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Title: How To Cook Basmati Rice
Categories: Info Lowfat Rice Iranian
Yield: 1 Servings
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From: flaminio@ed8200.ped.pto.ford.com:
Somebody asked about cooking basmatti rice so it isn't sticky. I use a method that results in perfect rice every time. I cook it in a non-stick pot on the stove, not in a rice cooker:
First, be sure to rinse the rice with cold water until most of the starch is removed and the water pours off pretty clear. Then, add enough water to cover the rice and boil for about 7 minutes. Test the rice by biting into a few grains...it should be firm, but not crunchy. Be sure not to over-cook the rice at this stage (it's better to have it a little under-cooked).
Drain in a colander and rinse the rice with about 2-3 cups fresh water.
Put the rice back in the pot and steam with the lid on for 30-40 mins. over low heat. The rice will develop a nice crunchy bottom that's delicious (eat this first so it doesn't get soggy!)
I also have two variations that are great...these are classic Persian dishes.
Cilantro / Green Onion Rice ==============================
After you drain the rice in the colander, add 1 bunch chopped cilantro and 1 bunch chopped green onions (Chop them into *small* pieces...I use the food processor). Mix it all together and return to the pot to steam as described above. (These proportions are for about 6 cups cooked rice.)
Dill / Lima Bean Rice =======================
After you drain the rice in the colander, add 1 bunch chopped dill and 1 box frozen baby lima beans. Mix it all together and return to the pot to steam as described above. (Again, this is for about 6 cups cooked rice.)
Hope you enjoy these! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
From: Peter_Brooks 1) Wash the rice. Especially true for just plain rice with glucose
coating. When I want sweet sticky rice, I buy sweet sticky rice. :-)
1A) Don't soak the rice. Wash, swirl the rice/water/gunk and pour out. If
it's still grungy, do it again. You don't want to get the kernels any
wetter than necessary.
2) Measure the water. The white basmati rice that I use (maybe a Lundberg
bag; can't remember) said to use 2-1/4 cups of water for every cup worth of
rice. This seems to be perfect for stovetop cooking, and pretty close for
my Hitachi cooker. (I think that the Hitachi would be happy with less
water, but I haven't cooked basmati in it recently.) Brown rices usually
use more (maybe 3X for the wonderful Luncberg Christmas rice, higher for
wild 'rice'), while white-bread rice is less (2X usually).
3A) I usually have better luck with a *heavy* glass/ceramic pan;
specifically, the bottom half of a Corning Visions double boiler. They
offer a similar pot as a 1.5(?) quart saucepan, but with a non-stick
coating. IMNHO, the high thermal mass of the Corning pot does a better job
at getting the heat spread out right.
For the corning, I get the rice/water boiling, cover, and turn down to the
lowest setting on my (gas) stove. I don't lift the lid until I'm pretty
sure the rice is done. The clear pot makes this easier.
3B) With the rice cooker, I accept a little bit of stickiness, but usually
the top half of the rice is pretty well OK.
For what it's worth, "steamed" rice is just boiled. Pete
From: sidhu_d@caveman.vlsi.com (Daljeet Sidhu).
the secret is, the basmati rice you use, and the way you cook it. To get
good basmati rice, visit a neayby Indian grocery store and pick the
"indian" basmati rice. A good mid-grade basmati rice is Laxshmi brand. It
comes in 10-15 pound bags and is about $10.00 for the bag. Basmati rice in
the regular grocery stores are much more expensive, and of a poorer quality
than what you get in an Indian store.
I always cook rice in a pan, so I can't say how you can cook them in the
rice cooker. Different qualities, and brands of rice need different amount
of water to cook. For Laxshmi brand you add 2 cups of water to one cup of
rice. Bring the water to hard boil on high heat. Cover the pan with a tight
lid, and let it simmer for about 10-12 minutes. At this point you will
notice that the rice have fluffed up, but they still have some water. Lift
the lid from one side to allow the steam to escape while you let it simmer
for another 3-5 minutes or till you feel the rice are sufficiently dry. Do
not stir while cooking. Another way to get that dry look in rice is to
leave them in the oven for a few minutes after they are cooked, this takes
the extra moisture out of them. If you choose a brand other than Laxshmi,
experiment on the amount of water they need, it can be half a cup less to
an extra half a cup in one cup of rice.
Fatfree Digest [Volume 10 Issue 35], Sept. 15, 1994. Formatted by Sue
Smith, S.Smith34, TXFT40A@Prodigy.com using MMCONV
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