Begin by rinsing the brown rice under cold water. This step removes excess starch, preventing your final dish from becoming gummy. Place the rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cool running water until the water runs clear. This may take a minute or so. Trust me, it's worth the time.

In a medium-sized pot, combine the rinsed brown rice, 2 cups of filtered water, the sea salt, and garlic. Stir to combine. If you want to kick it up a notch, you can toss in a few herbs or spices like bay leaf or cumin at this point.

Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring everything to a boil. You want to see those bubbles popping! Once you reach a vigorous boil, it’s time for the next step.

When it boils, lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot tightly with a lid—this helps to keep the steam in, which is essential for cooking the rice evenly.

Allow the rice to simmer for 45 minutes. Yes, it takes time, but good things come to those who wait! Avoid the temptation to peek. Each time you lift the lid, you let steam escape, and that's not good for the cooking process.

Once 45 minutes have passed, turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 10 minutes. This allows the remaining steam to work its magic, fluffing up the rice perfectly.

After resting, take a fork and gently fluff the rice, breaking up any clumps. Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil over the top and mix. Now, it's ready to serve alongside your favorite dishes.