Brown Basmati Rice -- Basic Preparation

A lot of people seem to have trouble with brown rice, getting the texture right and so on. This is the way I have figured out, with a little help from a Madhur Jaffrey cookbook, and I can honestly say I feel like an expert now! The place where many cooks mess up is using too much water -- it can make the rice gloppy. This basic preparation is perfect to use anywhere you need unflavored cooked rice -- fried rice, soup, or just to serve with a spicy curry. I try to keep some cooked up in the fridge at all times.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 6 cups

Ingredients

• 2  cups brown basmati rice
• 2 3⁄4 cups water

Directions

1. First, put the rice in a strainer inside a bowl and wash it well. I usually change the water in the bowl at least 3 times. The water doesn't need to run completely clear, but it should not be very cloudy or brownish when the rice is washed. Leave the rice in the strainer to drip out for at least a few minutes.
2. Put the rice and water in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and bring just to a boil over high heat. You don't want it to really boil, as soon as you start to see the bubbles, put on the lid and turn the heat down to very, very low (on my electric stove, I put it between "lo" and 1).
3. Resist the temptation to take off the lid and check the rice too much. After about 25 minutes you can check it once and see how much water is left. I do this by sticking a wooden spatula down into the rice and pushing it to the side a little. If there is still water, push the rice back together, put the lid back on, and let it cook a few more minutes. Do not stir or disrupt the rice any more than you have to. It will take about 30 to 35 minutes for it to finish cooking.
4. When all the water is absorbed, there will still be sort of a mushy layer at the bottom of the pot. Take the pot off the heat and leave undisturbed for at least 10 minutes. You can really leave it there as long as you like -- the moisture at the bottom will even out and the finished rice should be slightly al dente with all the grains separate.If there are a few clumps, just break them up with a fork or your fingers before serving or storing.
5. If you plan to use the rice for fried rice, I would recommend refrigerating it for at least 6 hours, but overnight is better, so plan ahead!