What is Basmati Rice

There are so many different types of rice to choose from when it comes to cooking. Basmati rice is one of these.

Basmati rice is an aromatic rice that is neutral in taste. This makes it great to use in many different recipes.

You could use basmati rice as a side dish to curries, or even use it as a main ingredient in fried rice, or biryani.

What is basmati rice?

There are three main classifications of rice by size, these are long grain, medium grain, and short grain.

Basmati rice is considered a long grain rice.

Traditionally, basmati rice is produced in India and Pakistan.  

When cooked, basmati rice should be fluffy, soft, and have a light fragrant aroma.

The rice grains should not stick together when cooked and should easily separate from each other.

Basmati rice is also naturally gluten free.

Varieties of Basmati Rice

The two most common types of basmati rice are brown basmati rice and white basmati rice.

There are many varieties of brown and white basmati rice, and there is also red basmati rice.

Brown basmati rice has a nuttier flavor, a slightly firmer texture, and has more fibre. It also takes a bit longer to cook than white basmati rice.

The most common variety of basmati rice that is used in cooking is white basmati rice.

Different varieties of basmati rice can vary in length and size.

For example, Pusa Basmati - 1 has extra long grains.

The variety of white basmati, basmati 386, can become double its length when cooked.

Difference Between Basmati Rice and Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice and basmati rice both are considered long grain rice types.

While jasmine rice is similar in fragrance to basmati rice, when cooked, jasmine rice is stickier in texture.

Also, the grains of jasmine rice are shorter and more rounded than basmati rice.

You will find that when you cook jasmine rice, the rice grains stick together, while with basmati rice this is not the case.

Jasmine rice is commonly grown in Southeast Asia, including in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.

How to Cook Basmati Rice

Cooking basmati rice is easy and can be cooked in many different ways.

You could cook basmati rice on the stovetop, in a pressure cooker, in a rice cooker, or even in the microwave.

Regardless of how you cook your basmati rice, be sure to first rinse and then drain you rice before cooking.

Rinse basmati rice in room temperature water until the water runs clear.

Then, drain all remaining liquid.

When you cook basmati rice, add room temperature instead of using hot water.

This way, the grains of rice will cook more evenly.

If you add hot water to your uncooked basmati rice, the outside of the rice grains will cook quicker than the inside of the grains.

What does basmati rice taste like?

Basmati rice has a slight nutty flavor.

When basmati rice is cooked properly, the texture of the rice is tender but slightly firm, and the grains of the rice are not sticky.

How do I store basmati rice?

Uncooked basmati rice is best stored in a cool, dry, place.

The rice can be left in its original packaging as long as the packaging can be tightly sealed.

You can also store uncooked basmati rice in an airtight plastic or glass container.

To store cooked basmati rice, place it in an air tight container once cool and place it in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

Storing the rice any longer and the rice may become gritty and dry out, making it unpleasant to eat.

What is Basmati Rice Used For?

Basmati rice goes great with many different dishes.

You could serve basmati rice as a side dish to curries, or even pan fried meats.

Basmati rice can also be used as the main ingredient in a dish, such as fried rice, biryani, or pilaffs.

Basmati rice can also be flavored, such as in this orange sweet rice recipe or this savory cilantro lime rice recipe.

FAQ

Recipes Using Basmati Rice

Below, you will find a variety of different recipes that use basmati rice which you could make any time of the year.

Some of these recipes make a great easy weeknight meal, or even are perfect to serve to a savory breakfast.