How to cook basmati rice: all the secrets and tips

From the infinite varieties, rice provides at least half of the nutritional principles and is the most popular cereal in the world. Among these, basmati rice, typical of oriental cuisine. But how is it cooked? Let's find out!

Rice is a food with a high nutritional value as it contains minerals and vitamins as well as having satiating properties. In particular the rice basmati, more caloric than western varieties but also extremely nutritious. Despite its properties, it is still little known in Italy and is often avoided because it is not known how to use it or how to cook it. Actually, after some practice, it will be very easy. Here's how to do it.

How basmati rice is cooked

Basmati rice is characterized by a more elongated shape of the grain which doubles its size during cooking by slowly absorbing the water and steam that are created inside the pot. To make Basmati rice, you need to keep in mind some proportions of the ingredients. For each cup of rice you need to count two cups of cold water, extra virgin olive oil to taste and a pinch of salt. So let's see how it's done.

Cooking basmati rice

To prepare it, just take a cup of rice and rinse it very well under running water, with the help of a colander. While rinsing it under water, shell it with your hands and check that there are no impurities left .

1. Once rinsed, take a fairly large pot and pour in the rice. Each cup of rice you need to count two cups of water then, proceed to add it.
2. Place the pot on the stove and turn it on at maximum temperature with a lid that will remain slightly open.
3. As soon as the water has started to boil, lower the heat and add a drop of extra virgin olive oil and salt.
4. After five minutes, remove the lid and cook for another five minutes.
5. At this point you will see that the rice has absorbed all the water. Then turn off the heat, put the lid back on and leave it to rest for another five minutes.
6. In this way the rice will finish its cooking, absorbing the steam that has been created. Leave for about ten minutes, then open, shell with a fork and serve lukewarm (or room temperature).

Recipes with basmati rice

Rice basmati lends itself to accompaniments of cooked meat, vegetables and fish. It is, in fact, tasted in white and does not lend itself to long preparations such as risottos or soups because its grains remain well shelled. Its cooking does not exceed 15 minutes.

Perfect with chicken curry or with lime and coriander, it is flavored and enriched by the sauces of the accompanying ingredients, often spicy.

Rice: nutritional values, properties and calories

Basmati rice is a highly energetic food. Every 100 g of product there are 340 kcal, of which 78 g will be carbohydrates , 8 g will be proteins and 0.89 g of fat. It has astringent properties, so it is particularly suitable for fighting diarrhea and for rebalancing gastric and intestinal functions.

It is naturally gluten – free and therefore particularly suitable for celiacs for the replenishment of essential vitamins and for the intake of carbohydrates. Compared to ordinary rice it is much more digestible and has a lower glycemic index; in addition to this it regulates blood function.

In any case, as we have already seen, it is wrong to say that rice makes you fat or lose weight in an absolute sense.

storage

Once cooked, Basmati rice can be stored for about 1 or maximum 2 days in the refrigerator in a container with an airtight lid. We do not recommend freezing.

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