How to Cook Rice Pasta

As more and more people avoid eating gluten in their diets, rice pasta is gaining in popularity. Rice pasta is simply pasta made from white or brown rice rather than from semolina or wheat-based flour. Cooking rice pasta requires a slightly different technique than cooking regular pasta, and it is easy to overcook rice pasta and be left with a mushy mess. Follow these steps to learn how to cook rice pasta that is perfect and tastes great.

Things You'll Need

• Stockpot
• Water
• 2 tbs. olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 16 oz. rice pasta

Instructions

1. Fill a stockpot with water and place it on a stove burner on high heat.

2. Add 2 tbs. of olive oil and 1 tsp. of salt.

3. Bring to a boil.

4. Add 16 oz. of rice pasta.

5. Stir immediately, separating the pasta in the water. If you do not do this the rice pasta will stick together and make a mess.

6. Stir the rice pasta constantly while the water returns to a boil.

7. Turn the heat down to low and cover the pasta. Stir every 30 seconds to make certain the pasta does not stick together.

8. Check the pasta after 2 minutes on low. Taste a piece of pasta every minute after that.

9. Remove the pasta from the heat and drain when your taste test yields a perfectly-cooked piece of pasta. Drain the pasta immediately; if you leave it in the water for even 30 to 60 additional seconds it can overcook.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do overcook the pasta, drain immediately and run under cold water for 3 to 5 minutes. This may salvage the batch.