Best Spiced Basmati Rice Recipes

SPICED BASMATI RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Prepare the rice: Soak the rice in 3 cups cold water for 30 minutes to remove the starch.
• Cook the rice: Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat and add butter, onions, and 2 tablespoons water. Cook until translucent but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes. To the pan add cardamom seeds, cayenne, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves. Stir, and toast until fragrant, 2 minutes. Then, add the rice plus soaking liquid to the pot. Add salt to taste. Bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Cover, turn off the heat, and let steam for another 10 minutes. Fluff the rice gently with a fork and serve.

SPICED BASMATI RICE AND SWEET CORN PILAF

Steps:

• Put rice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Swish with fingers, then pour off water. Repeat 2 or 3 times, until water runs clear. Cover again with cold water and soak 20 minutes, then drain.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter or ghee in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, saffron, coriander, cumin, cloves, peppercorns and cardamom, and stir to coat. Let sizzle a bit, then add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter or ghee, the rice and the corn, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook for 1 minute. Add raisins and 2 cups broth or water and bring to brisk simmer. Taste cooking liquid for salt and adjust if necessary.
• Cover with tight-fitting lid, turn heat to low and let cook 15 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes off heat. Fluff rice and transfer to serving bowl. Sprinkle with cilantro, scallions and cashews, if desired. Serve with yogurt raita.

JERK-STYLE CHICKEN WITH SPICED BASMATI RICE PILAF AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the chicken: put the butter, soy sauce, allspice, peppercorns, cinnamon, nutmeg, scallions, thyme, garlic, lime zest and juice, chile and ginger in a food processor and pulse, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary with a rubber spatula, until a paste forms.
• Arrange the chicken pieces on a baking sheet, rub with the marinade and generously sprinkle with salt. Let marinate for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Heat a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat and brush lightly with canola oil.
• Place the chicken skin-side down on the grill pan. Reserve any leftover marinade on the baking sheet to use later. Cook until slightly charred and marked, flipping halfway through, 5 to 8 minutes total (the chicken will not be fully cooked, it will finish cooking in the oven).
• Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the chicken skin-side up on the rack, leaving ample space between each piece. Top the chicken with the reserved marinade from the baking sheet and bake until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the rice: Put the rice in a large bowl, cover with 4 cups cold water and soak for 30 minutes. Strain well, reserving the soaking liquid.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium. Add the butter and onions and cook until they are translucent but not brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the cumin seeds, cayenne and cinnamon stick and toast for about 1 minute. Add the drained rice and stir gently until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Add the reserved soaking water and gently stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Simmer, uncovered, until the water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Cover the pan and turn off the heat. Let rest for about 10 minutes, then season with salt and fluff with a fork. Remove the cinnamon stick.
• For the green beans: fill a large bowl with ice water and set a colander inside the ice bath. Fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a generous handful of salt. (The water should taste like sea water.) Add the green beans and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to the colander ice bath.
• When ready to serve, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and toss in the beans to warm them gently. Top with the lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt.
• For the honey glaze: Simmer the honey in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it foams and turns golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the vinegar and return the pan to the stove. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes more to allow the vinegar and honey to cook together. Season with salt and set aside.
• Place a large spoonful of rice on each plate and arrange the chicken and green beans around each portion. Drizzle the chicken with the honey glaze.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Bring the rice to the boil in 2 litres of water and allow to cook for 7 mins. Rinse the rice in a colander with cold water. Leave to drain for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, put half the butter and the oil into a saucepan. Bring to a medium heat and add the rest of the ingredients, except the rice and the saffron. Slowly fry until fragrant, then stir in the drained rice. Using the end of a wooden spoon to make holes in the rice to allow the steam to rise. Dot the remaining butter on top of the rice and scatter over the saffron. Put the lid back on the pan, and cover with a tea towel to seal the steaming process. Turn off the heat and leave to steam for 30 mins - this makes the rice fluffy and separated without drying it out.

