People from various cultures consider rice as a staple food due to its versatility and ability to be cooked in many ways. Thereby making it a satisfying addition to any meal. Whether you are looking for the fluffy texture of white rice or the nutty flavor of brown rice, the perfect rice consistency and flavor can be achieved by mastering a few essential techniques. In this article, we will explore the key factors that contribute to successful rice cooking, including water ratio, cooking time, rinsing techniques, and the best types of rice to use. So let’s dive in and discover the secrets to cooking basmati rice like a pro!
Making traditional rice is as basic as cooking gets. There are many varieties of rice like long grained white rice, jasmine rice, arborio rice, brown rice, parboiled rice, wild rice, black rice. I just refer to instructions on the packet when I cook different varieties. Apart from amount of carbs, each variety differs in vitamin c, b vitamins and the amount of essential nutrients like essential amino acids. Hence, every variety is different and so are the cooking methods. The king of all rice recipes is basmati rice. No Indian curry recipe or biryani recipe is complete without a good fluffy bowl of steamed basmati rice. If you are wondering how to make perfect basmati rice recipes in various modes, scroll below. The below post shows
- How to make basmati rice in instant pot?
- How to make basmati rice in a rice cooker?
- or how to make basmati rice in a pressure cooker?
- How to make basmati rice in a saucepan?
I love to serve it with some air fried onions on top. Caramelized onions have a rich flavor. You can also eat brown basmati rice if you find brown rice too difficult to incorporate in your diet. It cooks fast. Whole grain helps reduce cholesterol levels and helps avoid heart disease in the long run. White basmati rice has a high gi in comparison though it is easier to digest.
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How to make Jeera rice? (recipe video)
What is basmati rice? Is Basmati the same as jasmine?
It is a long grained rice which has a sweet aroma to it similar to jasmine rice. It expands more than twice it's dry lengthwise while cooking. Basmati rice has a firm and fluffy clean grain. Jasmine rice is stickier, starchier, and softer like basmati.
Which type of rice to choose?
Selecting the right type of rice for your desired dish is crucial. The popularity of white basmati rice is largely due to its delicately fragrant aroma and long grains, which are widely used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian cooking.
This particular dish is known to complement the taste of rich and flavorful curries, such as kadai paneer, jackfruit curry, chana masala, rajma, butter chicken or chicken curry, exceptionally well. You can also use it to make many vegan delicious meals like mushroom rice, broccoli rice, tom yum fried rice, and veg fried rice. Rice grains can also be used to make sweet dishes like rice puddings and tahiri or sweet pulao.
Water Ratio and Cooking Time
The water-to-rice ratio is an essential factor to consider when cooking rice to perfection.
For cooking in pot and rice cooker- A widely used recommendation for preparing white rice is to add twice the amount of water as rice, resulting in a 2:1 water-to-rice ratio. In simpler terms, for every cup of rice you intend to cook, you will need to add two cups of water.
For instant pot and pressure cooker - its recommended to use equal quantity of water and rice.
Remember to rinse the rice thoroughly before cooking to remove any excess starch, which can cause clumping.
Ingredients to cook basmati rice
- basmati rice
- water
- salt
- olive oil / coconut oil
- cumin seeds
- bay leaves
See recipe card for quantities.
how long to soak basmati rice?
- Soak basmati rice in cold water at least for 30 minutes. Rinse well in enough water until the water is clear.
- Drain the excess water to remove excess starch before cooking the soaked rice in the pot/cooker.
How to make basmati rice in instant pot ?
- Heat oil in an instant pot and add cumin seeds & bay leaves to it. Let it splutter.
- Add rice along with salt.
- Add water (same quantity as that of rice, for 1 cup raw rice use 1 cup of water )
- Cook for 5 minutes in instant pot in pressure cook mode on high pressure in a sealed position. Release after 5 minutes.
Instructions: How to make basmati rice in a pressure cooker ?
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add cumin seeds & bay leaves to it. Let it splutter.
- Add 2 cup rice and 4 cups of water along with salt. Cook until 1-2 whistles.
- Turn off the gas and let the pressure release automatically.
