Published: · Modified: by Harriet · 3 Comments
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Learn how to cook basmati rice using the absorption method. So, it won’t be sticky and gluggy. The absorption method is easy to follow and makes perfectly cooked rice every time.
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- Cost To Make
- Basmati Rice
- Equipment
- Step By Step Instructions
- Recipe Tips
- Saucepan Size And Rice To Water Ratio Guide
- Recipes Using Basmati Rice
- FAQ
- Curries And Sides To Serve With Basmati Rice
- Recipe
- Comments
Learn how to cook basmati rice and make it so that it is perfect every time! With the steps outlined on this page, you will be cooking fluffy rice every time you make it.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $1.20 or $0.30 a serve
Basmati Rice
Basmati is long grain rice that is used primarily in Indian cooking. It’s also considered the “King of Rice” because of its long grain, aroma, and great taste.
Equipment
- 240 -250 ml measuring cup
- Stainless steel sauce pan or rice cooker
- Sieve
- Fork
Step By Step Instructions
How to Cook Basmati Rice on The Stove
The key for making basmati or any rice is to rinse it and drain it well, then use the correct rice to water ratio.
The correct basmati rice to water ratio is 1:1½ which is one cup basmati rice and one and a half cups water when using the absorption method.
You can use this rice to water ratio when cooking basmati in a saucepan on the stove or a rice cooker.
Step 1 - Wash and Drain
Rice needs washing before cooking to wash away excess starch and to remove dust particles.
To rinse the rice, measure the amount of rice you need into a saucepan. Then fill the saucepan with enough cold tap water to cover the rice.
Use your hand to swish the rice around your fingers in the water. The water will turn cloudy because of the starch and dust.
Carefully pour off the water and rinse and repeat several more times until the water becomes less cloudy.
With the final rinse, drain the rice into a sieve to remove all the water, then return the rice back to the saucepan.
Step 2 – Add Water
With the same cup used to measure the rice, measure one and a half cups cold water and add it to the saucepan with the rice.
Step 3 – Cooking Basmati Rice
When cooking basmati in a saucepan on the stove, place it on high heat and bring the water to a boil.
When the entire surface is bubbly and foamy, use a fork to stir the rice and loosen it from the bottom of the pan, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and reduce the heat to very low.
Cook the rice covered for 20 minutes, turn off the heat and, leave to stand for 10 minutes with the lid still on.
Use a fork to gently fluff and separate the rice before serving.
How to Cook Basmati Rice In A Rice Cooker
Place the rice and water into the rice cooker, cover with the lid and switch on.
Most rice cookers will automatically go to a keep warm setting once the cooking cycle is complete.
After cooking, keep the rice covered in the rice cooker for about 5- 10 minutes. Use a fork to fluff the rice before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use the same cup to measure the rice and water to give you the correct water to rice ratio. And when filling the cup with water and rice, always fill to the top.
- Make sure to drain the rice well after rinsing. There should be no visible water left in the saucepan after rinsing. If there is and you add the water for cooking, you will end up with too much water and, the rice will end up being gluggy when cooked.
- Use the right size saucepan.It is important to use the correct size saucepan when cooking rice.The saucepan needs to be large enough to hold the rice when cooked because it doubles in size and, it also helps to cook the rice evenly. See below for saucepan sizes and rice to water ratio guide.
- Use a tight-fitting lid.The lid should fit snuggly on the saucepan because you want to trap in the steam as the rice cooks.
- Bring the pot to a boil without the lid on.It helps with even cooking to bring the water to a rapid boil before turning down the heat and covering it with a lid because it will ensure that the rice gets cooked at the corrected temperature.
- Don’t lift the lid during cooking.Once the pot is covered, don’t lift the lid to take a peek because steam will escape and bring down the temperature and can give uneven cooking.
Saucepan Size And Rice To Water Ratio Guide
Use the below as a guide for selecting a saucepan size for the amount of rice you are making.
- Use a 1 ½ - 2 liter (1 ½ - 2 quart) saucepan for 1 cup rice + 1 ½ cups water.
- Use a 2 – 3 liter (2 – 3 quart) saucepan for 2 cups rice + 3 cups water.
- Use a 4 – 5 liter (4 – 5 quart) saucepan for 3 cups rice + 4 ½ cups water or 4 cups rice + 6 cups water.
Recipes Using Basmati Rice
- Chicken pulao
- Indian tomato rice
- Fish biryani - Pakistani style
- Slow cooker chicken rice soup
- Indian Jeera rice
FAQ
Can You Cook Basmati Rice In A Rice Cooker?
Yes, you can cook basmati rice a rice cooker. The principles of cooking basmati rice in a rice cooker are very similar to cooking rice in a saucepan. Both ways utilize the absorption method as outlined on this page.
How much water for basmati rice?
As a guide, use a ratio of 1 ½ cups of water to 1 cup of rice. This water to rice ratio makes perfect basmati rice that is light and fluffy.
However, if you find that the rice is too dry or too wet because you are using a new bag of rice or switched brands try increasing or decreasing the amount of water the next time you make the rice.
Take a note of this for the next time you cook the rice.
How much water for 2 cups of rice?
For 2 cups of uncooked rice, use 3 cups of water.
Rice to water ratio – rice cooker
The basmati rice water ratio for cooking rice in a rice cooker is the same as above, basically a 1:1 ½ ratio.
