Widely regarded as the most important grain for humain consumption and coming just second after maize in sheer worldwide production volumes, rice is one of the all time greats in the world of food! The highly versatile grain comes in a remarkable 40 000 variations and is grown in almost every corner of the globe!

On Celeb Feasts, Zola tastefully incorporates rice into a spectacular array of dishes to create some truly marvelous creations. So we took a little time out to have a look at some of the most popular rice grains on the show and give you a little idea of where to best use each one. Have a look:

White Long Grain

Contains less starch so the cooked grains are drier and more separate. It’s often used in pilafs or dishes with a lot of sauce.

Saman

Spekko Saman White Rice has a soft, sticky texture when cooked. Non-parboiled, this rice is grown in Uruguay. Steam for best results.

Jasmine

Jasmine rice is originally from Thailand and is commonly used in Southeast Asian cooking. This is a long grain variety of rice that has a subtle floral aroma and a soft, sticky texture when cooked. The grains are also shorter and thicker than basmati rice.

Basmati

Basmati rice hails from the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India and Pakistan. Basmati rice needs to be soaked for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Works well in Indian dishes like Briyani.

Brown Long Grain

Brown long grain rice is notably chewier and heartier than white rice and takes about twice as long to cook. It's often considered a healthier alternative as well.

Stay tuned to #CelebFeasts every Tuesday at 21:30! Follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and at mzansimagic.dstv.com.