MADHUR'S SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Pick over rice, and place it in a large bowl. Wash rice with several changes of water. Drain.
• Pour 5 cups of fresh water over the rice, and let it soak for 30 minutes. Transfer to a sieve, and let drain for 20 minutes.
• Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until onion has lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rice, green chile, garlic, Garam Masala, and salt. Stir gently until all the grains have been coated with oil, about 3 minutes. If the rice begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, reduce heat slightly.
• Pour in the stock, and bring the rice to a boil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, and reduce heat to low. Cook 25 minutes more; serve.

SPICED BASMATI RICE WITH LENTILS AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in 10-inch-diameter oven-proof nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and stir 1 minute. Cover and cook until onions are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Uncover and sauté until onions are deep golden, about 5 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Spread onions in even layer in same skillet; set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook lentils in pot of boiling water until almost tender but still firm to bite, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Combine 2 1/2 cups water, cardamom, allspice, bay leaf and salt in heavy medium saucepan; bring to boil. Add rice and lentils; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Discard cardamom, allspice and bay leaf.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spoon rice mixture atop onions in skillet, pressing with back of spoon to compact rice; smooth top. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cool. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Cover skillet tightly with double layer of foil. Bake rice mixture until heated through, about 35 minutes. Remove foil; let stand 5 minutes. Place plate over skillet; invert skillet, releasing rice and onions onto plate and scraping any onions remaining in skillet onto rice. Spoon rice and onions onto plates and serve.

INDIAN EGGPLANT STEW WITH SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• For the Vegetables:.
• Heat a large soup pot over medium to high heat and add the ghee or olive oil. Add the onions and garlic, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, ginger, and hot pepper until the onions are translucent and the mustard seeds begin to pop.
• Add the eggplant and mix well so the spices and ghee are absorbed, the let it cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the bunch of fresh spinach. There is no need to cut off the stems since many of the vitamins are found there. You can put the spinach in without chopping and it will cook down.
• Cover the stew pot for a few minutes until it cooks down and you can fit the rest of the ingredients in the pot.
• Add the tomatoes, turmeric, and salt and cook above for about 10 minutes, until spinach is soft. Add the garbanzo beans, lemon juice, and sugar, and cook for about 5 more minutes. Serve over spiced basmati rice.
• For Spiced Basmati Rice:.
• Bring water to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low. Add the rice, ghee, and spices and mix well. Cook for 25-30 minutes then remove from the heat. Let the cooked rice sit for 5 minutes and then fluff the rice with a fork. You can also use a rice cooker to make the spiced rice.

SPICED BASMATI RICE AND SWEET CORN PILAF

Steps:

• 1. Put rice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Swish with fingers, then pour off water. Repeat 2 or 3 times, until water runs clear. Cover again with cold water and soak 20 minutes, then drain. 2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter or ghee in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger, turmeric, saffron, coriander, cumin, cloves, peppercorns and cardamom, and stir to coat. Let sizzle a bit, then add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter or ghee, the rice and the corn, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook for 1 minute. Add raisins and 2 cups broth or water and bring to brisk simmer. Taste cooking liquid for salt and adjust if necessary. 3. Cover with tightfitting lid, turn heat to low and let cook 15 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes off heat. Fluff rice and transfer to serving bowl. Sprinkle with cilantro, scallions and cashews, if desired. Serve with yogurt raita.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Pick over the rice if necessary and put in a bowl. Wash in several changes of water. Drain. Pour 5 cups water over the rice and let it soak for 30 minutes. Leave to drain in a strainer for 20 minutes.
• Put the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot and set over medium heat. When hot, put in the onion. Stir and fry until the onion bits have browned lightly. Add the rice, green chili, garlic, garam masala and salt. Stir gently for 3-4 minutes until all the grains are coated with oil. If the rice begins to stick to the bottom of the pot, turn the heat down slightly.
• Now pour in the chicken stock and bring the rice to a boil. Cove with a very tight-fitting lid, turn heat to very, very low, and cook for 25 minutes. At this point I put mine in my rice cooker instead.
• Note: I couldn't get fresh green chilis, so I used half a fresh Jalepeno pepper instead.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice in several changes of cold water until water runs clear.
• Drain well in a sieve.
• Bring rice, broth, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves to a boil in a 4-quart heavy pot over high heat.
• Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let stand, covered and undisturbed, 5 minutes.
• Discard bay leaves, then stir in butter until melted.
• Fluff gently with a fork.
• Cooks' note:.
• Rice can be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled in an airtight container. Reheat rice, its surface covered with a dampened paper towel, in a colander set over a saucepan of boiling water, covered, 5 to 10 minutes.

