Pasta, Rice and Other Grains

Pasta, rice and other grains all cook very well in the microwave. Rice grains don’t stick together; pasta is tender but still al dente and the kitchen remains free from steam. Also, if you use a large enough container, they are far less likely to boil over. However, none of them cooks much more quickly in the microwave than when cooked conventionally. Use the cooking time on the packet as a guide and check frequently during cooking as brands do vary.

General rules for pasta, rice and grains

Bulghar (cracked wheat)

Bulghar tastes much better if lightly toasted first. This can be done in the microwave before cooking in water, but you can omit this if you prefer. To turn cooked bulghar into Tabbouleh, simply add chopped garlic, fresh mint and fresh parsley to taste and some chopped cucumber and tomatoes, if liked. Moisten with olive oil and lemon juice and season to taste.

Couscous

Couscous cooks beautifully and remains fluffy. Don’t try to cook more than 225 g/8 oz at one time.

Pasta – all types

Unlike other foods, the quantity of pasta does not affect the cooking time so much. More than the quantity suggested here may take a little longer, less will need much the same time.
Don’t try and cook more than 450 g/1 lb pasta in one go – 225 g/ 8 oz is ideal. Larger quantities would need far too large a container to fit comfortably in your microwave.
Wholewheat varieties take slightly longer to cook.
Always remove from the microwave when it still has some ‘bite’ or it will go soggy.
Never leave to stand for longer than stated, for the same reason.
If using quick-cook pasta, cook for the time stated on the packet, but check frequently to prevent overcooking.

Polenta

Only the precooked, ‘instant’ polenta is really successful in the microwave. Don’t try to cook more than 225 g/8 oz/1½ cups at one time or it will go lumpy.

Rice

Like pasta, rice needs a large container so it can boil without bubbling over. Don’t try to cook more than 350 g/12 oz/1½ cups in one go. It is best cooked in a measured amount of water, all of which is absorbed during cooking. The cooking time will be much the same regardless of quantity.

To reheat pasta or rice

Place in a dish. Add 15-30 ml water and cover. Microwave on Full Power, stirring every minute, until piping hot.

Cooking times for pasta, rice and other grains

Bulghar (cracked wheat)

Cooking: Place the bulghar in a large dish and microwave on Full Power for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted, stirring once. Add boiling water (600 ml/1 pt/2½ cups for the quantity of bulghar given below – adjustfor smaller quantities) and stir well.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz/2 cups	5 mins	4½ mins	4 mins	3½-4 mins

Standing time: 2 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. The liquid should now be absorbed. Season to taste and fluff up with a fork.

Couscous

Cooking: Put 600 ml/1 pt/2½ cups water and a chicken or vegetable stock cube in a large bowl (adjust the quantity of water if you are cooking less couscous than I have given here). Microwave on Full Power until boiling. Stir to dissolve the cube. Add the couscous and 30 ml/2 tbsp olive oil. Stir well.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz/1½ cups	5 mins	4 mins	3 mins	2-3 mins

Standing time: 5 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. The liquid should now be absorbed. Season to taste and fluff up with a fork.

Fresh pasta

Cooking: Place in a large dish. Cover with plenty of boiling water and add a pinch of salt. Stir well. Check frequently and remove when the pasta still has some ‘bite’.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz	2-3 mins	2-2½ mins	1½-2 mins	1-1½ mins

Standing time: 2 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Drain and use immediately.

Macaroni and other pasta shapes

Cooking: Place in a large dish. Cover with plenty of boiling water and add a pinch of salt. Stir well. Check frequently, stir once or twice and remove when the pasta still has some ‘bite’.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz	10 mins	9-10 mins	8-9 mins	8 mins

Standing time: 5 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Drain and use immediately.

