Forbidden Black Rice

Forbidden Black Rice

Emperor’s Rice

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 10m
Cook Time: 25m
Total Time: 35m
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (11 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

234
calories
6g
fat
38,3g
carbohydrates
5,1g
protein
8mg
cholesterol
187mg
sodium
Forbidden Black Rice

Recipe Description

Make this Forbidden Black Rice for a healthy and delicious side dish full of flavor and nutrients! They call it forbidden because it was reserved exclusively for the emperor in China thousands of years ago. Now it is available for everyone and represents good health and longevity.

Cooking black rice is simple and similar to cooking other varieties of rice. Melt some butter in a saucepan and stir in the black rice, onions, and almonds. Keep stirring until lightly toasted, then add water and a cube of chicken bouillon. Alternatively, you can replace the bouillon cube and water with an equal amount of chicken broth. Let the rice simmer until it is tender and the liquid is fully absorbed. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit covered, then fluff with a fork and serve.  

To make the Forbidden Black Rice, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Forbidden Black Rice

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Rinse black rice

    2 min
    Step 1 - Forbidden Black Rice

    Rinse 1 cup black rice with cold water in a mesh sieve until the water runs clear.

  2. 2

    Melt butter

    2 min
    Step 2 - Forbidden Black Rice

    In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter.

  3. 3

    Add rice, onions, and almonds

    5 min
    Step 3 - Forbidden Black Rice

    Stir in the rinsed black rice, ¼ cup diced onion, and ¼ cup slivered almonds. Cook, stirring, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until lightly toasted.

  4. 4

    Add water and bouillon cube

    25 min
    Step 4 - Forbidden Black Rice

    Add 2 1/2 cups water and 1 bouillon cube. Bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid. Leave the rice to simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until tender and the water is completely absorbed.

  5. 5

    Cool

    5 min
    Step 5 - Forbidden Black Rice

    Remove from the heat. Leave the rice to cool for about 5-10 minutes, then fluff it with a fork.

  6. 6

    Serve

    Step 6 - Forbidden Black Rice

    Serve immediately and enjoy!

Once only for emperors, now everyone can enjoy Forbidden Black Rice! It is not only delicious and satisfying but also good for you. Give this recipe a go, and please let us know what you think in the comments below!

About the author

Bethany Lim

Bethany is very passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and clean diet. She’s trying to cut meat out of her diet as much as possible and focuses on cooking vegetarian food and fish. Bethany gets a kick from finding ways to add new twists to classic dishes. What’s more, thanks to her Asian roots, she’s great at combining different cuisines to come up with something extraordinary. Bethany’s recipes will inspire you to add new colors and flavors to your everyday meals.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (11 reviews)
Daisy
March 23, 2025
Verified

I made this black rice for a dinner party. Everyone loved it! Super simple and delicious. A new favorite in my kitchen.

Mia Johnson
March 16, 2024
Verified

Superb! This Forbidden Black Rice was perfect for my dinner party. I loved how simple it was to prepare, and everyone raved about the flavor. It felt great to serve something so special yet easy to make.

Samantha Lee
October 29, 2023
Verified

Simply divine rice!

Rachel Smith
October 25, 2023
Verified

I made this Forbidden Black Rice for my family and they loved it! It's simple to cook and so delicious. We enjoyed it with grilled chicken, a perfect combination.

Ursula
October 7, 2023
Verified

Deliciously easy dish! Perfect for our dinner.

Sara Johnson
August 17, 2023
Verified

I tried making Forbidden Black Rice for dinner last night. It was so simple! The nutty flavor was delightful and my husband loved it. It's amazing how a dish with such history can be made so easily at home.

Ulysses
February 2, 2023
Verified

I made this rice for my friends’ dinner party, and it was a hit. The flavors are so rich and nuttie, everyone was impressed. I loved how easy it was to make, a must-try for anyone looking for something different.

Uma
November 29, 2022
Verified

This rice is awesome! Made it for dinner, yum.

Yogui
April 21, 2022
Verified

Hice este Arroz Negro Prohibido el fin de semana y fue un éxito con mi familia. La textura es perfecta y el sabor es increíble. Además, es divertido decir que comimos algo 'prohibido'. Se ha convertido en nuestra nueva guarnición favorita.

Nina
February 26, 2022
Verified

Superb. I made this Forbidden Black Rice for a dinner party, and everyone loved it. The nutty flavour and lovely texture made it a standout. Plus, it's packed with nutrients, too! I'll definitely be adding it to my regular meal rotation.

Athina
January 14, 2022
Verified

Black rice is a great healthy alternative to white and brown rice. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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