Forbidden Rice with Salmon

One of my favorite discoveries at Whole Foods is Chinese Black Forbidden Rice. It is a rich black color when raw and when cooked it becomes a beautiful purple color.  The taste is chewy and has a nutty flavor. The reason for the name is because it was only exclusive to Chinese emperors and considered an aphrodisiac so its consumption was forbidden. I try to eat it several times a week, not only for its high antioxidants but also because it tastes delicious! So when Whole Foods ran out of it for 2 months, I was very frustrated. Last week, I was at the store and lo and behold, it was back on the shelf. There were three bags left, and you better believe it, I grabbed all three of them. I thought this week would be a perfect to share my favorite rice recipe and for those who eat fish (including my husband and daughter) I added salmon to the recipe.

What you will need:

• 6 Mushrooms of your choice thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• Black forbidden rice
• Salmon
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cups of coconut milk

What you will do:

• Add the rice and coconut milk to a saucepan and bring up to a gentle boil.  Reduce heat and cover, simmering about 30 minutes.
• In a second small pan sauté the onion and mushrooms in the extra-virgin olive oil to a deep rich dark brown color. Add a pinch of  sea salt and black pepper to taste. Shut off the heat and set aside.
• After nearly all of the liquid has cooked into the rice, about 25-30 minutes, add the mushrooms and onions to the rice. Cook about another 5 minutes, until the liquid is gone.

Meanwhile,

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rub the fish with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Place salmon, skin side down  in a non-stick pan. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes.

Why eating forbidden rice is good for you:

• A recent news release from the American Chemical Society states that less than a tablespoon of black rice bran yields higher levels of anthocyanin antioxidants than a similar amount of blueberries.
• A one-quarter cup serving of uncooked black rice yields 8 percent of the daily recommended intake for iron.
• There are 5 g of protein in one-quarter cup of Forbidden Rice.

Happy healthy eating!