed as much.

Sugar has a special function in ice cream: it contributes significantly to consistency and creaminess. If not enough sugar is added to the ice cream, it will harden and form crystals. Incidentally, this applies to vegan ice cream as well as milk ice cream.

3. Fruit content

The fruit content of fruit ice cream is regulated by law for the definition. Fruit ice cream contains at least 20 percent fruit. For ice cream made from citrus fruits such as lemon, orange or passion fruit, it is at least 10 percent if the citric acid content is at least 2.5 percent. At 25 percent, sorbets contain the highest proportion of fruit. If it consists of citrus fruits, the fruit content is at least 15 percent. In contrast to fruit ice cream, which can also be processed as a milk product, sorbet always does without milk. When buying in the supermarket, you can find out the fruit content by looking at the list of ingredients. The same for all: Flavors may be added.

4. Air

Are you wondering what air is doing in ice? Not much, but that’s exactly the point: when it comes to the information on the packaging, it’s precisely the air that makes the difference. Usually milliliters and grams are specified. Two packages with the same milliliter specification can, however, provide different gram specifications. The reason: the composition of the content. In the case of ice in particular, the manufacturers can achieve different volumes by smashing the ice with more or less air – without increasing the weight. In the supermarket you can simply compare the packaging with each other. The ice cream with fewer grams for the same milliliter contains more air and is therefore a larger sham.

For sustainable consumers, it is not easy to make a sustainable, healthy and right decision, even when eating ice cream. What you can rely on – at least in the refrigerated section – are well-known seals, logos and brands. You can usually enjoy the ice cream from organic brands, which you already trust with other products, even in summer.

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Easter Brunch: Delicious Ideas for Easter Breakfast

Anyone who likes to take time for family and friends and would like to gather everyone around a colorfully set table can score points with a successful Easter brunch. A brunch is a mixture of breakfast and lunch and lasts several hours, during which everyone sits together and enjoys. The great thing about an Easter brunch is that you can prepare a lot and nothing has to be prepared to the minute. Whether hearty or sweet, cold or warm – there are numerous ideas on how to conjure up a festive Easter table.

Of course, this also includes the decoration for the Easter brunch. This should contain classic Easter motifs and bright colors. Set accents with colorful serviettes and egg cups and decorate the table with the first heralds of spring, such as daffodils, hyacinths or primroses. A brunch can either be set up at a table where food is eaten or separately in the form of a buffet. It depends on the space and the number of people to be catered for.

What is on the table for Easter brunch?

At Easter, of course, eggs are at the center of every healthy and enjoyable breakfast. Even painted or colored, they are always a highlight on the table. But no one has ever had enough at a brunch just from boiled eggs! It should be a little more fantasy – egg salad, eggs in a glass or filled eggs are great additions here. Therefore, you should provide a good mix of numerous goodies.

Basically, bread should be served with a brunch. Here you have the opportunity to offer special varieties such as white bread, black bread and also rolls and croissants. The breakfast elements of a brunch are served with classics such as sausage and cheese platters as well as various jams, cream cheese, butter and honey. The plates can be prepared very well. Place fresh, sliced ​​fruit and vegetables, such as peppers, tomatoes or radishes. You can offer light and delicious dips with the vegetables, for example a fine egg and mustard dip, in the spirit of Easter. With salads you complement the abundance on the table. This can be fruity variants with avocado and grapefruit or classic herring salads, which are perfect for lovers of hearty cuisine.

Easter accents are of course also set with the rabbit theme. And what do rabbits like? carrots! With carrot muffins or a carrot cake you are on the safe side at a brunch. The pastry part can be supplemented with Easter lambs or small yeast wreaths, in the middle of which a brightly colored egg is placed, or with an eggnog cake. For the hearty variant, there are tender dishes and quiches, which can easily be prepared the day before. These can be enjoyed either cold or warm.

Soups are also good for an Easter brunch. These are easy to prepare and only need to be warmed up on the holiday. The table is skilfully rounded off with potato nests, gratinated pasta nests, tartlets and omelettes, which can also be served in muffin tins. It is always important to have a balanced mix of sweet and savory dishes so that everyone can find something they like to eat at an Easter brunch that lasts several hours.

Coffee or tea: what do you drink for Easter brunch?

The Easter brunch usually doesn’t start until around 11 a.m., so a glass of sparkling wine can be offered as a welcome.
Of course, juices and, of course, coffee are also offered. Good coffee rounds off every festive table and is of course indispensable for a brunch.

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Freeze Peppers: This is How They Stay Delicious

To keep peppers fresh and crisp for a long time, you can freeze the delicious vegetables. Here we explain what you should pay attention to and how to do it without plastic.

Freezing peppers: how it works

Whether as a side dish in a pasta sauce or as a healthy snack in between: paprika can be used in many ways. However, you should use up the crunchy vegetables within a few days. If you want to store peppers longer, you can freeze them.

Prep: Unlike other vegetables, you don’t need to blanch peppers beforehand. You don’t have to skin the peppers either.

This is how easy it is to freeze peppers:

Wash the peppers thoroughly.
Cut them into smaller pieces. For example, you can cut the peppers lengthwise into thin strips and then dice them further.
Put the chunks of pepper in a small tin and store them in the freezer.

Alternatives to plastic

Freezing peppers or other vegetables in plastic bags is often recommended. However, we recommend avoiding plastic as far as possible. There are some greener alternatives to plastic freezer bags:

You can use lunch boxes made of wood or glass several times.
Stainless steel cans are also suitable for freezing vegetables.
You can also freeze peppers in glasses (e.g. washed jam jars).
You can even freeze peppers in cotton or jute bags. You should first pat them as dry as possible with a kitchen towel.
By the way: A great alternative to freezing is to soak peppers in oil or vinegar. This way the vegetables will last longer.

 

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Freeze Rice: This is How It Stays Delicious After Thawing

If you freeze leftover cooked rice, you don’t have to throw anything away. So that it still tastes delicious after surfacing, we explain how to freeze rice properly.

With rice, it can quickly happen that you misjudge the amount and there is a lot left over. You can keep cooked rice in the fridge for a few days for the next meal. Or you can freeze it and thaw it later when needed.

Rice freezes easily. We’ll show you what you should pay attention to so that the grains still taste good after surfacing and don’t become soft and mushy.

Freezing rice: These varieties are suitable

Perfectly cooked rice grains still have a slight bite. When you thaw frozen rice, the texture changes and the grains become a little too soft. Some types of rice are better for freezing than others because they retain their texture better. These varieties include:

jasmine rice
basmati rice
Patnareis
If you want to cook rice ahead of time, you can intentionally undercook it a little. When reheated, it reaches its perfect consistency.

How to properly freeze and thaw rice

Freeze rice properly

Do not cook the rice too soft, but so that it is still al dente.
Let the rice cool down.
When portioning the rice you have two options:
You freeze everything together. If your rice was still grainy enough after cooking, it will create a frozen clump that you can always break off pieces and thaw.
You’re already freezing it in portions equal to one meal. This is useful if your rice is not quite as grainy and would not be as easy to portion when frozen.
Freezer containers made of glass or stainless steel are suitable for freezing.

Properly defrost rice

It is best to let the rice thaw at room temperature.
Then heat it up with steam. If you boiled it again, possibly with additional water, it would quickly become too soft and gooey.
Instead, place it in a fine-mesh strainer that you hang over a saucepan of boiling water. The rice is heated by the rising steam. Stir the rice once during this time so that it warms up evenly.
You can also just add it directly to the sauce you made for your dish to thaw and let it simmer over low heat.

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