Wholemeal basmati rice is characterized by a very long grain and an aromatic taste reminiscent of dried fruit. It is native to India, where it is still grown and used in abundance today. Like other whole grains, it is very good for health and can accompany various dishes; numerous ingredients can also be added. By reading this article, you will learn how to prepare and cook this exceptional rice in several ways.
Ingrediants
Whole Basmati Rice
Doses for 6 servings
- 470 g of wholemeal basmati rice
- 600-700 ml of water
- 1 teaspoon of salt
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Rinse and Soak the Rice
Step 1. Pour the rice into cold water to rinse it
Weigh 470 g of rice and pour it into a medium-sized bowl filled with cold tap water.
Step 2. Rinse the rice
Swirl it with your hands in the water until it becomes cloudy and a light foam forms on the surface.
- Rinsing brown basmati rice may deprive it of some nutrients, but since it is most likely imported and may have been treated with talcum powder, glucose and rice in the country of origin, experts recommend not skipping this step.
- Rinsing it will also remove some of the starch; for this reason, once cooked it will be less sticky.
Step 3. Drain it from the water
Tilt the bowl to let it out or pour the rice into a colander. In the first case, you can keep a plate on the bowl to prevent the grains of rice from falling into the sink while you drain it.
Step 4. Rinse the rice again
Cover it again with cold water and repeat the process until it remains clear. You may have to rinse it up to 10 consecutive times.
Step 5. When the water is finally clear, you can leave the rice in the bowl
Step 6. Soak the rice
This time add 600 ml of cold water and let the rice soak for between half an hour and a full day, depending on how and how much you intend to cook it. The longer you leave it to soak, the shorter the cooking time.
- Basmati rice is known for its intense flavor, but cooking it for longer may be less flavorful. Leaving it to soak allows you to reduce the cooking time, while preserving its taste.
- Soaking also improves the texture of the rice, so it will be softer and lighter when cooked.
Step 7. Drain the rice from the water
Pour it into a colander to remove any water that was not absorbed while it was soaking.
If you want to use a colander, make sure the holes are very small to prevent some grains from falling into the sink
Method 2 of 4: Boil the Whole Basmati Rice
Step 1. Prepare the water
Pour 600ml into a medium saucepan with a lid.
- For the rice to cook properly, you should be able to seal the pot tightly with the lid to trap the heat and steam inside.
- Cooking the rice will triple its volume, so make sure the pot is large enough.
Step 2. Add about a teaspoon of salt to the water
Like when you cook pasta, the salt simply serves to enhance the natural flavor of the rice. It doesn't have to be bland, but neither should it be salty.
Step 3. Pour the rice into the salted water
After rinsing it and leaving it to soak, it's finally time to cook it. Pour it into the pot and mix with a wooden spoon.
This is the only time you will mix the rice. Turning it while it cooks will activate its starch, which will make it sticky and creamy
Step 4. Wait for the water to come to a boil, then let it simmer over low heat
Initially use a lively flame; when the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let the rice simmer for 15-40 minutes, until it absorbs the liquid completely.
- The cooking time of basmati rice varies mainly based on how long it has been soaking.
- If you've soaked it for half an hour, you'll need to cook it for about 40 minutes. If, on the other hand, it has been soaking for a whole day, about 15 minutes will suffice.
- It is very important to reduce the heat and let the water simmer on a low heat after it has reached a boil. If the rice were to cook too quickly with high heat, it would harden because the water would evaporate rather than be absorbed. It is also likely that the grains would break.
Step 5. Taste it to see if it is cooked
Quickly remove the lid and pick up a few grains with a fork. Immediately replace the lid on the pot. If the rice is soft and the water has been completely absorbed, it means it is ready. If not, let it cook for another 2-4 minutes.
If it's not soft but the water has been completely absorbed, you may need to add more. Do this gradually, starting with just 60ml
Step 6. Remove the pot from the heat and cover it with a kitchen towel
When the rice is ready, remove the pot from the stove, open it, cover it with a clean tea towel and immediately replace the lid.
The cloth is used to seal the steam inside the pot to make the rice even more grainy and soft. In addition, it allows you to absorb excess moisture that would otherwise condense on the beans
Step 7. Let it sit for 10 minutes
During this time, do not uncover the pot, otherwise the steam needed to complete the cooking of the rice will be dispersed.
