Basmati rice is my favorite type of rice to cook! It’s naturally fragrant, cooks up light and fluffy, and pairs beautifully with curries, bean dishes, and simple sautéed vegetables. Cooking fluffy stovetop basmati Rice is simple once you nail the method, then it’s quick and easy to make perfect, fluffy, basmati rice at home every time!

Basmati is a long, slender-grain rice traditionally grown in India and Pakistan. In Hindi, basmati translates to “fragrant” or “full of aroma”. Once you smell it cooking, you’ll understand why.

Tips for Success

Don’t soak the rice. Soaking will cause rice to become waterlogged and throw off the crucial rice-to-water ratio.
Allow rice to rest 10 minutes after cooking. Not optional if you want perfect, fluffy rice! Don’t lift the lid, don’t fluff, just remove the pot from the burner and let is rest. This allows the rice to evenly absorb any additional moisture, resulting in tender, fluffy rice.
Buy rice grown in California, India, or Pakistan. Avoid buying rice from the southern U.S. such as Texas and Arkansas as the fertilizers of yore were arsenic-laced when growing cotton crops, now currently rice fields. There were 30,000 tons of arsenic dumped in the southern U.S. back in the day so even organically grown rice won’t be able to avoid contamination.
Don’t fluff rice with a fork. Fluff rice with a wooden spoon, plastic paddle, or silicone spatula in order to keep the rice intact and avoid breaking the delicate pieces.

Dishes to use this fluffy stovetop basmati rice

This fluffy stovetop basmati rice is versatile and can be used in so many dishes! Some of my favorites are:

Curry – Basmati rice is a staple for Indian curries, but basmati is a fabulous rice for any curry, really! Looking for inspiration? Try my Royal Navratan Korma, a luxuriously creamy Indian-style curry.
Burritos – This is my favorite rice to add to bean burritos! I love to use basmati rice as the base for my yellow rice for my Black Bean and Yellow Rice Burritos. Same rice recipe, just a flavorful variation.
Sautéed Vegetables – Basmati rice is the perfect base for a healthy, sautéed vegetable meal. Simply sauté a veggie medley with a drizzle of oil, pinch of salt, herbs, and finish with a squeeze of lemon juice OR sauté in a drizzle of oil and tamari for a rich umami flavor.

Variations

Swap out white basmati for brown. Brown basmati is even healthier since the bran layer is left intact. For 1 cup brown basmati: add rice, 2 cups water and ½ tsp salt to a medium sized pot on high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, then cover with a lid. Simmer for 50 minutes, undisturbed, then remove pot from heat. Let rest for 10 minutes. Fluff and serve!
Use vegetable broth instead of water. Broth adds rich flavor, which is perfect when using rice as a base for sautéed vegetables or bean and rice bowls. Most broths have salt, so if using broth then adjust added salt accordingly so rice doesn’t end up too salty.
Make it yellow rice. Add turmeric, garlic powder, and onion powder for a flavorful yellow rice variation.
Toast rice. For a toasted depth of flavor, heat rice in the pot on medium heat with 1 ½ tsp oil. Stir frequently, 1-3 minutes, until rice has a toasted aroma. Then add water and salt and cook according to recipe card.

Is Basmati rice healthy?

Yes! Basmati rice is a whole grain full of important nutrients, vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Compared to many other white rice varieties, basmati rice has a lower glycemic index, meaning it causes a slower rise in blood sugar.

White rice GI: 70+
Basmati rice GI: 50–55

What are the glycemic index ranges? Low GI: 1 to 55. Medium GI: 56 to 69. High GI: 70 and above.

Carbohydrates are an essential macronutrient, and ideally 65% of our diet should be from healthy carbohydrate sources (i.e. grab the apple, not the muffin).

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