Perfect Basmati Rice

[labrawn]

the inside of the local 7/11 smells like this

[beastheyareorbealone]

all though getting rid of the majority of the starch might improve the texture of the rice to your personal taste i would ask you to list me some of the reasons why you seem to associate less starch with a health benefit .....i for one have seen many benefits associated with high starch diets but regardless....if you have references for me to indicate that too much starch is detrimental to one's health i would be grateful for the opportunity to research them thanks :p

[aishoooo]

Is that the only way of removing starch? ... i'm not sure if this is another way, but please tell me if it is ... u boil the rice until it becomes long and seems to be half cooked .. throw the water and then boil again until cooked and then throw access water again?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@aishoooo: Well, honestly, never heard of that. But have heard that you throw away the water when 1/2 cooked and then just close the lid and allow the rice to cook in it's oven heat...

[doveisle]

Use the water for making soup.

[verocity]

I will try this technique, for one person tho what are the ratios, I have been cooking it like this: wash it until water runs clear, half cup of rice, one cup of water, salt, bring water to boil with rice turn to simmer cover, and cook for 8 mins, leave covered for 10 mins, rice tuns out grainy looking, like the outside isn't smooth!

[1234shellybelly]

no spices?

[orangetiger456]

thats an interesting way to make rice. I've never done it that way.  I usually boil the rice and the cover it, lower the heat to low, and then cook for 20 minutes. I shall try this method sometime! Thx!

[jeetendrag10acc2]

they are indians..indians have been cooking rice for the past 4000 yrs of recorded indian history. other types of cooking are fast food cooking for cheap food.

[SergeCWazukie]

its funny cuz watching this vid an add for hamburger helper came on, i prefer this over junk like fake meat they call HAMBURGER...ugh...good video! SO YUUMMMYYYYYY

[g0nz010]

This is not a very good recipe. Do as the video instructs upto the point where rice starts cooking. Now, for best results you should cook rice til 50% done, drain the water, put a little oil in your empty pot and put the stove on medium heat. Then put rice back in pot and put the lid over a wet cloth to make sure your pot is sealed. Cook on medium heat for 10 mintues, followed by 5 mintues on low heat. That's when you'll get an excellent long grained and fluffy rice.

[polos505]

you guys don't know how to make rice.

[extremehardyboyz23]

u dont dont know how to make rice u put tamatar gajar jeera matar and u will have great cuisine...

[sr300zx]

thanks ladies this was perfect basmati rice :) I added a little tumeric and cumin seeds

[MsSMSgirl]

just curious, ive been trying to make rice, but my rice always turns out soggy.lol. why do you soak your rice for a 1/2 hour? :)

[Paulpunkrocks]

@MsSMSgirl Soaking the rice before cooking it creates an even cooking environment

[szita2000]

indians, who cant cook rice !! ha ha! straining it like university students?

[Desi4evah]

@szita2000 For your kind information, that's how rice is traditionally cooked!

You don't have to specify what an idiot you are!

[nynynyny44]

Thank you...I knew you guys'd come thro for me!!(I had forgotten the measurments,,,,)

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@nynynyny44 :  :)

[ritumir]

It also depends on the quality of rice.

[RakeshRaymondKumar]

1st of all I have to thank both of you gorgeous Indian women for this wonderful how to guide. This was the best rice Ive ever made in my life I couldnt believe how great it came out and it tasted like heaven without the salt or cumin but I still added them for the extra flavor. Thank You!

[jayinuk1976]

I did it exactly like this and it turns to porridge! Everytime.....I can cook Jasmin to perfection but Basmati hates me!

I GIVE UP....

[TheWarriot]

I can eat basmati rice by the pound!! It's so good!!

[DiziMonroeTV]

does this still work if u don't soak the rice first?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@DiziMonroeTV

No, you have to soak the rice for even cooking.

