Food Recipes Perfect White Basmati Rice 3.2 (314) Add your rating & review This side-dish staple is easy to make on the stove. Just remember the ratio: 1 cup of rice to 1½ cups of water. By Sara Quessenberry Updated on December 06, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Con Poulos Hands On Time: 5 mins Total Time: 25 mins Yield: 4 serves It's a simple staple, yet cooking perfect white basmati rice can be elusive unless you know its specific rice-to-water ratio. Unfortunately, this ratio varies with different types of rice, so if you're cooking jasmine, short-grain, or brown rice, for example, you'll use a different ratio. Basmati has a light nutty flavor and floral aroma. Popular in rice pilaf and as a companion to curry, it's a viable substitute for jasmine rice in most dishes. Here's the secret to cooking it perfectly every time. Basmati (pronounced baz-MAH-tee) rice is a long-grain variety commonly grown and eaten in the Himalayas, Pakistan, and India, which accounts for about two-thirds of the world's supply. It tends to have fluffy, clean grains and less starch than jasmine rice, another long-grain variety popular in Asia. Ingredients 1 cup basmati rice ½ teaspoon kosher salt Directions Rinse the rice. In a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, combine rice, 1½ cups water, and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, and then bring to a boil. Stir once, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 18 minutes. Do not lift the lid or stir! Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, and then fluff with a fork and serve. Store leftover basmati rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days, or in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. Rate It Print