How long to cook basmati rice?
It only takes 20 minutes to cook white basmati rice.
How to make basmati rice not sticky?
Here is how to cook basmati rice so that it does not become sticky.
Thoroughly rinse the rice several times in cold tap water until the water is clear. Washing helps to remove most of the starch from the rice.
If the starch is not washed off from the grains, the starch will make the rice gummy and sticky when cooked.
How much basmati rice per person?
When working out how much basmati rice person, use this as a rough guide.
Allow about ½ measuring cup (100 grams / 3.5 ounces) of uncooked rice per adult person for about 1 cup (200 grams / 7 ounces) of tightly packed cooked rice.
If you have small children or people with small appetites, you may want to reduce this quantity.
Curries And Sides To Serve With Basmati Rice
- Balti chicken curry
- Beef Madras Curry
- Lamb Rogan Josh
- Chickpea and potato curry
I do hope find this post on How To Cook Basmati Rice helpful and you have tried the recipe. Please come back and leave a comment below because I would love to know how you went.
Recipe
How To Cook Perfect Basmati Rice
How to cook perfect basmati rice every time. Just follow these easy steps and you will have soft and fluffy rice every time.
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Prep Time : 5 minutes mins
Cook Time : 20 minutes mins
Standing time : 10 minutes minutes
Total Time : 35 minutes mins
Cuisine: : Indian
Course : Sides
Servings : 4 adult servings
Calories : 338 : kcal
Estimated Cost (AUD) : $1.20 or $0.30 a serve
Author : Harriet
EQUIPMENT
240 -250 ml measuring cup
Saucepan with a tight-fitting lid or rice cooker
sieve
Fork
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 3 cups water
INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Use the same cup to measure the rice and water, each time filling the cup to the very top.
Measure the rice into a large saucepan and rinse the rice several times in clean cold tap water until the water becomes clear. On the final rinse tip, the rice into a colander to completely drain away all the water. Return the rice back to the saucepan.
Add the water to the rice in the saucepan. Place the pot on a high heat and bring the pot to the boil. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low.
Cook covered on low heat for 20 minutes – don’t remove the lid while it is cooking.
Remove from the heat.
Allow the rice to stand covered for 10 minutes. Then use a fork to fluff up the rice and serve hot.
Nutrition Facts
How To Cook Perfect Basmati Rice
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
338
% Daily Value*
Fat
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Sodium
13
mg
1
%
Potassium
106
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
74
g
25
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
1
g
1
%
Protein
7
g
14
%
Calcium
31
mg
3
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclosure
This blog post on How To Cook Basmati Rice was first published on April 8, 2019. Updated with new content and images on October 10, 2021.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
FoodDoz says
Thanks for the recipe.
Reply
Nathalie says
You should never wash basmati rice before cooking.you put oil in a pot and mix the rice grains at least 2min with the hot oil than you add water.you ll have the best rice ever.
Reply
Harriet Britto says
There are many different ways to cook basmati rice. I’m not familiar with this method, and I'll be sure to try it out.
Join the Discussion
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As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or demonstrate first-hand expertise, but I can provide you with information related to the concepts used in the article you shared.
Basmati Rice
Basmati rice is a long-grain rice that is primarily used in Indian cuisine. It is often referred to as the "King of Rice" because of its long grain, aroma, and excellent taste.
Equipment
To cook basmati rice, you will need the following equipment:
- 240-250 ml measuring cup
- Stainless steel saucepan or rice cooker
- Sieve
- Fork
Step By Step Instructions
The absorption method is commonly used to cook basmati rice. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
- Wash and Drain: Rinse the rice several times in cold water to remove excess starch and dust. Drain the rice using a sieve.
- Add Water: Measure one and a half cups of cold water for every cup of basmati rice. Add the water to the saucepan with the rice.
- Cooking Basmati Rice on the Stove: Place the saucepan on high heat and bring the water to a boil. Once the surface is bubbly and foamy, stir the rice with a fork, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce the heat to very low. Cook the rice covered for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes with the lid still on. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
- Cooking Basmati Rice in a Rice Cooker: Place the rice and water into the rice cooker, cover with the lid, and turn it on. Most rice cookers will automatically switch to a keep warm setting once the cooking cycle is complete. After cooking, keep the rice covered in the rice cooker for about 5-10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use the same cup to measure the rice and water.
- Make sure to drain the rice well after rinsing.
- Use the correct size saucepan to ensure even cooking.
- Use a tight-fitting lid to trap in the steam.
- Bring the water to a rapid boil before covering it with a lid.
- Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to prevent steam from escaping.
Saucepan Size and Rice to Water Ratio Guide
The following guide can help you select the appropriate saucepan size for the amount of rice you are cooking:
- 1 ½ - 2 liter (1 ½ - 2 quart) saucepan for 1 cup of rice + 1 ½ cups of water
- 2 - 3 liter (2 - 3 quart) saucepan for 2 cups of rice + 3 cups of water
- 4 - 5 liter (4 - 5 quart) saucepan for 3 cups of rice + 4 ½ cups of water or 4 cups of rice + 6 cups of water
Recipes Using Basmati Rice
The article also provides some recipes that use basmati rice, including:
- Chicken pulao
- Indian tomato rice
- Fish biryani - Pakistani style
- Slow cooker chicken rice soup
- Indian Jeera rice
I hope this information helps you understand the concepts discussed in the article. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!