[Genevee1]

@ShowMeTheCurry is not rice turn to sugar in your system ? also which is the best INDIAN CURRY to cook or fry with

[HamadHHAG]

is just water?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@HamadHHAG

Yes, you cook it in plain water.

[mushugai]

@ShowMeTheCurry no salt, oil, or Ghee?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

@mushugai

You can add salt to taste. Oil or ghee is not necessary while cooking unless you want to use the rice for biryani. You can always add ghee on top for flavor :)

[rajcert]

Great Work guys!.

[martinus197333]

Thanks. Looks easy:-)

[wwus120]

i like to add 3 to 4 rose pedals to the water. have you ever done that ?

[asknaresh]

Appreciate the great work! You mentioned that this form of cooking rice is healthier as there is no starch. My question is, the rice has already absorbed the water it needed to cook. The fat content in the rice is still present. You are just draining the excess water. Can you please let us know how this method of rice cooking is healthier than other methods?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

All of the starch is not removed by this method, but a lot of it is. This method of cooking does not affect the fat content, just the starch (carbohydrate) content.

[SweetLifeSarahNTiff]

a steamer and a little vegtable oil works wonderfully on Basmati! :)

[dishguy05]

ah, thanks.. my rice ended up being very sticky so i had tried draining the excess water into the sink with the lid covering the pot and then leaving the rice uncovered. That made the top part of the rice fluffy but the bottom was still sticky. I'll try this method, I assume it will be fluffy throughout as its airing from top and bottom.

[chisaoboy]

I think you have revealed the secret that good Indian restaurants use for their rice. When they make it, every grain is totally separate. This is not the case when I make it at home. :-( But you taught me to use 4x the water to rice. Most packages don't say to use so much water. This must be the secret! Thank you! Also, what kind of rice do those restaurants use wherein some of the rice is orange colored? Thank you!

[iloveshawnu]

you can use any basmati rice, I personally like tilda brand basmati rice. You can buy basmati rice from any Indian grocery stores or Sam's club. Orange food coloring is added to the rice to make it look colorful and delicious!

[mediblue9]

hahaha "be careful"

[BodhisattvaBound]

How long would you cook BROWN basmati rice?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

We usually cook our brown rice in a pressure cooker (more time efficient). However, brown rice takes 2-3 times longer than the white rice.

[iloveshawnu]

30 to 40 mins

[realbasmatirice]

Nice

[musty911]

worked like a charm! Thanks! ;-)

[trvishi]

Interesting... But wont interest Indian readers as they only use basmati for pulav and biriyani... For biriyani, they can use your method for pre-boiling to say 70% and then add it in top of the biriyani base.. For pulav, they just mix it with all other components.

But for others (usually outside india), its a pretty good idea to follow if they havent perfected the combinations yet...

Keep it going.... Really like your videos... :)

[iloveshawnu]

that's not true, indians eat plain rice with daal, chicken curry, goat curry, vegtable curries.....any curries

[PsychLion]

There is a local Indian place here that has the best food and the family that runs it is so friendly. Anyways, they make this basmati rice and I asked what they put it in and she said cardamon? Do you know how to make it that way, because I would love to make it at home, just not sure of the spice used.

[iloveshawnu]

before you boil the water. add some oil to the pot and whole spices (cardamom, cinnomin stick, cumin, cloves) let it crackle then add the water and follow the directions in the video. You don't have to use all the whole spices, use which ever you like. I prefer all of them, the taste and aroma is wonderful!

[strangeritual]

i was hoping for a bit more here than just plain boiled rice. could you ladies do a video of a nice pilau rice restaurant style? i've tried various recipes but just cant get near the aroma of rice from a takeaway

[ShowMeTheCurry]

You can visit our website and look under the Rice Dishes category for many fragrant recipes/videos.

[aniz6]

nice work ladies , at the end in order the rice to be seperate , once the water is been drained , add some cold water over the rice in the drainer. it remains non sticky and fluffy.

[zaaman13]

Thanks ladies!

