You are not less a Nigerian if you don’t know how to cook Basmati rice Nigerian style, however, you must learn the nitty-gritty of preparing that locally in the native way.

In this discourse, we will show you how to cook basmati rice in the easiest way ever. We have prepared some simple but tasty recipes for basmati rice for you so that you will find the cooking process easy.

Basmati rice is a variety of flavored rice from India. This rice is the most valuable and costly all over the world. Basmati rice has long, thin grains and a dry-hard texture if it is properly cooked.

Basmati Rice Recipes

Cooking basmati rice may seem like a difficult task, but preparing it is very simple, you just need to follow all the necessary steps. So what is the most common Basmati rice recipe?

First and the most important step is pre-soaking the rice. Measure out one glass of rice and pour it into a bowl. Use a measuring cup to maintain the proportions accurately, otherwise, the rice may be undercooked or overcooked.

If you want to use two glasses of rice or more, then increase the amount of the other ingredients too. Typically, the proportion of rice to water should be from 1:1.5 to 1:2. Pour water into the bowl so that it fully covers the rice.

Using a spoon, stir the rice for a minute to remove excess starch – this is the traditional way to cook basmati rice. The water in the bowl should be dull white.

By removing too much starch, rice will not be too sticky. Then, drain the water from the container. Continue to wash the rice until the water is clear – this means that you have removed all the extra starch. To rinse the rice very well, the water needs to be changed 3-4 times.

Then, pour the rice with clean water and leave to soak for 30 minutes. During this time, the grains will absorb some of the water and increase in size. Thanks to pre-soaking, the rice will have a pleasant texture. Another advantage of soaking the rice is that it will absorb the sauce better.

Add water to a deep saucepan in the proper proportion depending on the amount of rice you want to cook. If you add more water, the rice will be softer, and if there is less water, the rice will be hard. Do not add too little water to prevent rice from becoming hard or burning.

Add a teaspoon of salt. Adding salt to boiling water allows not only to season rice. Salted water will boil at a higher temperature, which means that rice will cook better. If you add salt after the rice has cooked, the rice can be too salty. Put the pot on the stove and bring to a boil.

Set the heat on a medium or high level and wait until large bubbles start to appear on the surface of the water. The time required for boiling water depends on the power of your stove. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes.

When the water boils, add rice to the pan. After that, the boiling process will immediately stop. Do not increase or decrease the heat level. Stir the rice until the water boils again. For mixing it, it is better to use a wooden spoon. Stir the rice until the water boils again. Usually, it takes just a couple of minutes. As soon as the water with rice begins to boil again, reduce the heat.

Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 15 minutes. Do not mix rice during this step of cooking, as it will become mushy and will not be crumbly. When the rice is ready, let it sit for about five minutes. Thanks to this it will absorb the remaining water. Stir the rice with a fork, and then it is finally ready to serve.

Ingredients for Cooking Basmati Rice in Nigeria

To cook Basmati rice in Nigeria, you’ll need:

Basmati rice: The main ingredient. Basmati rice is known for its long grains and distinct aroma.

Water: Use clean, fresh water for cooking.

Salt: Add salt to taste. You can use sea salt or regular table salt.

Optional: Ghee or butter for added flavor (if desired).

Now you have seen that cooking Basmati rice in the Nigerian style is not hard, and with this discourse, you are good to go.