The prosecution: Noor
We split the cooking, so it’s a battle between us as to which carb is better. To me, rice is more versatile
My boyfriend, Paul, and I moved in together five months ago. Since then, a rift has emerged – Paul wants potatoes with every meal. Actually, he often wants two types of potatoes with his meals – mash and chips, for example, or roasties and mash. I prefer rice. We split the cooking, so it’s a continual battle between us: which carb is better?
Paul is part-Irish and part-Welsh, and says potatoes are part of his heritage. But I’m Indian, so the same is true for me about rice. I’ve always eaten rice as my carb, even when sharing meals with people from different backgrounds. To me, rice isn’t just a side dish, it’s a cornerstone of culture, identity, and countless comfort meals and festive feasts.
Paul also says that potatoes are more versatile, but that’s laughable. Rice can be steamed, fried, boiled, fermented, rolled, wrapped, puffed, flaked, and transformed into countless dishes like biryani, sushi, sticky mango rice, kheer, onigiri and more. It doesn’t need to put on a show to be delicious, unlike the potato, which needs loads of salt, breadcrumbs or oil to make it great. Rice is the perfect blank canvas to soak up flavour.
Paul also says rice spikes blood sugar. But I don’t think dauphinois smothered in cream and cheese (his favourite form of potato) is exactly a miracle health food.
Sometimes I want to have a traditional British meal, like a roast dinner, or a steak, with rice, but Paul hits the roof. He says, “You can’t have rice with that.” But I can and I do.
I am more flexible with his meals than he is with mine. When he cooks, I have potatoes with whatever we’re having. But I would like us to just have one type of potato with our meal, we don’t need two: it’s unnecessary and unhealthy.
I love Paul, but living with someone who worships potatoes as though they’re the eighth wonder of the world is a lot at times. He needs to come around to my way of eating.
The defence: Paul
I made thousand-layer potatoes and they were amazing. Noor pretended she didn’t like them
I love potatoes, but Noor is obsessed with rice. I can’t stand rice as it’s very boring, but I’ve adapted since we started living together.
I’m Irish and Welsh, so potatoes are in my blood, but Noor says the same about rice. You can’t argue with either of us from a cultural perspective. The issue is, seeing as I do more of the cooking, I often opt for other carbs before I do rice.
For me, rice just doesn’t hit the same. Potatoes are the most versatile food. They’re both a carb and a vegetable. They are cheap and delicious, and there is so much that can be done with them – mash, fries, jacket potatoes, dauphinois, croquettes, crisps … the list goes on.
Sometimes I like to put two types of potato with our dinner – mash and fries, or croquettes and mash – but I don’t do it every night. Noor says it’s unhealthy and that I should make space for other vegetables, but I disagree. I recently discovered how to cook thousand-layer potatoes and they were amazing. Noor quite liked them, though she pretended she didn’t.
I don’t mind cooking rice, but it’s a hassle with all the water-measuring, and I find it very plain. You have to dress it up to make it taste of anything.
I have started eating a lot more rice when it’s appropriate – with curry, for example – but I don’t believe in having it as a standard accompaniment to all our dishes. I don’t think it’s versatile enough. Noor, on the other hand, wants rice with things like a roast dinner, or a piece of chicken.
I think I can make the argument that potatoes are more nutritionally balanced in their natural form, and you can do more with them. Rice spikes your blood sugar. Potatoes with the skin on are a great source of fibre, and it’s not like I fry them all the time.
Noor has taught me how to make rice since we now live together, so I will try to cook it more because I love her. I just want her to come around to my way of thinking and admit that potatoes are superior.
The jury of Guardian readers
Does Paul deserve a roasting?
I can’t deny that Paul is right that there are so many delicious ways of cooking potatoes, and rice with a roast is simply wrong. But two types of potato with a meal is one too many for me. Sticking to one and having rice some nights seems the obvious answer.
Rob, 54
There’s culinary lawbreaking on both sides here (double spuds, rice with roast dinner … dear me), so neither party can claim the moral high ground. But Paul claiming that “potatoes are superior” is ridiculous – Noor obviously doesn’t think so for starters, and his lack of awareness puts him in the wrong.
Xiang, 37
Noor and Paul are both being stubborn. Surely it’s best to compromise and alternate carbs – that would keep both of them happy. It’s either that or preparing separate carbs for each meal, which would be time-consuming and probably lead to food waste.
Emma, 26
It’s great that Noor and Paul are both being true to their culinary heritages, but Paul needs to compromise. He is wrong to ask Noor to concede that potatoes are superior, and should let her spice up traditional meals with rice.
Alice, 44
As neither of them hates the other’s preferred carb, they should switch between rice and potatoes. Paul should accept this, and he definitely shouldn’t cook two types of potato – one green veg and one potato variety would be far healthier.
Valerie, 40
Now you be the judge
In our online poll, tell us if you think Paul’s argument is half-baked
The poll closes on Wednesday 10 September at 9am BST
Last week’s results
We asked whether Billie should stop buying kitchen appliances.
32% of you said yes – Billie is guilty
68% of you said no – Billie is not guilty