Step 8. Remove the lid and the cloth to mix the rice
Move it gently with the fork while it is still in the pot. Finally let it rest uncovered for a few more minutes to prevent it from becoming damp.
Moving the rice with a fork serves to release the steam trapped between the grains and to separate them
Step 9. Serve the rice
Use a large spoon to transfer it directly to dishes or incorporate it into another recipe. Enjoy your meal!
Method 3 of 4: Cook Whole Grain Basmati Rice in a Rice Cooker
Step 1. Read the instructions carefully
There are numerous varieties of rice cookers on the market and not all of them work the same way or have the same characteristics.
For example, only some have different settings for cooking white or brown rice
Step 2. Pour 700ml of water and 470g of rice into the rice cooker
Use a large wooden spoon to spread the rice grains into the water.
- Often the selection of rice cooker accessories also includes a dispenser for dry ingredients.
- Do not use a metal utensil to stir or you could ruin the non-stick coating inside the rice cooker.
Step 3. Cover and turn on the rice cooker
Generally this type of pot has two main functions, cooking and heating, so be sure to set the cooking mode. By doing this, the water will boil very quickly.
- When the rice has absorbed all the water, the temperature will go over 100 ° C (boiling point of water). Most likely at that moment the rice cooker will automatically enter the mode used for heating.
- The cooking time required is generally about 30 minutes.
- The heating mode keeps the rice hot, at serving temperature, until the rice cooker is turned off.
Step 4. Do not remove the lid while cooking
As in the previous method, it is important not to uncover the pot while the rice is cooking so as not to disperse the steam necessary for cooking.
Step 5. Let the rice sit in the pot
When the rice cooker goes into heat mode, keep the lid closed and let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes. In this period of time the beans will finish cooking.
Step 6. Open the rice cooker and stir the beans with the fork to separate them
Pay close attention to the hot steam escaping from the pot when you open the lid. Keep your face at a safe distance to avoid burning yourself. Gently mix the rice with a wooden spoon.
Step 7. Serve him
You can eat it right away or store it in the fridge or freezer for later consumption.
- If you have decided to put it in the refrigerator, transfer it to a bowl and cover it with a lid or plastic wrap. It should last 3-4 days. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than two hours before placing it in the refrigerator.
- If you intend to freeze it, rinse it with cold water first, then transfer the individual portions into sealable plastic food bags. When it's time to eat it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight without taking it out of the bag.
Method 4 of 4: Cook the Whole Grain Basmati Rice in the Pressure Cooker
Step 1. Mix the water, rice and salt
Pour 470g of rice, 600ml of water and one teaspoon of salt into the pressure cooker, then start heating the ingredients using medium-high heat.
Step 2. Close the lid tightly
Start calculating the cooking time when the pot goes under pressure.
- A sound will alert you when the pot goes under pressure. The type of beep may vary from model to model.
- Pans equipped with a spring pressure control valve generally have a metal (or hard plastic) rod that comes out of the valve when the pressure has reached the ideal level. When the pressure reaches an excessive level, the relief valve is activated automatically releasing the excess water vapor (at first it will activate slowly, then more frequently). There are also pots equipped with an operating valve that can be configured according to the weight to be cooked, in this case the valve emits a hiss moving up and down when activated by the internal pressure of the pot.
Step 3. Reduce heat and continue cooking
Lower the heat until the pressure stabilizes, letting the rice continue to cook. The total time, from when the pot has gone under pressure to the moment the rice is ready, should be about 12-15 minutes.
Also in this case the cooking time of the rice varies according to the soaking time
Step 4. Turn off the stove
Let the pressure and temperature drop naturally. Wait about 10-15 minutes after turning off the heat. The safety mechanism of the pot will unlock the lid or an indicator will warn you that the pressure has dropped.
- Alternatively, put on your oven mitts and put the pot in the sink. Let the cold water run over the lid to decrease the pressure, then remove the operating valve and activate the mechanism for the controlled release of the steam and pressure still present inside the pot.
- In both cases, proceed with great caution and identify the point from which the steam will come out so as not to risk burning yourself.
Step 5. Stir the rice with the fork and serve
Moving the grains delicately serves to separate them and to make the rice softer, drier and lighter. You can eat it right away or store it in the fridge or freezer for later consumption.