Polenta

Cooking: Place in a large dish. Stir in 1.2 litres/2 pts/5 cups boiling water, chicken or vegetable stock (adjust the quantity for smaller amounts of polenta). Stir well. Stir every 2 minutes during cooking until thick and the mixture leaves the sides of the dish.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz/1¼ cups	9 mins	8 mins	7 mins	6½-7 mins

Standing time: 1 minute, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Beat in 25 g/1 oz/2 tbsp butter and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle liberally with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Ribbon noodles and tagliatelle

Cooking: Place in a large dish. Cover with plenty of boiling water and add a pinch of salt. Stir well. Check frequently, stir once or twice and remove when the pasta still has some’bite’.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz	9-10 mins	8-9 mins	8 mins	8 mins

Standing time: 5 minutes, covered with a dome of foi\, shiny side in. Drain and use immediately.

Spaghetti

Cooking: Place in a large dish. Cover with plenty of boiling water and add a pinch of salt. Stir well. Check frequently, stir once or twice and remove when the pasta still has some’bite’.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz	9-10 mins	8-9 mins	8 mins	8 mins

Standing time: 5 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Drain and use immediately.

Vermicelli

Cooking: Place in a large dish. Cover with plenty of boiling water and add a pinch of salt. Stir well. Check frequently, stir once or twice and remove when the pasta still has some’bite’.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz	5 mins	4-5 mins	4-4 mins	4 mins

Standing time: 5 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Drain and use immediately.

Long-grain rice

Cooking: Wash the rice thoroughly. Drain and place in a large dish. Add 600 ml/1 pt/2½ cups boiling water (adjust the quantity of water when cooking less rice) and a good pinch of salt. Stir well. Stir once or twice during cooking and test the grains before the end of the given cooking time. Remove when they give but still have a little’ bite’.

Quantity	Time on Full Power
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz/1 cup	14 mins	12 mins	10 mins	9-10 mins

Standing time: 3 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. The liquid should now all be absorbed. Fluff up with a fork and serve.

Brown rice

Cooking: Wash the rice, drain and place in a large dish. Add 400 ml/14 fl oz/1¾ cups boiling water (adjust the quantity of water for less rice) and a good pinch of salt. Stir well. Cook on Full Power for 3 minutes, then turn the oven to Medium and cook according to the times given below. Stir once or twice during cooking.

Quantity	Time on Medium
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
225 g/8 oz/¾ cup	40 mins	35 mins	30 mins	25-30 mins

Standing time: 3 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. All the liquid should now be absorbed. Fluff up with a fork and serve.

Creamy rice pudding

Serves 4

Cooking: For best results, soak the rice in the milk overnight. Put the rice in a large dish. Add a 410 g/14 oz/large can of unsweetened, condensed milk and one canful of water. Stir in 30 ml/2 tbsp sugar. Microwave on Full Power for 5 minutes, stirring once until boiling. Reduce to Medium, then cook according to the times given below. Stir several times during cooking and once more before standing.

Quantity	Time on Medium
	600-650w	700-750w	800-850w	900-1000w
50 g/1 oz/¾ cup	40 mins	35 mins	30 mins	25-30 mins

Standing time: 5 minutes, covered with a dome of foil, shiny side in. Dust with a little grated nutmeg if liked, before serving.

Flavoured rice dishes

Adjust the quantities of flavourings if you are cooking less rice.

Savoury rice: Cook as either long-grain or brown rice (above), but crumble a chicken, beef or vegetable stock cube into the boiling water.
Fragrant yellow rice: Prepare long-grain rice as above, but add 5 ml/1 tsp turmeric, 1 small bay leaf, a 2.5 cm/1 in piece of cinnamon stick and 4 split cardamom pods with the water. Remove before serving, if preferred.
Italian tomato rice: Prepare long-grain rice as above, but add half water and a 400 g/14 oz/large can of chopped tomatoes instead of all water and stir in 15 ml/1 tbsp tomato purée (paste). After standing, stir in 15 ml/1 tbsp chopped fresh basil before serving.
Vegetable rice: Prepare as for Savoury rice (above), but add 100 g/4 oz/1 cup diced, frozen, mixed vegetables with the boiling water and cook for an extra 1-2 minutes.