Description
Buttered Corn Rice is a simple and flavorful one-pot rice dish combining tender corn kernels with garlic-infused buttery rice. This easy recipe uses basic pantry ingredients, perfect as a comforting side or a light meal. The rice is toasted for depth, simmered with corn, and finished with buttery richness and optional garnishes like parsley or green onions for added freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (jasmine or basmati works well)
- 2 cups water or broth (chicken or vegetable for extra flavor)
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned & drained)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped parsley or green onions
Optional Add-Ins
- Grated parmesan
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- Paprika or chili flakes
- Cooked shredded chicken
Instructions
- Rinse the rice: Rinse the long-grain white rice under cold running water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch and prevent the rice from becoming sticky.
- Melt butter and sauté garlic: In a pot over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Toast the rice: Add the rinsed rice to the pot and stir continuously, toasting it lightly for 1 to 2 minutes. This step enhances the rice’s flavor and helps keep grains separate.
- Add liquid and salt: Pour in 2 cups of water or broth and add ½ teaspoon of salt. Increase heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Simmer the rice: Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Let the rice simmer gently for 15 minutes, absorbing the liquid fully.
- Add corn kernels: During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in 1 cup of corn kernels to warm through and blend flavors without overcooking the corn.
- Rest the rice: Once cooking finishes, remove the pot from heat and leave it covered to rest for 5 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and become fluffy.
- Finish with butter and seasoning: Fluff the rice gently with a fork, then stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to add richness and seasoning.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions if desired and serve the buttered corn rice warm as a delicious side or light main dish.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice before cooking removes excess starch and improves texture.
- Using broth instead of water enhances the flavor.
- Fresh, frozen, or canned corn all work well; if using canned corn, drain well to avoid excess moisture.
- Optional add-ins like parmesan or lemon juice can elevate the dish’s flavor complexity.
- For a heartier meal, stir in cooked shredded chicken before serving.
- Adjust salt to taste depending on whether broth is salted.
- Use a pot with a tight-fitting lid for best results to retain steam during simmering.
