Your Boring White Rice Is Missing This One Flavor-Boosting Ingredient

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Even though brown rice is better for you than white rice, many still prefer the latter because white rice has a softer texture and a milder taste. Such a flavor profile makes white rice more versatile, but on its own it can be a little bland. There are many ways to make even leftover rice more satisfying, but there's one flavor-boosting ingredient in particular that can really take it up a notch: garlic butter. The combination of rich butter and savory garlic gives white rice a deep, aromatic taste that helps turn it into a filling meal on its own or a delicious complement for a wide range of other dishes.

To make garlic butter rice, simply fold the butter compound in with the rice until it melts and coats the freshly cooked grains. A spoonful or two should be enough but feel free to adjust the amount depending on how rich or garlicky you want the rice to be. Another method is to heat the garlic butter in a saucepan and then add the uncooked rice. Toast the grains in the butter mixture for a few minutes to allow them to imbibe the flavor and savory aroma before adding water or broth to cook the rice fully. Lastly, you could use garlic butter to cook fried rice as a substitute for plain cooking oil.

What's good about garlic butter rice is that it goes well with almost everything. Its rich flavor complements savory dishes so you can pair it with the best cuts of steak for juicy grilling or some other hearty protein, like grilled chicken or pork chops. It's also a perfect match for shrimp, salmon, and other seafoods, especially when drenched in herbs and lemon. Fried rice cooked in garlic butter works just as well with all these dishes and more, including variants loaded with veggies, diced meats, and scrambled egg.

For a simple, meatless meal, serve your garlic butter rice with roasted or sautéed vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, green beans, carrots, or potatoes. For a quick and easy preparation of this base or side dish, look for garlic butter products at the grocery store or online. Store-bought garlic butter is quite handy for white rice because there's no need to mince garlic or add additional seasonings. If these product aren't accessible to you, you can make your own by melting butter and mixing it with finely chopped fresh garlic. Cook over low heat until the garlic releases its aroma and flavor but be sure not to brown the garlic bits too much or burn them as this will ruin the flavor profile.