Rice and Roti

 Perfect Plain Basmati Rice

This is the recipe for the perfect basmati rice for everyday meals. It can be eaten with daal and subzi. Salt has not been added to the recipe to enable it to be eaten as a sweet snack with a little ghee and sugar. This recipe uses a pressure cooker but it can also be prepared in an open pan.

Ingredients

Basmati Rice                1 cup
Water                            2 cups
Ghee                             1 teaspoon

Method

Add the water, rice and ghee to a pressure cooker and place it on a high flame without its lid. When the water starts to boil, reduce the flame to the minimum and cover it with its lid and whistle. Leave the rice to cook on the minimum flame. Wait for the cooker to whistle. Turn off the flame as soon as it whistles. Leave the rice in the cooker till the steam condenses. Don't hurry to open the cooker.

When there is no steam left in the cooker, remove the whistle and the lid. Perfect basmati rice is ready.

You may need a little practice to adjust the flame at which the rice is cooked. If you find the rice too soft for your taste, you can raise the flame and let out the steam instead of allowing it to condense. Conversely, if you find the rice too soft, place the pressure cooker on a surface like a tawa or a flat pan while cooking to create an extra layer between the base of the cooker and the flame.

To cook the rice without a pressure cooker, you will need slightly more water. Add a extra half cup to three quarters of a cup of water to the pan and turn the flame to minimum once the water starts to boil. Leave to cook without a lid. Cover the pan with a lid once the water has been almost absorbed by the rice. Allow the rice to cook with the lid on till all the water has been absorbed by the rice. Switch off the flame and leave the rice in the pan till all the steam has condensed.  

Don't stir or disturb the rice with a spoon till you are ready to serve it. 

Perfect basmati rice is ready to be enjoyed !!!