There are more than seven words for Rice in the Filipino language

palay – unmilled rice
bigas – milled rice
kanin – cooked rice
lugaw – rice porridge
tutong – burned rice
bahaw – left over rice
sinangag – fried rice

In addition to these, there are Spanish derived rice dishes, such as paella, arroz caldo, and champorado, which are very common in the Phillipines. There are also local dishes, like “goto” and “puto”. Rice is an integral part of the Filipino diet. Food served without rice is typically not considered a meal by most Filipinos.

Filipino Words for Rice is a post from: Simply Rice ::..

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We’ve all experienced a wedding where a handful of rice is thrown upon newlyweds for good luck. This ancient ritual of throwing rice originally symbolized fertility and the blessing of many children – today it symbolizes prosperity and abundance.

Rice is the first food a new Indian bride offers her husband, often during the wedding itself and, perhaps instead of wedding cake. In India, it is also the first food offered to a newborn. Indians say that the grains of rice should be like two brothers – close, but not stuck together.

In Japan, there is an almost mystical aura surrounding the planting, harvesting and preparation of rice. It is believed that soaking rice before cooking releases the life energy of the rice and gives the eater a more peaceful soul. To persuade Japanese children to eat all of their rice, the grains are warmly called little Buddhas.

In China, young girls with fussy appetites are warned that every grain of rice they leave in their rice bowls will represent a mark on the face of their future husband. A typical Chinese greeting instead of “How are you?” is “Have you had your rice today?” One is expected to always reply, “Yes” to this greeting.

Ancient Customs – Rice is Revered Around the World is a post from: Simply Rice ::..

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Although almost all the nutrients are stripped from white rice when the bran layer is removed during milling, ninety percent of all American grown rice is enriched with thiamine, niacin and iron and in some instances riboflavin, Vitamin D and Calcium. White rice because it is enriched has more iron and thiamine than brown rice, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the better option. Brown rice has five times more Vitamin E and three times more magnesium. Brown rice provides twice as much fiber as white rice, but it is not an especially rich source of fiber. The fiber in brown rice is better for its “slow burn” qualities – that is, it takes longer to digest and doesn’t give you a “burst” of carbohydrates all at once.

On the other hand, rice bran alone is an excellent source of fiber. Rice is a fair source of protein containing all eight essential amino acids. It is low in the amino acid lysine, which is found in beans making the classic combination of rice and beans, popularly known as complimentary proteins, a particularly healthful dish. Rice is gluten free and easily digestible making it a good choice for infants and people with wheat allergies or digestive problems.

A half cup of cooked white rice provides 82 calories; an equal amount of brown rice provides 89 calories. Non American varieties of rice have a mixture of these properties – Basmati rice, for example is not heavily processed with nutrients taken out then added back in, its grains are naturally nutrient dense and rich in fiber.

What is Rice? is a post from: Simply Rice ::..

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1. Brown Rice