Basmati Rice Sweet Recipes

SIMPLE BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• This is the most important part: Wash the rice! Place the rice in a large bowl and fill with fresh, room temperature water. Swirl your hand through the water and the rice; the water will go cloudy. That's all the starch that we're trying to remove in order to have individual grains of rice, not the sticky kind that's popular in Chinese and Japanese cuisine. (According to traditional Indian wisdom, this also makes the rice easier to digest because so much of the starch has been removed). Once you've swirled your hand around for a minute or so, pour off the water, taking care not to lose any rice. Repeat this washing process until the water runs clear. Usually, this takes 3 or 4 changes of water.
• Fill up the bowl 1 more time and let the rice soak for 30 minutes.
• At the end of 30 minutes, drain the rice. Fill a medium saucepan with 1 3/4 cups water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil.
• Add the rice, stir, and wait until the water comes back to a full boil. When it does, turn the heat down as low as it can go, and then cover. Cook for 15 minutes.
• At the end of 15 minutes, cut the heat. Let the rice sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; you should see that every grain of rice has grown a little longer and is separate from its brothers and sisters. Well done!

SWEET CORN AND BASMATI RICE SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk red wine vinegar and mustard in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil. Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Using large sharp knife, cut corn kernels from cobs. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add green onions; sauté 30 seconds. Add corn; sauté until corn is crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Vinaigrette and corn mixture can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill. Rewarm corn mixture over medium heat and rewhisk vinaigrette before using.)
• Bring 2 1/4 cups water to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Rinse rice in strainer. Add rice and § teaspoon salt to boiling water. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until water is absorbed and rice is tender (do not stir), about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• Mix rice, corn mixture and pecans in large bowl. Mix in vinaigrette and watercress. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• *Available at Indian markets and many supermarkets.

BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• In a saucepan bring water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• When rice is cooked, stir in peas and cumin. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

BASMATI RICE WITH SWEET ONIONS AND SUMMER HERBS

Steps:

• Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear; set aside. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice, 2 1/2 cups water, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Stir in herbs. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. Transfer to bowl and serve.

BASMATI RICE, SWEET

Steps:

• First soak rice in tepid water min 10 mins (tepid gets rid of any starch quicker. I use a sieve immersed in a pan of water). Rinse through. Leave to drain 10 mins more.
• In an enamelled cast iron pan(18 or 20 cm Le creuset is perfect) gently fry onions in oil until brown and soft but NOT burned.
• This should take around 15 minutes Then add cinnamon cardamoms and cloves. When cloves begin to swell add sugar. Gently fry until sugar starts to caramelise. Then add cumin and fry 1 min more.
• Stir in rice and mix until it takes on color.
• Have a kettle of boiling water ready and add just sufficient to cover rice by 1cm. Add salt and stir once.
• Crank up the heat to high. Place lid on pan and DO NOT TOUCH! When jet of steam appears count 2 mins and then reduce to medium for 3 mins more. Then reduce to absolute minimum for 10 more minutes At this point you can lift lid and fluff. (add a few tsps of water if very dry). Replace lid, TURN OFF and leave 10 mins more. You can also pop in low oven if a little sticky. Normally none of these remedial steps are necessary but can get you out of trouble if you got it wrong!
• Remove hard spices before eating.
• Serve on its own, with a favorite curry or veg. For plain rice just leave out the spices.

SPICED BASMATI RICE AND SWEET CORN PILAF

Steps:

• Put rice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Swish with fingers, then pour off water. Repeat 2 or 3 times, until water runs clear. Cover again with cold water and soak 20 minutes, then drain.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter or ghee in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, saffron, coriander, cumin, cloves, peppercorns and cardamom, and stir to coat. Let sizzle a bit, then add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter or ghee, the rice and the corn, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook for 1 minute. Add raisins and 2 cups broth or water and bring to brisk simmer. Taste cooking liquid for salt and adjust if necessary.
• Cover with tight-fitting lid, turn heat to low and let cook 15 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes off heat. Fluff rice and transfer to serving bowl. Sprinkle with cilantro, scallions and cashews, if desired. Serve with yogurt raita.

INDIAN STYLE BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Place rice into a bowl with enough water to cover. Set aside to soak for 20 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, and cumin seed. Cook and stir for about a minute, then add the onion to the pot. Saute the onion until a rich golden brown, about 10 minutes. Drain the water from the rice, and stir into the pot. Cook and stir the rice for a few minutes, until lightly toasted. Add salt and water to the pot, and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all of the water has been absorbed. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

CINNAMON BASMATI RICE WITH GOLDEN RAISINS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium high-sided saucepan set over medium heat. Add onion, cloves, and cinnamon; cook until onion becomes translucent and mixture is very fragrant.
• Place rice in sieve, and rinse under cold running water. Add rice to saucepan, and stir so grains are coated in butter mixture.
• Add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, raisins, salt, and pepper to saucepan. Stir in 2 cups water. Raise heat, and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until all water has been absorbed and rice has cooked, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat, and let stand, covered, 5 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.