How to Eat Chak-hao Daily, Lose Weight, and Be the Fabulous You
There are more than dozen ways to eat Chak-hao. How about Chak-hao burger or Chak-hoa momos? thenevibes.com
How to Eat Chak-hao Daily, Lose Weight, and Be the Fabulous You
We are all aware of the super healthy benefits of Chak-hao (black rice) and how this ‘forbidden rice’ is a healthy option compared to other rice. Forbidden Rice? Yes. Once upon a time, black rice was a much treasured commodity in ancient China as it was grown in a limited quantity, and due to its superior quality. The Chinese royalty and nobility would seize every grain of this crop, and banned the common folks from consuming it. That’s how it was coined as forbidden rice or emperor's rice. In Manipur, black rice is known as Chak-hao and is mostly eaten as kheer or with Madhurjan (gramflour fritters in sweet milk). Over the years, we have seen its consumption as Chak-hoa bhujia, puri, and Chak-hao matum.
What makes black rice so unique is its high level of anthocyanin content, which has powerful antioxidant property that helps to reduce chronic inflammation. Its colour differs after cooking from black to dark purple depending on the type of black rice. It is also sticky once cooked, because of amylopectin present in it and also it is low in calories, which makes it great for people who want to lose weight without giving up rice. It has rich source of flavonoid phytonutrients that are essential for protecting us from a number of diseases and maintaining the healthy functioning of our brain. It contains a lot of fibre that is not only good for maintaining our digestive health but it is also a great source of plant-based protein and provides minerals such as iron and copper.
View this post on Instagram
In short, Chak-hao is beneficial because it is:
- Rich in antioxidants (anthocyanin)
- Natural detoxifier
- Good source of fibre
- Prevents risk of diabetes
- Anti-inflammatory
- Improves digestive health
- Improve cognitive function
- Natural gluten free grain
- Helps in weight control
No matter how healthy it is, eating in the same routine can bore you to the core, and you probably may stop eating. So, we have caught up with Kshetrimayum Donny, who loves to experiment and make fusion food especially on Chak-hao and promote its benefits. She wants to make the healthy food fun and appetising. She loves to play with Chak-hao, and invents new and creative ideas to savour this healthy rice. You can probably call her a Chak-hao food specialist.
Kshetrimayum Donny loves to make fusion food on Chak-hao
Her tryst and love affair with Chak-hao started when she had eating problems before with intolerance of several foods. “I started consuming Chak-hao 1/2 cup per day instead of regular one with some changes in diet, and my results are astonishingly good in just one year with my cholesterol level in normal range. So, I wanted people to know about this amazing Chak-hao rice.”
Thankfully, there are more than dozen ways to eat this rice. How about Chak-hao burger or Chak-hoa momos? So, here’s presenting some mouth-watering fusion recipes of the black rice by Donny.
1. Chak-hao Mochi with Fruit Fillings
Mochi fillings can be made with any fruits, chocolates, coconut, jams etc. Here, I have used the fillings of coconut along with the seasonal fruits such as pineapple, strawberries, kiwi and banana.
Recipe:
Chak-hao rice 150 g (for roasting)
Sugar 65 g
Hot water 50 g
Milk 150 g
Corn starch 40 g
Chak-hao rice 125 g
Butter 20g to 30 g
Roast Chak-hao rice 150 g and set aside.
Mix all the remaining ingredients except for butter.
Steam the mixture for 30 minutes.
Take out the mixture and add butter and knead.
Make small dumplings shape and add fillings of your choice. If it's too sticky, use roasted rice for dusting.
2. Chak-hao Cheesecake
Step 1: For the base -
2 packets digestive
Melted Butter 5 tablespoons
Sugar 1 tablespoons
Pinch of salt
Step 2: For the cheesecake:
Cream cheese 180 g -1 packet
Sugar ½ cup
1 cup Chak-hao
1 egg
1/2 cup beetroot minced (optional)
Sour cream 2 tablespoons
Vanilla 1 tablespoon
Pinch of salt
Mix all.
Step 3: Place the mixture according to the steps and bake for 40 minutes in a pre-heated oven.
Step 4: Decorate with any fruit or cream of your choice.
3. Chak-hao Momos
Grind 1 cup of Chak-hao rice to make it to powder. Knead it with hot water and 1 tablespoon of oil. Steam the mixture for 10 minutes. Roll out the dough to make wrappers.
Make momos fillings with ½ cup shredded cabbage, 1 tablespoon each of ginger-garlic, ¼ cup of onions or chives, ½ cup minced chicken or any meat and salt to taste. Mix all and place the fillings in wrappers. Steam for 15-20 minutes.
4. Tteokbokki
Grind the Chak-hao rice into fine powder.
Knead it like normal dough with warm water and pinch of salt.
Steam or microwave for 10 min.
Apply some oil on hand to avoid stickiness and cut it into cylindrical shape to make rice cake.
2 cup Chicken stock
1 tablespoon corn starch
2 tablespoon spicy dip
2 tablespoon tomato puree
2 tablespoon oyster/soya sauce
1 tablespoon each of ginger and garlic
Salt to taste
Boil the chicken stock and when it comes to boil, add all the ingredients. Add the rice cake and let it boil for another 10-15 minutes.
5. Chak-hao Kimbap
Make 1 cup Chak-hao rice. Add 2 tablespoon of sesame oil, salt to taste and set aside.
Chop cucumber, carrots, egg, any meat and other veggies of your choice in cylindrical shape.
Spread the rice over seaweed sheet and place the chopped stuffs and roll it and cut it.
6. Chak-hao Egg roll
4 eggs
½ cup shredded vegetables mix (carrot, chives, onion)
½ cup cooked Chak-hao
Salt to taste
Beat the eggs with the vegetables.
In a hot pan, pour ¼ of mixture and place the chak-hao and roll it and pour the remaining mixture and roll it again. Cut it and serve.
7. Chak-hao Burger
1 cup of cooked Chak-hao, and shape into burger buns. In a heated non-stick pan, place the rice and brush it with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and salt to taste.
For the patty 250 g of any minced meat and mix with shredded carrot, cabbage, onion, ginger- garlic, spring onions or anything that one desires as per their taste.
Place one of the Chak-hao bun and top it with lettuce, tomatoes, the meat patty, egg and additional toppings according to taste. Top it lastly with the remaining bun.
8. Chak-hao Smoothie Bowl
1 cup cooked Chak-hao grinded or powdered
1/2 cup yogurt/milk
Add little water if too thick
Honey to taste (optional)
Mix all and place in a bowl.
Decorate with fruits and nuts of your choice.
9. Bibimbap
1 cup cooked Chak-hao
½ cup each of carrot, cabbage, sprouts, cooked eggs, cooked meat and any other vegetables of one’s choice.
One can steam or stir fry the veggies
1 tablespoon of sesame oil and chilli paste according to taste
Place the rice with egg on top in middle and place vegetables and meat in a plate or bowl.
Mix the sesame oil and salt before eating.
10. Chak-hao cookies (guilt free)
1/2 cup Chak-hao Powder
½ cup banana/apples/coconut
Dry fruits
Mix all. Bake for 12-15 min in preheated oven at 180°C.
Guess, you are rest assured that healthy eating means no bland food. Relish these delicious recipes and be the healthier YOU. If you want more Chak-hao recipes, check out here.
