basmati rice?

Question

What is the best way to cook basmati rice? It tends to come out slimy when i cook it, even if i follow the instructions on the pack

Answer 1

Depends what your using it for. In Indian cookery, its usually washed in hot water several times to remove the starchy residues, then fried in butter for few minutes before being placed in a pan of boiling water. Once cooked, you can drain off the water and the rice should be nice and fluffy - non stick!

Answer 2

I beg to differ with all the answers thus far. I only ever use Basmati, and I finally perfected the perfect, dry and fluffy rice after a few attempts. What I am about to say you need to try a few times possibly until you get it right, but once you do you will be supremely confident in cooking any amount.

There are two schools of thought - to rinse or not to rinse. I am very firmly in the latter.

If you really want perfect rice, at least try to perfect the following:

Use a coffee mug for the first few attempts, nothing larger, as bigger amounts of rice require a smaller percentage of water and when you are competent you will be able to guess it.

Half a mug of rice into a saucepan dry and unrinsed followed by a full mug of water. Bring rapidly to the boil, then when boiling, immediately turn the heat down to very low and put a lid on the saucepan. Do not even look at it for 10-15 mins, then remove lid. Gauge whether all the water has disappeared, and if so, leave the lid off, fluff the rice with a fork and let the low heat continue until the rice looks white and fluffy.

Truly, if you try this and get it right you will get the same compliments I have received over the years. Two memorable ones were from my Mother whose rice was always "runny" and another from a lady who came to dinner despite being told in advance rice was involved. She had the honesty to tell me the minute she knew, she thought "Oh God! Rice!!"

Please try it, and if you can, send me a PM to let me know how it went?

Answer 3

WHAT IS BASMATI RICE?
Many a times people have asked what is the meaning of basmati rice. Basmati rice has been reported in India since the early days of the 19th Century though it may have been named differently. ‘Bas’ in Hindi language means “aroma” and ‘Mati’ means “full of” hence the word Basmati i.e. full of aroma. This rice is different from other rice mainly due to the aroma and elongation post cooking. No other rice has this combined characteristic. The post cooking elongation of more than twice its original length, the aroma and its sweet taste has made basmati rice a delicacy. Basmati rice is grown only in Northern India and in parts of Pakistan touching India. One can easily call it the Champagne of India.

BASMATI RICE

Traditional Indian recipes for basmati rice call for soaking the rice, but we find that it isn't necessary in this case.
2 cups basmati rice (14 oz)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 1/3 cups water
1 teaspoon salt

Rinse rice in several changes of cold water until water runs clear. Drain well in a fine-mesh sieve. Melt butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, then add rice and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in water and salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered and undisturbed, 5 minutes. Fluff rice gently with a fork.

Cooks' note:
Rice can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled in an airtight container. Reheat rice, its surface covered with a dampened paper towel, in a colander set over a saucepan of boiling water, covered, 5 to 10 minutes.

Makes 6 servings.

Answer 4

I heard that to wash it well first, but I find this takes on water and makes it slimy. I personally think the washing part is to remove the mice droppings that can be found in rice. I just have a pick through it first and then add to boiling water, keep the water boiling rapidly throughout though as I find if you let it simmer it seems to take on more water than it should.
I have a recipe at home for Ken Hom's way to cook it, which works really well, but you end up wasting a load that gets stuck to the bottom of the pan whaich also then needs cleaning.

Answer 5

First, I would rinse it well under water - until water runs clear. Ideally I think rice is best cooked in a rice cooker or steamed. Failing that, bring water and rice to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Basmati rice does take longer to cook than regular long grain rice. Good luck and enjoy!

Answer 6

Don't take this the wrong way, but do you wash it first? You can also steam it in the microwave, cuisinecuisine.com says...

Washing

Place the rice in a large bowl and pour in cold tap water
to cover. Swish the grains with your fingertips to release starches and to encourage any husks to float to the surface. Pour off the milky water. Wash two or three times until the water runs clear.

And...

Fluffy Texture

A few drops of oil, butter or desi ghee and a teaspoon of fresh lime juice added during cooking help the rice grains to remain separate and light during cooking. Stir-frying the rice in a little oil or desi ghee before adding water will also make the grains fluffy and separate.

And then...

Microwave

Wash, soak and drain 1 cup basmati rice. Place in a 3-
quart microwave-safe dish with 2 1/3 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook uncovered at full power for 12 minutes (in a 750-watt oven). Remove from the oven, stir once, cover, and microwave at full power for 4 minutes.

Remove the rice from the oven and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes before fluffing and serving.

Answer 7

I always rinse basmati rice at least one time *usually 2* through a strainer before I cook it and I use 1 1/2 cups of water to one cup rice *since rice expands*.

Answer 8

Get yourself a rice steamer. Teh Basmati rice is so worth the trouble. Target sells nice ones, at a decent price. Follow the directions you get with the steamer.

Answer 9

Wash it well first
Put 1 cup in a pan
Cover with 1 and a half cups of boiling water
Flavour water if you like or cut in fine vegetables
Put lid on pan
Simmer on lowest heat setting for 20 mins
You will smell when it has absorbed all the water don't let it burn
Rice comes out with no excess water and light and fluffy

I thank you

Answer 10

a friend of mine told me to rinse it before cooking.

Then boil it in more water than what it calls for so there's no chance of it getting slimy. Then you drain the excess water out and return to pot. Cook the excess water off while stirring. It works. She makes it all the time and I used to screw up rice.