How to Cook Basmati Rice

August 4, 2009 by Rebecca
Filed under Techniques

I love Basmati rice, LOVE it. I’ve never been a rice eater, it never seemed “hearty” or flavorful enough. I always preferred potatoes or pasta (I am the perfect posterchild for a ultra 90 review, I know!). BUT I will eat Basmati rice. It’s got such a wonderful texture, and it smells incredible, mmmmm a slightly floral scent.

Cooking Basmati rice involves a little more than throwing some grains on the stovetop to boil, though. Here’s a great way to cook Basmati rice. Increase your ingredients accordingly: figure you’ll need 1.5 cups of water for every uncooked cup of rice.

1. Measure one cup of Basmati rice into a large bowl that sits in a larger colander. Fill the bowl with cold water, and sift through the rice with your fingers to wash the rice. Empty the water into the colander. Again, add water to the bowl and rice to wash and rince the rice. Repeat until the water no longer clouds up. This make take several minutes. Sometimes manufacturers will add talc or a powder to the rice, to keep it from sticking during shipping. This must be thoroughly rinsed off.

2. Drain out the wash water and refill the bowl with fresh, cold water. Allow the rice to soak for at least an hour. Some even soak it overnight. I am not that good a planner, so I soak it for about 2-3 hours. But one hour is OK.

3. In a saucepan, boil 1.5 cups of water. Add half a teaspoon of salt (or more or less depending on your salt intake) and 2 Tablespoons of butter (or use margarine).

4. Drain your soaking rice. Pour the rice into the boiling water. Stir only a FEW times with a wooden spoon, just enough to swirl the grains around. DO NOT OVER-STIR, this will break up the tender grains.

5. Return the water to a fast boil, the turn the heat down to LOW and simmer. Cover tightly. No peeking! Cook this way for about 10-15 minutes, until the water is absorbed (you can peek for that). Once the water is absorbed, remove the saucepan from the heat– keep it covered– and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

photo credit: Brave Heart