Go Back Download PDF
–+ servings

simple basmati rice

How to cook simple, plain basmati rice. This recipe will give you light, dry, and fluffy rice that can accompany almost any Indian dish.
a bowl of plain basmati rice
prepare: 5 minutes
cook: 25 minutes
soak: 30 minutes
total time: 1 hour
difficulty: moderate
yield: 4 servings
calories: 365 kcal
diet: gluten free, vegan, vegetarian
cuisine: Indian

equipment

  • wide pan with lid

ingredients

instructions

  • Rinse the rice in cold water and stir it with your hands thoroughly. Discard the water and repeat this step twice more to remove any excess starch. Note that after the third rinse that the water will not be clear but will be noticeably less cloudy than after the first rinse.
  • Drain the rice, then place in a bowl and cover with luke-warm water. Soak for 30 minutes.
  • Drain the rice and put it into the pan. Add the water and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, uncovered.
  • When it starts boiling, cover and reduce the heat to very low. Cook for fifteen minutes. Do not open the pot during this process.
  • Once cooked, turn off the heat, then open the pot and quickly fluff the rice with a fork, Cover the pot with a tea-towel and replace the lid. Allow to stand for a further ten minutes before serving.

notes

  • 400g of uncooked basmati rice is approximately two cups.
  • The ratio of water to rice, in volume, is 1½ cups of water to 1 cup of rice. This assumes you have soaked the rice before cooking.
  • The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the age and quality of the rice you use.
  • You must be confident with this dish and not open the pan to check progress, or the steam and heat will escape from the pan.

private notes

This feature is only available to subscribers.

nutrition

Serving: 250 g | Calories: 365 kcal | Carbohydrates: 80 g | Protein: 7 g | Fat: 1 g | Saturated Fat: 0.2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2 g | Sodium: 309 mg | Potassium: 115 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 0.1 g | Calcium: 34 mg | Iron: 1 mg