[Desi4evah]

Hello Hetal and Anuja.. Loved your video.. However, this is how my mom or I do it...

We check the rice as it cooks to see if it's 90% done. The rice should be cooked on the sides and raw in the middle. Once this happens, strain out the water, put back the rice in the dish, cover (on dum), and let it cook for another 5 mins on medium flame. As you see the steam coming out, you know it's done!

[supersophie777]

ditto

[rdhenke]

So you guys don't use Salt. lol!!!

[ShowMeTheCurry]

That really is a personal preference. Please add salt to taste if you do like it in your rice.

[reenachitra]

i did the same drained but still its watery do u guys steam after draining as well?>

[ShowMeTheCurry]

No, we do not steam after draining. You can keep the rice in a colander for a little longer to make sure all the water is gone..

[iloveshawnu]

you can put it back on the stove and let it cook on low heat covered for 5 mins.

[saitube9]

When draining out remaining water from the cooked rice, are we not wasting the vitamins and other good stuff? I just use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of basmati rice and it comes out perfect.

[peaceloveNlolipops]

Can this method be used for brown basmati rice?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

We would not recommend the draining method for brown rice. Brown rice is not as processed as the white variety and thus has many vitamins and nutrients which would drain out with the water. You can cook it with a ratio of 1 part rice and 2 parts water (either in a saucepan or a rice cooker).

[peaceloveNlolipops]

Thank you for your response. I'm going to try the rice cooker method. I love your videos.

[aliamerican1]

very nice but you guys should checkout bollywood curryman he is ggreat also keep it upthanx

[malthus101]

Hmm... I followed the guide and mine turned out like mush! Anyone got any suggestions? There is nothing that deflates me more than rice turning to mush! After 5 minutes of boiling, the rice was spinning up to the surface, tumbling over and looking very done. Seems I might have been right. I soaked for about 38 minutes instead of 30 - that going to make any difference? Thanks.

[SetiDraconis]

yes it makes a difference the longer you soak your rice,the longer you soak it the quicker it will cook,dont worry I have messed up so many times and just now getting it right.I soak for 15 min and then cook for 10 min but that may be the rice brand I have.Just check your rice every 4 min even they say dont peak.

[neimaD11]

What do you do after the rice sits in the strainer after it's done cooking? Isn't the rice still a little too moist to be served?

[ShowMeTheCurry]

Letting the rice rest in the strainer for just a few minutes will dry it out enough to serve.

[xJaysrox]

this is how my mother does it :D

[behanchot]

Thanks for the tip on how to cook basmati rice. I normally use rice cooker, and the rice is never consistent nor fluffy. Not to mention, some of the rice is burnt at the bottom of the cooker.

Your method makes the rice both consistent AND fluffy just like the restaurants. I've always wanted to know the secret to fluffy basmati rice. Now I know.

Great video post!

[lovehilary]

thats not how u cook rice--this is just the prep. to boil rice in the water where is the finshin touch with masals and all that --i hope ur not makin this a joke to cook rice like this --

[ShowMeTheCurry]

This is definitely NOT a joke. This is a recipe for plain white basmati rice, a staple in many Indian and South Asian homes. Adding masala or other things to the rice would make it pulav or biryani (or countless other rice dishes). Many curries are eaten with this type of plain white rice. You can visit our website for masala rice recipe videos.

[beerbrewer737]

Well I made it last night and it did come out perfect. Now I need to find a good chicken tikka recipe!

[beerbrewer737]

I know the next time I cook rice this will be how I do it...quick and easy, got to love it! Thanks ladies.

[rc224usaf]

thank you.... my rice came out perfect just like at the restaurant....thanks again

[mariam2004]

that's a really bad way to cook basmati rice. They are doing an injustice to that beautiful rice.

[OfDaHeeZy84]

Hey y'all thanks for the tips for cooking basmati rice. and I love y'all videos.

[coolanddark]

thank you for showing me!i will try to cook it tonight!