This is the complete guide to choosing, using and cooking the world's best-loved grain, with over 200 truly fabulous recipes. It is an authoritative reference book and practical cook's guide to one of the world's most popular ingredients. It is a fascinating introduction tells the story of rice cultivation and the myths and legends that surround this supremely important food crop. It is a kitchen manual that identifies the rices of the world, showing how to store, prepare and cook them perfectly. Recipes include timeless international classics such as curry, sushi, aromatic and fried rice, paella, biryani, risotto, kedgeree and sweet rice pudding. All the delicious recipes are presented with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs for successful and confident cooking. Rice is prized by cooks everywhere for a texture that makes it the perfect partner for almost any ingredient, from a handful of herbs to an extravagant array of seafood. This book opens with an introduction to different types of rice and the many products made from it, and takes a close look at how it is grown and harvested, the etiquette of eating it, and its history since the early days of cultivation in South-east Asia 8000 years ago. The recipes that follow cover every way of cooking rice, in an international tour, from an Indian biryani to a Middle Eastern pilaff, and from Cajun jambalaya to Spanish paella. Classic rice recipes sit alongside contemporary dishes, with a special emphasis on the risotto. With over 720 photographs and more than 200 exquisite recipes, this book celebrates the versatility of this highly revered staple food.