- Serve fluffy rice with curry or dal recipe.
Learn how to make basmati rice in a rice cooker ?
Heat oil in a rice cooker and add cumin seeds & bay leaves to it. Let it splutter.
- Add 2 cup rice and 4 cups water along with salt. Cook for 20-25 minutes. Once it is cooked, rice cooker automatically goes to the keep warm mode. Note: If water is more, it will get clumpy and if less rice will stick to the bottom.
- Serve fluffy rice with curry or dal recipe.
How to make basmati rice in a saucepan on stove top?
- Heat oil in a saucepan and add cumin seeds & bay leaves to it. Let it splutter.
- Add 2 cups rice and cook for a few minutes.
- Add 4 cups water along with salt. Cook until the water has evaporate or very little water left. Turn off the heat and cover for 5-10 minutes.
Related recipes
basmati rice recipe
Equipment
- saucepan / instant pot / rice cooker /pressure cooker
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
Instant pot
- 2 cup basmati rice
- 2 cups water equal quantity of water for pressure cooker,instant pot. Doule quantity of water for pot,rice cooker.
- 1 teaspoon salt or as per taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp. olive oil / ghee for vegetarian option
- 2-3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Soak basmati rice in water for 30 minutes. Rinse well until the water is clear.It takes 4-5 times of washing to get the water clear.
- Heat oil in an instant pot/cooker/pressure cooker/rice cooker and add cumin seeds & bay leaves to it. Let it splutter.
How to make basmati rice in instant pot?
- Add 2 cups basmati rice along with 2 cups water along with salt. Cook for 5 minutes on high in pressure cooker mode in a sealed position. Release after 5 minutes.
How to make basmati rice in a saucepan on stove top?
- Add 2 cups rice along with 4 cups water and salt. Cook until water evaporates, turn off and cover.
How to make basmati rice in a rice cooker?
- Add 2 cup rice and 4 cups water along with salt. Cook for 15-20 minutes. Once it is done, it will automatically come to keep warm position.
How to make basmati rice in a pressure cooker?
- Add 2 cup rice and 2 cups water along with salt. Cook until 1 whistle on medium heat.
- Allow the steam to release naturally
Serving suggestion:
- Serve fluffy rice with any Indian curry or dal recipe, salad and pickle. You can serve with yogurt or raita dip if vegetarian.
Video
Notes
Substitutions & variations
Fluffy rice can be made vegan or vegetarian depending on tempering of vegetable oil or grass-fed butter /ghee alternatively. Add some frozen or fresh peas to the pot of rice to make your version of peas pulao. You can also add a handful of fenugreek leaves too. It improves flavor and is great for iron content too.
If you do not have whole spices, use only cumin seeds in tempering. If you want to add more spices, add cloves, star anise, cinnamon stick, black cardamom and green cardamom. You can also make this recipe using brown basmati rice. Adjust water according to packet instructions.
Storage
Store cooked rice for 2-3 days in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for a month. You can also use left over rice in many ways. For best result add tempering of cumin seeds in a teaspoon oil and few drops of water, while reheating this long grain rice.
Top tip
Always rinse basmati rice well to remove starch else it will end up clumpy after you cook rice. Water should be clear after you do it 3-4 times. It is important you need to heat rice before you eat. Eating leftover rice without heating can lead to indigestion or food poisoning.
Once rice is cooked ,serve it warm or transfer to a different container, leaving the rice in the the cooking pot for long will result in little mushy rice at the bottom of the container.
FAQ
Basmati rice has lower glycemic index and more nutrients.
Cooked basmati rice should be stirred only in the beginning, else it will get sticky.
Quinoa, cauliflower rice, broccoli rice, konjac rice, shirataki rice or miracle rice is a low carb rice substitute to regular rice. Some other low-carb rice alternatives are barley, freekeh, shredded cabbage, farro, orzo and Bulgur wheat.
People who follow ketogenic diet, avoid making rice as it is a low-carb diet. They can use the above listed low-carb rice substitutes.
There are many health benefits as it is high in vitamin B like B1.
Conclusion: Jeera is the simplest rice recipe which makes any curry combo special.
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