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–+ servings

simple basmati rice

How to cook 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: 30 minutes
soak: 30 minutes
total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
difficulty: simple
yield: 4 servings
calories: 365 kcal
diet: gluten free, vegan, vegetarian
cuisine: Indian

equipment

  • large bowl
  • deep pot with lid

ingredients

instructions

  • Place the rice in a large bowl and rinse it in cold water, using your hand to stir it 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 cover with luke-warm water. Soak for 30 minutes.
  • Drain the rice and put it into the pot. 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 15 minutes. Do not open the pot during this time.
  • 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 1 ½ 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 pot to check progress, or the steam and heat will escape from the pan.

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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