SPICED BASMATI RICE WITH FRUIT AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamom pods and cinnamon stick and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and turmeric and continue to sauté for about 3 minutes, or until the rice is shiny.
• Raise the heat and add the water, coconut milk and salt. Bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes; then stir in the raisins and apricots. Cover again and cook, without lifting the lid, for 10 more minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and, without lifting the lid, allow the rice to steam for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and stir in the pine nuts. Remove the whole spices if you wish before serving.

EASY KABLI -- SPICED BASMATI RICE WITH CARROTS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Set raisins to soak in water for 15-30 minutes. If time allows, drain this water off and use it to cook the rice. Otherwise, discard soaking water. This will make the raisins plump and juicy in the dish.
• Bring water to boil in a small to medium pot. Add margarine, rice, and the five dry spices to the water. Stir. Cover. Reduce heat to very low. Simmer rice for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit another 5 minutes. These cooking times are given by my brand of rice. Adjust if needed for your brand.
• While rice is cooking, peel carrots, then shred, or shave into short strips with a vegetable peeler. Feed carrot stubs to hungry kids, if applicable.
• When cooked rice is standing by, heat oil in a small skillet on medium high heat. Add sugar and stir until it dissolves. Add carrot shavings and drained, soaked raisins to the skillet. Saute and stir until carrots wilt a bit. Remove from heat.
• Fluff rice with a spoon or fork and garnish with carrot and raisin mixture. Enjoy!

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice in several changes of cold water until water runs clear. Drain well in a sieve. Bring rice, broth, cinnamon stick, and bay leaves to a boil in a 4-quart heavy pot over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered and undisturbed, 5 minutes. Discard bay leaves, then stir in butter until melted. Fluff gently with a fork.

INDIAN-SPICED SALMON WITH BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• 1. To prepare rice, bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in rice and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover, reduce heat, and cook for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat; stir in parsley and cashews. Keep warm. 2. To prepare salmon, preheat broiler. 3. Combine ginger and the next 5 ingredients (through pepper). Rub spice mixture evenly over salmon. Place fillets on a broiler pan or baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cover with foil; broil 7 minutes. Remove foil; broil an additional 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Serve salmon with rice.

SPICED RICE BASMATI

Steps:

• Bring water, salt, zest, cinnamon stick, and cardamom to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in rice and return to a boil, then cover tightly and reduce heat to low. Cook until water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and fluff rice with a fork, then cover pan and let stand 5 minutes. Discard zest and cinnamon stick.

SPICED BASMATI RICE WITH PEAS

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pan bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
• Add rice, stir and cover.
• Reduce heat to low and cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add up to 1/4 cup water if rice becomes dry.
• In a heavy skillet, toast cumin seeds over medium heat until fragrant about 2 minutes.
• Stir often.
• Add to rice and stir to blend.
• Add peas and stir.
• Season with lemon juice.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Rinse rice well in cool water till water runs clear. Soak rice in cool water for 30 minutes, then drain and set aside.
• Heat oil, browning onions over medium heat, then add spices and rice. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add water, bring to boil then lower heat to medium/low and cook covered till water absorbed.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Wash rice in several changes of tap water
• Pour 2 pints of water over rice and soak for half an hour. Drain in a sieve for 20 mins. This will remove the excess starch & help achieve fluffy rice
• Add oil to a large saucepan and heat gently. Add onion & fry until soft and lightly brown.
• Add rice, garlic, spices and seasoning & stir for 3 to 4 mins so all grains are coated with oil and spices
• Pour in chicken stock and bring to boil. Turn to a low heat and cook for 10-15 mins until rice is tender & most/all water has been absorbed.