What is the trick to make the perfect Basmati Rice ?

This is one of the most common questions I get from my Indian Cooking Class participants. To make the perfect Basmati rice, you need to follow two important rules.

1. Soak the rice in water for minimum 30 minutes to maximum 1 hour. When you soak the rice , the rice absorbs the water and expands in volume. This process will prevent the rice from sticking to the pot and helps in cooking the rice evenly.

2. Rinse the rice 3 to 4 times, until the water runs clear. Rice contains excess starch. You can remove the excess starch by washing it 3 to 4 times before cooking. This step will prevent the rice from sticking to each other during the cooking process and helps to cook fluffy long grain rice.

3. 
   

   

   Basmati Rice

   
   

   Jeera Rice (serving size -2)

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons oil

2 cups water

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Procedure

1. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes and then wash it.

2. Place a pot on the stove and turn on the heat.

3. Add oil into the pot.

4. When the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds crackle, add the rice, salt and water.

5. Cook the rice in high heat for five minutes.

6. When the water and rice starts to boil, turn the heat to low and close the pot with a lid. Cook the rice for 20 minutes on low heat. After 20 minutes, switch off the heat. Jeera rice is ready to be served.