How to cook basmati rice in six easy steps!
Basmati rice is perfect for curries, Cajun, Mexican & Asian cuisines, but also to accompany juicy vegetables and soups.
Of course, basmati is not a traditional ingredient of Italian cuisine, but, like many other “ethnic” ingredients, it has gained a spot in every Italian pantry. Italians have discovered how perfectly basmati rice matches juicy meats or tender fish dishes. And how strong flavors get the perfect balance when accompanied by a bowl of well-cooked basmati rice.
Furthermore, as we Italians are also curry-lovers, it is extremely important to know how to cook basmati rice perfectly.
Here is how to cook basmati rice in 6 fundamental steps:
1- Choose the quantity and type (white, brown, red…) of rice you want to cook.
2- Place it in a bowl, covered with warm water, and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
3- Rinse carefully and move it to a pot; cover it with water: water should totally cover rice plus an inch (2 cm).
4- Bring to a boil on high heat. Lower heat, cover the pot, and let cook the rice for about 15 minutes. Never stir. You’ll know it’s ready when you see small wholes like these ones:
5-Turn off the heat and keep the pot covered, let it rest 10 minutes more: you will see tiny drops slipping down the lid’s surface:
6- Use a fork (no spoons, or you could break the grains!) to hull the rice.
Italian vegetable recipes to serve with your basmati rice:
Now that you know how to cook basmati rice, you are ready for curry or…
- delicious Roman-style artichokes
- Sicilian eggplant caponata
- eggplant fritters
- matcha and mozzarella stuffed zucchini blossoms
- the golden whole roasted cauliflower
a healthy and delicious Italian dinner is served 😉
Claudia