How to cook rice

Cooking regular white rice for a bhaat or pulao and it turns sticky? I will illustrate and explain here a fool-proof method for cooking regular white rice which is non-sticky, non-starchy and easy to mix into a spicy South Indian pulao or that tangy lemon rice. You will no longer have a messy lump of rice in tasty masala. This method uses good old Sona Masuri rice a very popular variety in Karnataka and other southern states. The first method is the ‘Absorption method’. In this method, a measured quantity of rice is cooked with required amount of water till all the water is absorbed.

How to cook rice

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Cooked plain regular non-sticky rice for bhaat/pulao

Author: Vindhya Desai

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Indian

Serves: 2 measures cooked rice

Ingredients

• 1 Measure Sona Masuri Rice
• 3-4 Measures water

Method

1. Add the measure of rice to a bowl
2. Add enough water and rinse it well. Discard the water
3. Repeat this another 6-7 times till the water runs clear
4. Keep aside for half an hour soaked in water. Discard this water
   

Pressure cooker - Absorption Method:

1. Add 3 measures of water if cooking in a pressure cooker
2. Allow at least 4-5 whistles before turning off the heat
3. Fluff up the rice once cooled
   

Gas/Stove/Hob - Absorption Method:

1. Add 4 measures of water
2. Keep on low flame and cook till all water gets absorbed by the rice
3. Fluff up the rice once cooled

Notes

Here a measure of rice can be anything. 1 cup, 1 glass, 1 bowl etc
Do not skip rinsing rice with water. All starch gets washed out and you will end up with non-sticky fluffed up rice
The first wash is white, milk/cloudy and it gradually gets cleared with subsequent washes
Use water at room temperature, this ensures rice gets cooked evenly on low heat
Do not exceed more than an hour when rice is kept soaked in water. It will break the rice kernels
Once rice is cooked ensure it cools well before fluffing it up with a fork
If cooking rice for sambar/huLi or rasam/saaru rinse rice only 3 times and then cook in usual way

3.5.3208

 Stepwise:

1. Add the measure of rice to a bowl
   
   

2. Add enough water and rinse it well. Discard the water
   
   

3. Repeat this another 6-7 times till the water runs clear
   
   

4. Keep aside for half an hour soaked in water. Discard this water
   
   
   

5. Add 4 measures of water
   
   

6. Keep on low flame and cook till all water gets absorbed by the rice
   
   

7. Fluff up the rice once cooled. Mix it with prepared masala or make tasty pulao