How to Grow Red Yeast Rice

Turn regular rice into red yeast rice.

Red yeast rice is used traditional Asian cooking. It is eaten as is, added to dishes to add flavor and color and is a natural preservative. Red yeast also has medicinal properties. Monacolin K, for example, is largely present in red yeast rice and is known to help lower cholesterol. Add yeast powder to whole grain rice to cultivate your own red yeast rice.

Things You'll Need

• Rice
• Bowl
• Strainer
• Pot with lid
• Powdered red yeast

Instructions

1. Pour the rice in a bowl and cover it with cold water for 30 minutes. Use 1 cup of raw rice for every 2 cups of red yeast rice needed.

2. Pour the rice through a strainer to drain the water. Pour the rice in pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of raw rice used.

3. Place the pot on a burner set to "high." Once the water begins to boil, turn the burner on "low" and cover the rice with a lid. Allow the rice to cook for 20 minutes, or until the rice is sufficiently cooked.

4. Take the pot away from the burner and leave the rice to steep for 8 to 10 minutes.

5. Mix in 2 tablespoons of powdered red yeast for every cup of rice that was used.

6. Return the lid to the pot and allow the rice to sit for about five days while the yeast grows.

References

• MedicineNet: Red Yeast Rice and Cholesterol