“Simple Recipes”

There is a straightforward method for preparing rice. My father taught me this cooking technique when I was a child. Back then, I would sit on the kitchen counter and watch him as he carefully sifted the grains between his hands, removing any dirt or sand. He would swirl his hands through the water, causing it to become cloudy. The sound of scrubbing the grains clean was like a field full of insects buzzing.

My father would rinse and drain the rice repeatedly before placing it back into the pot. The instructions are simple. Once the rice has been washed, you measure the water by placing the tip of your index finger on the surface of the rice. The water should reach up to the bend of your first knuckle. My father didn't require instructions or measuring cups; he simply closed his eyes and felt for the waterline.

Even now, I sometimes dream about my father, his bare feet resting on the floor in the center of the kitchen. He wore old buttoned shirts and faded sweatpants that hung at his waist. Surrounded by the gleaming kitchen counters, the sharp angles of the stove, the refrigerator, and the shiny sink, he seemed out of place. This memory of him is so vivid, with such intricate details, that it sometimes takes my breath away.

Every night before dinner, my father would perform this routine of rinsing and draining, then placing the pot in the cooker. When I was older, he handed this task to me, but I never executed it with the same level of care. I went through the motions, splashing the water around and jabbing my finger to measure the water level. Some nights, the rice turned into a mushy gruel.

I worried that I couldn't perform such a basic task correctly. "Sorry," I would say to the table, my voice soft and embarrassed. My father would simply continue eating, pushing the rice into his mouth as if he never expected anything less. He would eat every bite, his chopsticks moving quickly across the plate. Then he would rise, whistling, and clear the table. His movements were precise and flawless, making you believe everything was fine in the world.