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Today I will be using Black rice from West Bengal called the Kalabat for making a Black rice burger veg patty (vegan). Did you know black rice was also called the “Forbidden Rice” or  “The Emperors rice”. It was called so, not because it was poisonous, but because it was highly nutritions and was saved and served to the kings and not the common man.

Rice in the world differs in size, length, stickiness, color, and taste. Argued to have been originated in China 10000 years ago, the rice is said to have spread across the world forming its varients in the hands of cultivators all around. The black rice that originated in China traveled into our country through Myanmar and entered Manipur, West Bengal and Odisha and slowly seeped into the south of India and become a part of the tradition. A few varieties available in India are the “karuppu kavuni from Tamilnadu, Burma Black from Karnataka, Halishal from Odisha, Amuba Fao from Manipur and Kalabhat from West Bengal.Today I am using the kalaBhat fro the recipe.

So why is Black rice special?

Black rice is a range of rice types of the species Oryza sativa L., some of which are glutinous rice. The rice is purplish-black in color and looks deep purple when cooked. That dark color is due to the presence of high levels of anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant. The reason why beetroot, or a reddish sweet potato or a pomegranate have such deep colors is because of its high level of anthocyanin. Anthocyanins offer anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits too. A new study about black rice showed that the specific gene has gone haywire in black rice, triggering the plant to produce large amounts of anthocyanin and that black rice was a mutation kept alive by human cultivators by crossbreeding.

The bran hull of black rice has one of the highest amounts of Anthocyanin making it a superfood and it is also high in protein and iron too making it a medicinal product by itself. The black rice variety I am using today is the Kalbhat. It is non-glutinous heirloom rice with a deep purple hue and a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. It is sticky when cooked. Even though it is popularly used in making a traditional kheer or Paulo, I am making a Black rice burger veg patty (vegan) for my fussy kids who are demanding a burger today.

I will use the stickiness of the rice to get the ingredients together, and adding a bit of oat to diffuse the stickiness and potato as the binder to hold them all together.

Black rice farming is a low-water, labor-intensive, organic method that uses young seedlings singly spaced and typically hand-weeded with special tools. Here is an article about a farmer from West Bengal “Madhu Das”. A graduate from the city turned farmer from the city who is using the traditional methods of cultivation and turning heads of the farmers who have moved away from them. Do read.

Where to buy Black rice.

Here are a few links and resources to procure the not so famous but very nutritious Balck rice.

1.Sham-bhoo. Call them at 9740981660 for deliveries in Bengaluru. They have lots of indeginios varities other than the black rice too. Great service.

2. Ulamart . Good service and online all India delivery. Great varities of rice. Contact ; 9361008194

3. Pachha.in. Good collection of heirloom rice from south India. Reasonable prices.