Basmati Rice

5 from 1 vote

Learn how to cook basmati rice so that it's light, fluffy and perfect every time! No need to rinse it, drain it, or add any extra ingredients!

Prep Time1

Cook Time15

Resting Time10

Total Time26

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian, Middle Eastern

Diet: Vegan

Servings:

Calories: 169kcal

Add basmati rice and water to a medium sized saucepan. Heat it over medium high heat, uncovered.
Bring it to a simmer, where the edges are bubbling and the surface of the water is white and foamy.
Place a tight fitting lid on and turn down the heat to medium low. Leave it to simmer for 12 minutes. Don't lift the lid!
After 12 minutes, remove it from the heat and leave it to rest with the lid on for 10 minutes. Don't lift the lid during this time.
After 10 minutes, remove the lid. Use a rubber or wooden paddle to fluff the rice.

Flavorings: There is no need to add oil, salt or anything else to your rice while it's cooking. Once it's cooked and fluffed up, you can absolutely add salt, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro or parsley or anything else you please. But you don't need to cook it with any added flavorings.
There is no need to rinse the rice - if you bought your rice in a sealed package from the supermarket then there is no need to rinse it. In fact, rinsing it can result in your rice ending up gummy. If you must rinse the rice (for hygienic purposes, if you didn't buy it in a sealed package from the grocery store) then you can reduce the water in the recipe by 2 tablespoons.
Storing: Keep your cooked rice stored in a sealed container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Freezing: It freezes really well for up to 3 months. You can freeze it in a freezer safe container. You also don't need to thaw it and can just reheat it directly from frozen in the microwave. If it's a bit dry, mix in a splash of water.