Do you know how to cook basmati rice on a stove and how to make basmati rice not sticky?
Basmati rice is a classic Indian dish that pairs perfectly with some of the very best Indian cuisines. If you are just beginning to get comfortable in a kitchen, you may be wondering how to cook basmati rice on a stove?
Thankfully the recipe is very simple and straightforward. You only need to follow a few simple steps and voilà—you have a delicious meal you can serve with countless of your favorite Indian entrées! Whether you choose to cook the rice as a tasty snack or make it alongside a more complex meal, this foundational dish will soon become a staple in your kitchen.
We will guide you through a simple basmati rice recipe so you can learn the basics of this kitchen classic.
Let’s get started!
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How To Cook Basmati Rice on Stove
When you are cooking basmati rice, the first thing you want to be aware of is cooking it in a way that will keep its light, fluffy texture while avoiding the possibility of it becoming a sticky congealed mess.
It can be a tricky thing to accomplish! This is especially true for cooks just becoming familiar with basmati.
Luckily, the steps for getting the perfect basmati rice are simple. Just get your rice, a pan with a lid, some water, and you are ready to cook.
This accessible step by step guide comes from RecipeTin Eats authored by Nagi, the expert cook behind the website.
Step 1
Put your dried rice and water in a sauce pan. Before turning on the flame, ensure you have measured the correct ratio of water to rice.
Nagi at RecipeTin Eats recommends 1 ½ cups of water to 1 cup of rice, keeping your dish from becoming to “gluey”.
Step 2
Bring your ingredients to a simmer on a medium high flame. Do not put the lid on the pan during this step.
Step 3
You will place the lid on the pan once the surface has started to boil and foam. Turn the temperature down to medium low heat and let it cook for approximately 12 minutes.
Step 4
After the 12 minutes is up, step 4 will be to remove the pan from the stove top and let the rice rest for approximately 10 minutes.
Step 5
Take a moment to make your rice fluffy! Fluffing the rice will help keep the grains from sticking together and avoid that loathsome gooey texture. Fluff the rice by breaking up any clumps gently with a fork or wooden spoon.
Once your rice is thoroughly cooked and fluffed it is ready to serve. Success!
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What To Serve With Basmati Rice
Once you have perfected cooking your basmati rice, it is time to decide what delicious delicacy to pair it with.
There are countless Indian delicacies to serve alongside your basmati rice. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular dishes that go hand in hand with basmati.
Curry
The obvious choice for a basmati rice meal pairing is curry.
Curry is a traditional South Asian dish made with sauce and a complex blend of spices. While South Asia is the region that popularized curry, other regions including East Asia and Africa all have their take on curry.
Curry recipes depend on the region where it originated and can include recipes like thai phanaeng, chaat masala, ginataan, and adobo among many others.
Curry can be served with vegetables or various types of meat including chicken, lamb, shrimp, or duck.
Bon Apetit notes that curry is a name that is rooted in imperialism and the colonization of countries throughout South Asia and Africa.
Follow their link to learn more about the history of “curry” and more detailed information on these interesting, nuanced dishes that come to us from every corner of the world.
Dal
Dal (or dhal) is another popular South Asian cuisine and like curry, there really is no single recipe or definition for this dish.
Dal not only varies from region to region but recipes can vary from person to person depending on the recipes and traditions passed down through communities and families.
Dal can refer to the meal or it can refer to ingredients.
For ingredients, dal can mean split lentils, peas, or beans and can also mean the dish made from cooking the lentils, peas, or beans until it turns into a soft substance, not unlike porridge.
This delicious meal is a perfect pairing alongside basmati!
Saag Paneer
This dish will be a favorite for cheese lovers and vegetarians alike.
Saag Paneer is a hearty, creamy Indian dish made with dark, leafy greens such as spinach, and Indian cheese (known as paneer).
The greens are ground down and seasoned with ingredients such as turmeric, chili powder, green chili, ginger, and garam masala giving this dish the spicy kick that goes perfectly with a side of basmati.
How To Store Leftovers
Lucky for lovers of basmati rice, this is a meal that is easy to store for leftovers so you can savor it for several days after it has been cooked.
Be sure to store this meal in an airtight container and refrigerate it right away. Rice can attract bacteria if not properly cooled right away so make that a priority.
When you are looking to make a meal out of your basmati rice leftovers, there is a nifty trick to get delicious tasting rice after time in the fridge.
Combine the rice with approximately a teaspoon of water and reheat in the microwave, stirring the rice every 30 seconds or so until it is thoroughly heated.
Basmati Rice Ingredients and Nutrition Facts
Basmati rice is easy because there are really only two key ingredients you need to worry about when cooking it on the stove—the basmati rice and water.
This is the most common and simplistic way to cook basmati rice but as with most rice dishes there are a variety of recipes to try that incorporate different spices, veggies, or other additions to give your basmati rice a little something extra.
Check out the basmati rice recipe found here for a more complex version of this delicious side dish.
Basmati rice has similar nutritional content as other types of rice. In a balanced diet, basmati rice is a great source of carbohydrates providing your body with energy.
One serving of basmati rice (½ cup is approximately 160 calories, with 36 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 3 grams of protein, and 0 grams of sugar.
How to Cook Basmati Rice Indian Style FAQs
Now that we have a strong foundation for how to cook it you may find yourself wondering, what is basmati rice and how does it differ from other types of rice that are available?
For those who are not familiar with its background, basmati rice is a type of rice grown in India, Pakistan, and the Himalayas.
Basmati is known for its nutty flavor and its light texture. India is the world’s leading exporter of basmati rice producing approximately 7.5 million tons annually.
Here are a few other frequently asked questions you might have about basmati rice:
How many varieties of basmati rice are available?
Basmati rice is commonly white rice but there is brown basmati rice as well, typically found at grocery stores that focus on offering healthy food.
If you are looking for a quick recipe you may want to stick with white basmati rice because brown basmati rice takes a little longer to properly cook.
What other dishes can I serve with basmati rice?
Indian food is immensely diverse and there is a myriad of mouth-watering recipes that go great with a side of basmati rice. Some examples are:
• Keema matar
• Korma
• Mughlai chicken
• Rogan josh
• Laal Maas
• Palak paneer
• Malai kofta
• Aloo gobi
Where can I purchase basmati rice?
Basmati rice is available at almost all major grocery stories. Major departments and super stores that have grocery centers like Target and Walmart will sell basmati rice too.
A grocery store like Whole Foods or smaller health food stores may have more options.
The best option? Do some research on locally owned Asian or South Asian markets in your area to find high-quality basmati rice.
Not only will you have access to some of the best basmati on the market, but you’ll also be supporting a local business and the South Asian community.
How to cook perfect Basmati rice every time | Restaurant quality & fluffy Basmati rice >> Check out the video below:
Final Thoughts
Basmati rice is a traditional Indian side dish that is easy to make and will become a staple in your kitchen in no time.
Take what you have learned and begin experimenting with delicious Indian entrees that will warm your heart, fill your belly, and feed your soul.
References
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/72349/indian-style-basmati-rice/