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Cooking basmati rice – quick & easy instructions!

Cooking basmati rice: You’ve been asking yourself this question for a long time: “How do I cook rice?” Then you’ve come to the right place today! I’ll show you the basic recipe for perfectly cooked basmati rice. Find out how to prepare basmati rice without sticking and discover the tried-and-tested methods of the swelling and pasta method. Find out how much water to add to a cup of rice and how to cook basmati rice properly. With these tips, you will always be able to make delicious rice for your favorite dishes. I hope you enjoy my blog post 🧡.

Cooking basmati rice
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Basmati rice and its unique flavor

As a native Pakistani, rice is one of the most important ingredients in my kitchen. Similar to how others grew up with pasta and potatoes, I grew up with rice: or rather, basmati rice! Basmati rice is known for its unique aroma, long, slender grain shape and delicate texture. It is a popular type of rice that is often used in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. My mom always says: “Every grain must stand on its own.” That’s when the rice is perfect. I still remember very well how carefully she handled the rice. She stirred it as little as possible when cooking and made sure that she carefully portioned the rice into the plates when serving so that the grains didn’t break.

Cooking basmati rice – two methods

There are basically two methods of cooking rice. With both methods, it is important to wash the rice thoroughly beforehand and, if possible, soak it in water for at least 10-20 minutes. The rice should also have enough space to develop properly. It is therefore advisable to use a pot that is not too small. I will describe both methods below. Further down in the recipe card you will find the step-by-step instructions for the soaking method to print out and save as a PDF.

Cooking basmati rice

1. the source method

The swelling method is the classic way to cook rice. Here are the step-by-step instructions on how I always prepare it:

  1. Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch. remove excess starch.
  2. Bring 1.5 times the volume of water in relation to the rice to the boil with a little salt
  3. Then add the washed rice. Turn the heat to medium and let the rice simmer until about 90-80% of the water has evaporated.
  4. Then reduce the heat completely and simmer the rice with the lid closed for about 15 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed.
  5. Once the cooking time has elapsed, remove the pan from the heat and leave the rice to rest for a further 5-10 minutes so that it can continue to cook and absorb excess moisture.
  6. Fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains and serve hot.
Cooking basmati rice

2. the pasta method

The pasta method is another simple way to cook rice, which is particularly useful if you don’t want to measure out the exact amount of water. Here, the rice is cooked in a similar way to pasta or potatoes.

  1. Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch.
  2. Bring enough water to the boil in a large pan.
  3. Add the washed rice and cook until the rice is about 90% cooked through.
  4. Then sieve and return the moist rice to the pan.
  5. Put the lid on and leave the rice to cook for about 10 minutes on the residual heat with the hob switched off.
Cooking basmati rice

How do I cook rice? This applies to all types of rice:

  • Wash thoroughly: Rinse the basmati rice thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch and prevent the grains from sticking.

  • Soaking: Soak the basmati rice in cold water for about 15-30 minutes. This will moisten it evenly and improve the cooking result.

  • The right water ratio: Ideally, use 1.5 cups of water for one cup of basmati rice. This ratio can be adjusted depending on the desired consistency.

  • Reduce the heat: Once the water has come to the boil, reduce the heat to low to allow the rice to simmer gently.

  • Use the lid: Cover the pan as soon as the rice is in the water. This traps the steam and allows the rice to cook evenly.

  • Resting time: Leave the cooked rice to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing it from the heat. This allows it to firm up and absorb the excess moisture.

  • Fluff the rice carefully with a fork to separate the grains. This makes it loose and light.

Cooking basmati rice

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Unbenanntes Projekt 23
Basmatireis Kochen

How to Cook Basmati Rice – Easy & Quick Guide

I’ll show you the basic recipe for perfectly cooked Basmati rice. Learn how to prepare fluffy, non-sticky rice, discover the ideal water-to-rice ratio, and find out exactly how to cook Basmati rice the right way. With these tips, you’ll achieve delicious, perfectly cooked rice for all your favorite dishes every single time!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
5 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 2 Personen
Course: Basmatireis Kochen, Side Dish, Reis Kochen
Cuisine: India, Pakistan
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g Basmati rice
  • 150 ml Water
  • Salt to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Topf mit Deckel

Method
 

  1. Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water to remove excess starch.
  2. Bring 1.5 times the volume of water (relative to the rice) to a boil.
  3. Then add the washed rice and a little salt to taste. Reduce the heat to medium and let the rice simmer until about 80% of the water has evaporated.
  4. Next, reduce the heat completely, cover the pot with a lid, and let the rice cook for about 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed.
  5. After the cooking time, remove the pot from the heat and let the rice rest for another 5–10 minutes so it can finish steaming and absorb any remaining moisture.
  6. Fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains — then serve hot.

Nutrition

Sodium: 75mgCalcium: 45mg

Notes

Eine weitere Methode ist die Pastamethode. Die Schritt-für-Schritt Anleitung dazu findest du in diese Blogbeitrag weiter oben. 

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Shiba from Shibas Kittchen

Hi, I’m Shiba

I’m glad you’re here. My dishes are very much inspired by the cooking skills of my mother, who comes from Pakistan. I also present Palestinian dishes that I learned about from my husband’s family. So you’ll find lots of dishes from 1001 nights here!

I hope you enjoy browsing and cooking.

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