Utterly foolproof rice

Fill a roomy saucepan with water, bring to the boil and tip in a heaped teaspoon of salt – the water will bubble furiously. Pour in the rice, stir once and return to the boil, then turn the heat down a little so that the water is boiling steadily, but not vigorously.

Boil uncovered, without stirring (this makes for sticky rice) for 10 minutes. Lift some out with a slotted spoon and nibble a grain or two. If they’re too crunchy, cook for another minute and taste again. They should be tender but with a little bite.

Drain the rice into a large sieve and rinse by pouring over a kettle of very hot water. Leave to drain well, then tip into a warm serving dish. Serve the rice as it is, or fork through a little butter and parsley to jazz it up.