How to Cook Perfect Rice - (4 Techniques)

Rice is a staple food in many parts of the world. Here I would like to demonstrate how you can make perfect rice.

Here I have demonstrated techniques of cooking rice:

• Pressure cooking white rice
• Pan
• Microwave
• Pressure cooking Matta Rice (Red parboiled rice)

The main problem faced while cooking rice is that:

• It will be either too watery, which means is was undercooked.
• It will be overcooked with the grains of rice too soft and clumped together.
• Use too much water to rice ratio and the rice will be mushy, too little water and the rice will be too dry and grains will be more chewy.

So here I will show you how to overcome all these and get good fluffy rice with separated grains

1 cup of rice is more than enough for an adult.

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice - 1 cup

Water - 1.5 cups to 2 cups

Optional: Cumin seeds - 1 Tsp, Cardamom - 5, Cinnamon stick - 1/2 inch, Cloves - 4

The ratio of rice : water varies with the kind of rice used and the nature of the dish.

Take basmati rice in a bowl , rinse it well then add water and soak it for atleast 30-45mins. Drain water.

Note: If you are soaking for just 15-20 mins then add 2 cups of water.If you are soaking for 30 mins and more add 1.5 cups.

Heat oil and saute the cumin seeds, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick.

Add rice and saute for 2 minutes in low flame. If you do not want the spices you can start sauting with the rice itself.

Add water. Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.

For the first whistle cook in medium flame. Then cook for other whistles in low flame.

Switch off. Let the pressure completely release by itself. Open after 10-15 miutes.

Fluff the rice with fork.

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup

Water - 1.5 cups to 2 cups

Take rice in a bowl , rinse it well then add water and soak it for at-least 30-45 mins. Drain water.

Add enough water so that it covers the rice by 1″. Put your clean finger in the pot so that the tip of your finger touches the top of the rice (don’t go all the way to the bottom – we are measuring from top of rice.)

Note: If you are soaking for just 15-20 mins then add 2 cups of water.If you are soaking for 30 mins and more add 1.5 cups.

Put the lid on. The rice cooker has air vents. his allows the steam to escape during cooking, which is good.

Microwave for 9 minutes on high. Let it sit for 3 minutes undisturbed to finish cooking. Then it’s done.Fluff the rice with fork.

That's it your rice is ready in no time.

Note: Use lids which has air vents

Here I will be showing how to make perfect rice using a pan. I have made a vegetable Pulao.

If you want plain rice just skip the spices and the vegetables.

Vegetable Pulao:

Basmati Rice - 1 cup (soaked in water for 1/2 hr)

Cumin seeds - 1 Tsp

Onions - 1/4 cup (cut length wise)

Greenchillies - 3 nos (cut length wise)

Cinnamon - 1/2 inch stick

Cloves - 3

Ginger - 1/2 inch

Garlic - 2

Coconut milk - 1 cup

Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Tsp (Optional)

Ghee

Salt - As reqd

Carrot - 1/4 cup

Beans - 1/4 cup

• Take rice in a bowl , rinse it well then add water and soak it for at-least 30-45 mins. Drain water.

Heat ghee in a non-stick sauce pan. Saute garlic, ginger, cloves, cumin seeds, cardamom and cinnamon stick.

Saute onions and when done add the vegetables. saute for 5 minutes till cooked.

Drain off the water from the rice and add it to the sauteed onions. Saute for a few minutes.

Add 1 cup of coconut milk and 1 cup of water and salt. Boil over medium heat.

When it starts to boil, close the pan and simmer for 10 minutes.

Cook, till it`s done.

Note: Keep checking the water content in between.

Matta rice is a local variety of rice in kerala. So this is how we cook Matta rice at home. You can cook brown rice this way too.

Ingredients:

1.5 cups Palakkadan Matta rice

12 cups water

Take the measured rice in the pressure cooker and wash it,rubbing the grains,until the water turns clear,about 4-5 times.

Add the 12 cups of water and keep the cooker on the stove.

Turn on the heat to low,cover the cooker and wait for the steam.

It will take anywhere between 5-6 minutes. Place the weight and cook the rice on low heat for 1 whistle.

Turn off the heat and let pressure go down on it's own.

Open and use as needed.