How to Cook Basmati Rice
Learn how to cook Basmati rice on the stovetop and with a rice cooker to achieve fluffy, tender, aromatic rice with ease. Ready in about 20 minutes, it’s the perfect addition to all your favorite meals and is great to make in bulk for meal prep.
What Is Basmati Rice?
Basmati rice is a type of long-grain white rice. Mainly grown and harvested in India and Pakistan, it has a unique nutty, aromatic flavor.
When cooked properly, Basmati rice is light, fluffy, and tender, and lends well to a variety of dishes like curries and soups. However, we pair it with just about everything!
Simple to prepare, it cooks on the stovetop in about 20 minutes, making it much easier to cook than other varieties of rice.
What You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for how to cook Basmati rice. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Basmati Rice – Obviously! We use Basmati from our local grocery store. Whatever brand you can find will work.
- Water – Feel free to substitute broth or stock if you want even more flavor. This is our favorite way to create truly delicious rice!
- Oil – We find a little goes a long way but adds incredible flavor. If you need to keep your rice lower in calories or lower in fat, you can skip it.
- Salt – Don’t leave this out! Similarly to when cooking pasta, a pinch of salt infuses the rice with so much flavor.
How to Cook Basmati Rice on the Stovetop
This is our preferred method for rice. We just let it simmer while we finish our weekly meal prep.
- Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the rice, and toss to coat. Then, season it with a pinch of salt.
NOTE: If you’re not using oil, skip this step, and just add the rice and salt to a pot.
- Add the water (or broth), and boil. Then, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pot with a lid.
- Simmer your rice until the liquid absorbs.
- Turn off the heat, and let the rice rest.
- Use a rice paddle (Don’t use a fork!) to fluff the rice, and getcha some of that while it’s warm!
Rice Cooker Option
Rice cookers are great for a hands-off cooking option and are virtually failproof to use!
Tips for Success
- Rinse the rice well. Make sure the water runs clear before draining and proceeding with the recipe. This removes excess starch and prevents the rice from becoming mushy.
- Don’t peek! We know it’s tempting to open the lid and check on your rice as it cooks, but this can ruin the process. Releasing the steam will result in uneven cooking.
- Don’t skip resting. Again, we know it’s hard to wait. However, if you don’t let the rice finish absorbing the water after cooking, it will turn out mushy and wet. No bueno.
- Add flavor. We don’t do bland or boring around here! So, if you’re serving your rice on its own and want to add flavor, try including mix-ins like cilantro and lime, garlic, or any spices. You can also sub a half cup of water for full-fat canned coconut milk to make coconut rice!
Troubleshooting
If you’re new to learning how to cook Basmati rice, you may encounter a few issues that are common with beginners. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with tips so nothing goes wrong.
- Overflowing – If the water spills over as the rice cooks, it’s because the pot is not large enough, the lid is not fitting tightly, or the heat is too strong. A medium saucepan is enough for 2 cups of rice. Any more than that, and you’ll want to use a large pot.
- Burning – Make sure to use a non-stick pan, and avoid using extremely high heat to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot while cooking.
Ways to Use
Basmati rice is commonly served with Indian foods like curry, butter chicken, and chana masala. It’s also used to make chana masala. However, in our opinion, it pairs well with pretty much everything! Use it as a base for bowls with all your favorite proteins and toppings.
How to Store
Once cool, you can transfer leftover rice to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To serve, reheat your rice in the microwave or in a pot over low heat on the stove. Add a splash of water or broth to freshen it back up!
Can You Freeze Basmati Rice?
Yes! You can freeze cooked Basmati rice for up to 3 months. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container, or flatten it out in a sealable bag.
There’s no need to thaw before reheating! Just transfer it to a bowl, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water, and microwave on high for about 2 minutes. The water will create steam, and your rice will freshen right up!
Common Questions
Make sure to use 1 cup of rice for every 1.5 cups of water. No more and no less!
Unless you’re using already clean Basmati rice, there’s no need to rinse. However, if you opt for large bags of rice like we do, you definitely want to rinse it first. Otherwise, you’ll have too much starch, and your rice will become soggy.
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How to Cook Basmati Rice (2 Ways!)
Equipment
- 1 Equipment
- 1 Medium Pot
- 1 Fine Mesh Sieve
- 1 Rice Paddle
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked Basmati rice
- 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil Note 2
- 1 ½ cups water Note 1
- Kosher salt to taste, about 1 teaspoon
Instructions
Rinse the Rice:
- Place the rice in a medium-sized pot, and add enough water to cover it by a few inches.1 cup uncooked Basmati rice
- Gently swish the rice around with two hands. Carefully pour off the cloudy water, and repeat 4-5 times or until the water runs clear, adding more water as needed.
- Drain the rice using a fine mesh sieve.
Cook:
- Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the rice, and quickly toss to coat it in the oil. Add a pinch of salt to taste.1-2 Tablespoons olive oil, Kosher salt to taste, about 1 teaspoon
- Add the water, and bring the liquid to a boil over high heat.1 ½ cups water
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer until the rice absorbs nearly all of the water, about 15-20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, and let the rice rest undisturbed for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a rice paddle or rubber paddle, and serve.
Notes
- Place the rinsed rice in a rice cooker. Add the oil and salt, and toss to combine.
- Add the lid, and use the rice setting to cook the rice.
- Let the rice rest for about 5 minutes. Then, fluff, and serve.
- Serving size = 200 grams
- Carbohydrates = 57 grams
- Fat = 1 gram
- Protein – 5 grams
