Basmati rice is a type of aromatic rice originating from India, and is one of the most expensive types of rice in the world. Basmati rice is long and thin, and has a dry, hard texture after cooking. Cooking basmati rice may sound difficult, but if you follow the right technique and pay attention to the rice as it cooks, you can enjoy delicious rice with ease.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Soaking Rice
Step 1. Pour a cup of rice into a bowl
Use a measuring cup when pouring the rice into the bowl. Errors in measuring rice can make your rice too cooked or too raw.
- If you want to make 2 cups of rice or more, keep the same ratio to the other ingredients.
- Generally, the ratio of rice to water used is 1:1, 5 or 1:2.
Step 2. Fill the bowl with water to soak the rice
Use the faucet to fill the bowl with water. Do not overfill the container, or some of the rice may be lost.
Pour water until it covers the surface of the rice
Step 3. Stir the rice with a spoon for 1 minute to remove the pulp
This step is the traditional step for cooking basmati rice. Now, the water in the bowl will look cloudy and cloudy.
Removing the rice pulp will prevent the rice from becoming too sticky. Sticky rice is commonly used in Korean or Japanese dishes
Step 4. Strain the water out of the bowl
You can use a sieve or filter cloth to strain the rice. Make sure all the water is filtered and no rice is wasted.
- If you don't have a strainer or filter cloth, you can point the edge of the bowl at an angle to filter it.
- Make sure you don't aim the bowl too sharply to avoid wasting the rice.
Step 5. Repeat steps 2-4 until the water is clear instead of cloudy
Continue the process of washing and filtering rice until the water becomes clear. The clear water indicates that you have washed the rice dregs thoroughly, and allows the basmati rice to have its traditional texture after cooking.
The rice washing process may need to be repeated 3-4 times until the rice is clean from the dregs
Step 6. Refill the bowl, and soak the rice for 30 minutes
Leaving the rice submerged will expand the rice and enrich the texture of the rice.
Another advantage of soaking rice is that the rice that has risen can absorb more of the seasoning from the dish
Method 2 of 3: Cooking Rice on the Stove
Step 1. Add 1 3/4 cups of water to the pot
If you are cooking 1 cup of rice, use 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water. Adding more water will make your rice softer, while adding less water will make the rice taste tougher.
- Don't add too little water. Your rice may not be fully cooked or it may scorch.
- If you cook more rice, adjust the amount of water used.
Step 2. Add 1 tsp of salt to the water
Adding salt to the water will season the rice, and allow the water to boil at a higher temperature.
- Water generally boils at 100 degrees Celsius, but if you add salt it will boil at 102 degrees Celsius.
- Adding salt after the rice is cooked can make the rice too salty.
Step 3. Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil
Set the stove to high or medium heat, then wait for the water to boil and froth.
The water will boil after 5-10 minutes, depending on the heat generated by the stove
Step 4. Add the rice to the water after the water boils
The water will stop foaming. Do not change the stove heat setting.
To prevent water splashing, do not pour the rice from a height
Step 5. Stir the rice with a wooden spoon or heatproof spoon until the water starts to boil again
The water will boil after 1-2 minutes
Step 6. Set the stove to low heat after the water boils again
When the water starts to bubble, immediately reduce the heat. You will see the water boil slowly, instead of forming large bubbles.
Step 7. Cover the pot, and let the rice cook for 15 minutes
Leave the stove on low heat while you cook the rice. This guide is suitable for cooking plain basmati rice, instead of other types of basmati rice (such as whole basmati rice) which are cooked longer.
- Do not open the container cover. When you open the lid of the container, the steam that cooks the rice will come out.
- Don't stir the rice. Stirring the rice will spoil the rice.
Step 8. Let the rice sit for 5 minutes and stir with a fork before serving the rice
Leaving the rice for 5 minutes can cook the uncooked rice, and allow the remaining water to evaporate. After that, make sure you stir the rice with a fork.
Stirring the rice with a fork will separate the seeds and remove large lumps. In addition, the rice will be soft and light textured
Method 3 of 3: Cooking Rice in the Microwave
Step 1. Fill a heatproof bowl with one cup of rice and two cups of water
If you want to cook more rice, add more water in a 1:2 ratio.
- For example, add 4 cups of water to cook 2 cups of rice, and 6 cups of water to cook 3 cups of rice.
- Make sure you use a large enough bowl.
Step 2. Place the lidless bowl in the microwave and cook for 6-7 minutes on high heat
Cooking time depends on the power the microwave has.
- If you are using a 750 Watt microwave, cook the rice for 6 minutes.
- If you are using a 650 Watt microwave, cook the rice for 7 minutes.
Step 3. Cover the bowl with heat-resistant plastic, and make a ventilation hole on the edge of the bowl
Covering the bowl with plastic will steam and cook the rice.
- Do not puncture a hole in the top of the plastic.
- Make sure you use heat-resistant plastic.
Step 4. Lower the microwave heat to medium (350 Watts), and re-cook the rice for another 15 minutes
Read the microwave manual for lowering the heat. If you use the initial heat setting, the rice may be overcooked or charred.
Do not stir the rice while it is cooking
Step 5. Let the rice sit for 5 minutes, then stir the rice with a fork before serving
Your rice will now be fully cooked. Break up lumps of rice with a fork before serving.
Be careful when removing the hot bowl from the microwave
What You Need
- Pot for cooking
- Measuring cup
- Fork
- Basmati rice
