• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Portfolio

Love And Other Spices

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Air Fryer
  • All Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Air Fryer
    • All Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Sides

    How To Cook Basmati Rice (Perfect and Fluffy)

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy and disclosure policy.

    Learn how to cook basmati rice on the stovetop that's not sticky and have perfectly fluffy rice every time!

    Jump to Recipe
    basmati rice in a bowl

    What Is Basmati Rice?

    Basmati rice is an aromatic long-grain rice grown in India and Pakistan. It's a type of white rice. Basmati comes from the Hindi word for "fragrant" and that's very fitting. It has a nutty aroma and great flavor.

    The long grains remain separated allowing curries and other sauces to coat for maximum flavor. It's the preferred choice for dousing with curries and sauce-based dishes. Basmati rice is also used for cooking dishes - like Biryanis and Pilafs, famous rice dishes from the Indian sub-continent.

    Perfect Basmati Rice

    Cooking rice that is fluffy and not sticky lies in a few simple steps.

    The first of all is, rinsing the rice. Rinsing the rice gets rid of extra starch that makes it gummy and stick together. Rinsing the rice is a breeze. Simply place the rice in a bowl with cold water, swish the rice around using your hands to release the excess starch. The water will be cloudy at first but after several rinses, it will be clear.

    Next, is the rice to water ratio. There are many basmati rice varieties and they all don't absorb the same amount of water. But a good starting point is 1 to 1.5 cups of rice to water ratio. If it needs more water, we can sprinkle some at the last stage.

    Then, you simmer until all the water is absorbed and let the rice rest undisturbed for 10 minutes.

    INGREDIENTS

    • Basmati Rice
    • Butter, Ghee or oil - olive oil, avocado oil or vegetable oil
    • Salt - Kosher salt or sea salt
    • Flavorings(optional) - Bay leaf, cardomom, curry leaves or cinnamon

    Step by Step Process for Basmati Rice Recipe

    raw basmati rice in a bowl
    Measure the rice into a bowl.
    rinsed basmati rice
    Rinse the rice until water runs clear. Drain with a fine-mesh strainer.
    basmati rice in the pot
    Add rice, water, salt, oil, bay leaf to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

    cooked basmati rice in the pot
    Cover with a lid and simmer until water is absorbed. Turn the heat off and steam for 10 minutes.

    cooked basmati rice in a bowl
    Fluff the rice and serve warm.

    How To Make Basmati Rice on Stovetop

    Follow these steps to cook basmati rice perfectly!

    1. Place the rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover the rice. Using your hands, swish the rice around to remove excess starch. Pour the water out, leaving the rice in the bowl. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain the rice.
    2. In a medium sized pot, add rice, water, salt, oil and bayleaf and bring to a boil.
    3. Turn the heat to medium low, cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook rice until all the water is absorbed.
    4. Turn the heat off and allow the rice to steam for another 5 to 10 minutes.
    5. Remove the lid and fluff the cooked rice using a rice paddle or a spoon.
    6. Serve warm.

    Best Tips

    • Rinse - some might skip it but this is important for a clean tasting rice whether it comes from package or from a bulk bin.
    • Drain - so you don't carry over excess water to the pot resulting in sticky rice.
    • Boil without lid - don't cover the pot with the lid until the first boil.
    • Tight fitting lid - a loose fitting lid let's out water and steam and you'll end with undercooked rice.
    • Rest - once all the water is absorbed, turn the heat off and let the rice rest. Rice will continue to cook throughout. DO NOT open the lid and let the steam out!
    • Fluff - fluff the rice with a rice paddle or a thin spoon so as not to break the grains. Use a gentle scooping motion to loosen the rice from the edges of the pot to the middle.
    • Firm rice - If the rice is firm even after resting, sprinkle some water on top, cover and cook on a low simmer for an extra 5 minutes.

    .

    fluffy basmati rice
    See how the grains separate and fall!

    FAqs About Basmati Rice

    Do you need to soak the rice?

    No, you don't need to soak the rice. For some dishes like Biryani and pilaf, you might need to and the recipe will specifically call for it.

