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[Food] Basmati Rice



MJsGhost

Oooh Matron, I'm an
NSC Patron
Jun 26, 2009
5,026
East
1 cup of rice, 2 of water, gently steam for 10 mins, fluff up and leave covered for another 5 mins.

This.

Double the quantity of (cold) water to unwashed rice, add a pinch of salt, bring up to boiling point and then simmer gently (don't stir it) until the water is absorbed (will be c 10 mins) and then leave to stand with the lid on for about 5 mins.

I'm pretty sure this is Ken Hom's recommended way of cooking rice and there's a chap who knows how to cook rice. It has never failed me anyway.
 




Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
37,342
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
I do a simple pilaf. One cup of rice (a proper cup as in the US cooking measure) to 1.5 cup chicken stock.

1. DO pre wash rice as far ahead as you dare to remove starch
2. Peel and chop 1 small onion OR two banana shallots
3. Fry onion / shallot in butter to soften
4. Add rice and make sure it toasts a little in the butter and onion
5. Add the chicken stock. Bring to boil. Immediately turn down as low as poss and cover with a lid. Leave for 12-15 minutes.
6, Fluff with fork

Works every time.
 




AmexRuislip

Retired Spy 🕵️‍♂️
Feb 2, 2014
34,766
Ruislip
I do a simple pilaf. One cup of rice (a proper cup as in the US cooking measure) to 1.5 cup chicken stock.

1. DO pre wash rice as far ahead as you dare to remove starch
2. Peel and chop 1 small onion OR two banana shallots
3. Fry onion / shallot in butter to soften
4. Add rice and make sure it toasts a little in the butter and onion
5. Add the chicken stock. Bring to boil. Immediately turn down as low as poss and cover with a lid. Leave for 12-15 minutes.
6, Fluff with fork

Works every time.
3a: could also add cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, bayleaf and ground turmeric :)
 


Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
37,342
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
3a: could also add cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, bayleaf and ground turmeric :)

Yes indeed.

But not if you have fussy kids. I just grind some black pepper on mine at the end unless I am doing it for Mrs GB then various spices bunged in.
 






clapham_gull

Legacy Fan
Aug 20, 2003
25,876
Soak for a few hours first OR rinse in boiling water.

Fry on a low heat in some oil and spices if you want.

You are looking at very slightly toasting the outside.

Then cover with foil and COOK IN THE OVEN on a low to medium heat. Bit trial and error with the water quantity but a little less than double.

DO NOT STIR

You can take it out early to continue "cooking" on the side if you want.

If you find the rice is over cooked, Basmati is 100% recoverable, unlike certain other varieties.

Just spread it out thinly and dry out on a low heat in the oven on tray, turning carefully very now and then.

Spread a little oil in the tray (or place on parchment) to stop it sticking.

Never throw away overcooked Basmati, using the above you won't have to.
 


Yoda

English & European
Mrs AR....

150g does 2 people....
300ml of boiling water,
Add rice
Bring back to boil
Stir
Cover with tin foil and lid
Turn down to lowest heat setting
Cook for 10 mins without stirring
Turn off heat
Rest for 10 more mins
Fluff with fork and serve.... :)

Basically what I do but without the tin foil. Perfect every time.

And to all those saying to, absolutely no need to rinse.

Failing that, get a rice cooker.
 






MJsGhost

Oooh Matron, I'm an
NSC Patron
Jun 26, 2009
5,026
East
Mrs AR....

150g does 2 people.... 180g in our house - what a stinge!
300ml of boiling water, 360ml due to the above, but cold water
Add rice yup
Bring back to boil yup
Stir not needed
Cover with tin foil and lid Is your lid broken? What a waste of foil
Turn down to lowest heat setting yup
Cook for 10 mins without stirring yup
Turn off heat yup
Rest for 10 more mins 5 will do
Fluff with fork and serve.... :) ta-da!

^ my feedback for Mrs AR ^

I'm sure she'll be thrilled and grateful in equal measure :lolol:
 






Cowfold Seagull

Fan of the 17 bus
Apr 22, 2009
22,114
Cowfold
Rice of any kind should be the simplest thing of all to cook, reading some of the recipes on here one would think they are straight out of a 3 Michelin star restaurant!
 


murciagull

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2006
886
Murcia
Cheers, think a rice cooker will be the best option, we eat a lot of rice.
 


Since1982

Well-known member
Sep 30, 2006
1,618
Burgess Hill
Buy good quality rice, not easy cook etc. We use Tilda.
Weigh the rice and soak in cold water for at least 30 mins.
Add cold water to a saucepan - 1.3 times the amount of rice.
Add the rice and some salt, bring gently to the boil.
Add a tight fitting lid and put on a very low heat for 25 mins - do not remove the lid
After 25 mins remove from heat and leave for 5 mins - do not remove lid
Then remove lid and the rice will be perfect.
 




Robinjakarta

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2014
2,163
Jakarta
Rice cooker.

1 cup of water to 1 cup of rice.

Yep. A rice cooker is well worth having and cheap ones do the job just fine.
[MENTION=5196]As Since1982[/MENTION] says, good quality rice matters. This varies a lot with basmati. and can affect everything including how well it cooks. Buying the cheapest is not a good option.
 




smillie's garden

Am I evil?
Aug 11, 2003
2,736
Another vote for a rice cooker - does many different types of rice well, and we make porridge with ours as well! This gadget removes a lot of mess and stress from the kitchen, and it leaves a burner free.
 










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