For a better dining experience, you don’t have to prepare complicated dishes and all you need is to switch to higher quality rice like Basmati rice.
You may have heard about Basmati rice before, but if you’ve never tried it, you might be wondering what exactly Basmati rice is. I looked into it, and here’s what I found!
What Is Basmati Rice?
Basmati rice is an aromatic long-grain rice that is known for having a richer spicy, nutty, and floral taste compared to other rice variants. Additionally, Basmati rice is high in carbs, micronutrients, and calories and low in arsenic. With Basmati rice’s pleasant qualities, Basmati rice is popular in South Asian and Indian cuisine.
In case you’re interested to learn more about the qualities of Basmati rice and what makes Basmati rice a great option for several types of dishes, keep reading!
What Is So Special About Basmati Rice?
Basmati rice is known for having a strong, fragrant odor that is more noticeable than other types of aromatic rice.
Additionally, Basmati rice only expands lengthwise when cooked, unlike other rice variants that expand both in length and width when prepared.
Since Basmati tends to double in size after being cooked, Basmati rice has a distinct appearance that is notable for the impressive length of the grains.
Is Basmati Rice Sticky Rice?
Basmati is not a kind of sticky rice. Since Basmati is long-grain rice, Basmati rice separates easily when cooked because of the low starch content in the grains.
To make sure that Basmati rice won’t become sticky, Basmati rice is typically aged for two years to remove the moisture in the grains before Basmati rice is sold.
However, if you soak Basmati rice before cooking it, the chances are big that the Basmati rice will be stickier than usual.
What Is The Difference Between White Rice And Basmati Rice?
Compared to regular white rice, Basmati rice has a more noticeable flavor and aroma. Additionally, cooked Basmati rice yields grains that are longer.
While Basmati rice contains more protein than regular white rice, Basmati rice also has more calories.
Ultimately, the differences between Basmati rice and regular white rice are small, and some people may not even notice the differences at all.
What Does Basmati Rice Taste Like?
Generally, Basmati rice has a floral, spicy, and nutty flavor that is more intense than any other rice.
Nonetheless, these flavors are not so strong that they can be compared to any green chili or actual nuts.
Overall, Basmati rice still has a predominantly neutral flavor profile, but if you’re keen enough, you’ll notice the nutty, spicy, and floral undertones easily.
Why Does Basmati Rice Taste Different?
Basmati rice tastes different because, unlike most types of rice, Basmati rice is aged for two years to make the grains as dry as possible.
During this drying period, the Basmati rice’s flavors and aromas become concentrated and easily detectable once cooked.
Can I Use Jasmine Rice Instead of Basmati Rice?
Jasmine rice is the preferred substitute to Basmati rice in most dishes, mainly because Jasmine rice is aromatic and long-grain just like Basmati rice.
However, Jasmine rice is clumpier than Basmati rice, and the grains of Jasmine rice is less defined. Additionally, Jasmine rice has a milder aroma and flavor.
Is Basmati Rice Better Than Parboiled Rice?
Technically, parboiled rice is not a rice variety, but rather a way of processing rice. Additionally, Basmati can be sold in parboiled format.
That said, whether parboiled rice or Basmati rice is better depends on your lifestyle and preferences. Generally, parboiled rice is considered healthier than Basmati rice.
Moreover, parboiled rice has a more neutral aroma and flavor than Basmati rice, and parboiled rice is slightly easier to cook.
Nonetheless, if you want to enjoy both parboiled and Basmati rice, you can always purchase parboiled Basmati rice.
Can I Substitute Basmati Rice For White Rice?
Basmati rice is a suitable alternative to regular white rice. Apart from giving your dishes a stronger aroma, Basmati rice will also add a mildly earthy and spicy flavor of its own.
In all other areas, however, Basmati rice is almost the same as plain white rice.
Which Tastes Better, Jasmine Or Basmati Rice?
Determining whether Jasmine rice tastes better than Basmati rice depends on your preference and how you prepare the Jasmine and Basmati rice.
Additionally, some dishes suit Basmati rice better than Jasmine rice and vice versa.
Generally, if you like your rice to have a rich, nutty taste with spicy and floral undertones, as well as a dry texture, Basmati rice is for you.
Meanwhile, if you like sweeter long-grain rice with a mild starchiness to it, you’ll likely prefer Jasmine rice.
Does Basmati Rice Make You Lose Weight?
Basmati rice has fewer calories than most types of white rice. Nonetheless, Basmati rice is not usually the recommended grain for weight loss.
Just like any other type of rice, over-consuming Basmati rice can still lead to weight gain.
How Long Do You Cook Basmati Rice For?
On a stovetop, it should take around twenty minutes to cook Basmati rice. In contrast, Basmati rice can take anywhere from thirty to thirty-five minutes to cook in a rice cooker.
Why Is My Basmati Rice Mushy?
Basmati rice turns mushy when you pre-soak Basmati rice and use the normal amount of water to cook Basmati rice on the stovetop or in a rice cooker.
Additionally, it is possible that you bought fresh Basmati rice instead of the aged format. Naturally, fresh Basmati rice will have more moisture, so you have to watch your water ratio.
If you want to learn what brown rice is, what broken rice is, and what brown Basmati rice is, read our related articles.
Conclusion
Basmati rice is an aromatic rice that is famous for its fragrance and nuanced flavor. Typically, Basmati rice will have a pleasant mix of floral, nutty, and spicy tastes.
Moreover, Basmati rice is known to be the longest type of grain. When cooked, Basmati rice’s grains double in length and retain their pointy ends.
As such, Basmati rice is easy to distinguish from other rice variants. Additionally, this characteristic gives Basmati rice a pleasing appearance.