    What's the difference between Basmati rice and white rice?

    Basmati rice is a type of white rice and it's more fragrant than the others. And the grains are longer. There are many varieties of basmati rice. But they all have long grains and a nutty aroma.

    Is Basmati rice healthier than regular rice?

    One is not better than the other. They are both carbs and have the same nutritional profile with minute differences that are pretty insignificant.

    How to season Basmati rice?

    Add salt along with water. Using butter or ghee adds flavor to the rice. Use bay leaf, cinnamon stick, pandan leaf to give the rice extra flavor and fragrance.

    How To Cook Basmati Rice in Rice Cooker

    To cook rice in the rice cooker, add rice, water, salt, and bay leaf to the rice cooker, cover and press the "Cook" button. After the "Keep warm" light turns on, let it cook for 10 more minutes.

    How To Store And Reheat

    Store cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If the rice feels slimy and the smell is off, it's probably time to discard it.

    Reheat in the microwave until warm.

    How To Freeze

    Portion the rice into freezer bags and freeze for 3 months. You can let it thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat it.

    What To Serve Basmati Rice With

    Serve plain rice with curries or stir-fries. I like to serve them with:

    • Sri Lankan Chicken Curry,
    • Ground Meat Curry(Keema)
    • Butter Chicken.
    • Cauliflower Coconut Curry

    Or sauce-based dishes like Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken.

    If you like this recipe, I’d love it if you can give me a rating and comment! Share it with your family and friends! ❤️

    How To Cook Perfect, Fluffy Basmati Rice

    basmati rice in a bowl with fork
    Learn how to cook basmati rice on the stovetop that's not sticky and have perfectly fluffy rice every time!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Chinese, Indian, Sri Lankan
    Servings 4
    Calories 188 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cooking pot, strainer, large bowl

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup basmati rice
    • 1.5 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon butter, ghee or oil
    • 2 bay leaves, cardomom or cinnamon optional

    Instructions
     

    • Place the rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover the rice. Using your hands, swish the rice around to remove excess starch. Pour the water out, leaving the rice in the bowl. Rinse the rice several times until the water runs clear. Drain the rice.
    • In a medium sized pot, add rice, water, salt, oil and bayleaf and bring to a boil.
    • Turn the heat to medium low, cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook rice until all the water is absorbed about 12 to 15 minutes.
    • Turn the heat off and allow the rice to steam for 10 minutes.
    • Remove the lid and fluff the cooked rice using a rice paddle or a spoon. Serve warm.

    Notes

    • Store - in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warm.
    • Freeze - portion the rice in freezer bags and freeze for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat.
    • For tips to cook the perfect Basmati rice refer to the post above.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 188 kcalTotal Carbs: 36 gProtein: 4 gFat: 3.2 gSaturated Fat: 2 gFiber: 2 g
    Keyword basmati rice, easy, quick, rice
    Tried this recipe?If you like this recipe, I’d love if you can give me a rating and comment! Share this with your family and friends!
    « Best Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken Recipe
    20+ Air Fryer Recipes For Beginners »

    SHARE THIS POST:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    HELLO!

    profile photo of farwin simaak.

    I'm happy you're here. I'm Farwin, the foodie behind this blog.  As a mom of three, I know how hard it can be to get a delicious wholesome dinner, at the end of a long day. Here at Love & other Spices, I share simple but flavorful recipes to make it easier for you to feed your family.

    More about me→

    POPULAR RECIPES

    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
    • Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower - No Breading
    • Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini (No Breading)
    • Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

    HEALTHY RECIPES

    • Air Fryer Egg Bites
    • Creamy Tomato Soup With Canned Tomatoes
    • Air Fryer Chicken Breast {No Breading}
    • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Footer

    ↑ BACK TO TOP

    PRIVACY POLICY

    • PRIVACY POLICY

    LET'S CONNECT

    • FACEBOOK
    • INSTAGRAM
    • PINTEREST

    CONTACT

    • ABOUT/CONTACT

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 LOVE AND OTHER SPICES