Basmati Rice (Easy Steps, Fluffy Rice Everytime!)

Name: Basmati Rice (Easy Steps, Fluffy Rice Everytime!)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice; 1 ½ cups water; 1 teaspoon salt

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Here's how to cook Basmati Rice perfectly every time! This foolproof recipe gives you fluffy basmati rice, with an easy stovetop method ready in 20 minutes. Great to serve alongside curries, stir fries, stews and more!

I have a Persian background, and we are accustomed to eating rice with most of our main meals. Basmati rice is the traditional rice that we eat, and here I'll teach you the easiest way to cook it perfectly every time. You don't need any fancy equipment or a rice cooker. It's a simple stovetop method which takes 20 minutes to make.

Say goodbye to mushy and sticky rice! When cooked correctly, basmati rice is light, fluffy and beautifully fragrant. It should be a pleasure to eat and it should enhance the dish you are serving it with. It complements many dishes such as curries, stews and stir-fries.

If you love rice as much as I do, be sure to try my Persian rice recipes I've shared including crispy tahdig, saffron rice and lubia polo (green bean rice).

Cooking basmati rice uses a simple ratio of 1:1.5 which you can easily multiply if you would like to cook a bigger batch. I usually cook rice once or twice a week for meal prep, and we eat this for a few days at a time. With tips from my mama, once you start making perfect basmati rice, there's no going back 😊

Table of Contents

Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to cook Basmati Rice
What to serve with Basmati Rice
Tips and Tricks
Storage Instructions
FAQs
More Rice Recipes
Pairing
Recipe
Comments

Why you'll love this recipe

Quick & Easy: Made in 20 minutes with easy steps anyone can follow
Always Fluffy: Say goodbye to mushy rice with this foolproof method
Versatile: Pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes such as curries and stews
Simple Stovetop Method: With no fancy equipment or rice cooker required!

Basmati rice in a bowl before being cooked

Ingredients and Substitutions

Basmati Rice is of course the star of the show! It's a long-grain white rice which turns so fluffy and flavorful when cooked. I always prefer to purchase a good quality rice brand, usually which originated in India, Bangladesh or Pakistan, as I find them the most fragrant and delicious. You can substitute with another long-grain rice like jasmine rice, but the texture may be slightly different
Salt enhances the natural flavor of the rice
*Optional to add whole spices to your basmati rice such as cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon, or cumin seeds. I love adding saffron to make the most delicious saffron rice - you only need a small pinch and it works wonders. Its also popular to add butter or oil for more flavor, but its not mandatory

Basmati rice in a large plate with a spoon

How to cook Basmati Rice

Making beautiful fluffy Basmati Rice perfect everytime is easier than you think. Follow my simple steps below.

Add rice to a pot and wash under running water until water is clear and not murky

Add 1 ½ cups of water with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook on medium - high heat until water starts to boil then reduce to low heat and place the lid on for 15 minutes

Have a taste - if it seems hard or crunchy, add 1-2 tablespoon of water and cook for a further 5 minutes, otherwise skip to next step

Turn heat off and remove pot from the stove. Keep the lid on for 5 minutes so it steams. Then gently fluff the rice with a fork and it's ready to serve!

What to serve with Basmati Rice

Here are some of my fave's to enjoy it with:

Tips and Tricks

Always rinse your rice first until the water runs quite clear and not murky anymore. This removes excess starch and any dirt that could be on the rice
The ratio to follow is 1:1.5 of rice to water. Use a measuring cup for consistent results
Have a little peek and taste test. Depending on your stove strength, the time may slightly change. Refer to the recipe card below for instructions
Allow rice to steam for 5 minutes with the lid on for the final step. This allows the rice to finish cooking
Gently fluff the cooked rice with a fork for a light and airy texture. Be careful not to make it mushy

Storage Instructions

Let the basmati rice cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days
Reheat leftover rice gently in a saucepan over low heat with a splash of water until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave
To freeze, allow the rice to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating

FAQs

What is the ratio of water to basmati rice?

The perfect ratio for cooking basmati rice is 1:1.5 rice to water. So for 1 cup of rice, use 1.5 cups of water

Do I need to soak basmati rice before cooking?

Soaking isn't necessary, however it can reduce the cooking time slightly. If you wish to soak it, soak in cold water for 30 minutes then drain. When cooking, check the rice at 12 minutes to ensure it doesn't overcook

What is the best way to cook basmati rice?

Here I've used the simple absorption method which is fast and effective with perfect fluffy rice every time. I also often cook it differently when making Persian rice with crispy tahdig. This has a double cooking method involving draining the rice for a different outcome

More Rice Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Basmati Rice:

I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Basmati Rice photo on Instagram so I can share the love!

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