
1. Indian Style Basmati Rice Recipe

Indian Style Basmati Rice Recipe is a fragrant and long-grain rice that is commonly used in Indian cuisine. Here is a basic recipe for Indian-style Basmati Rice:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Basmati rice
- 1 tbsp oil or ghee
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 cloves
- 1-2 green cardamom pods
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 and 1/2 cups water
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions:
- Rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer under running water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for about 30 minutes.
- Heat oil or ghee in a medium-size pot over medium heat. Add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, green cardamom pods and cumin seeds. Sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Drain the rice and add it to the pot. Stir to combine the rice with the spices.
- Add the water and salt, and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and let it simmer for 18-20 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked.
- Remove the pot from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, fluff the rice with a fork.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.
You can also add some other ingredients like saffron, cashews, and raisins to make it more rich and flavorful.
2. AuthenticIndian Basmati Rice Recipe

Basmati Rice is a long-grain rice that is commonly used in Indian cooking. Here is an authentic recipe for making Indian-style Basmati Rice:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp ghee or oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 black pepper corns
- salt to taste
Instructions:
- Rinse the Basmati rice thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat ghee or oil in a heavy bottom pan or a pressure cooker. Once hot, add the bay leaf, cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and black pepper corns.
- Add the drained rice and sauté for 1-2 minutes until the rice turns translucent.
- Add the water and salt and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan or pressure cooker and let it simmer until the rice is cooked and all the water has been absorbed.
- Once cooked, turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Note that you can also add some saffron strands or cashews or raisins to give more taste and texture. You can also add some peas or vegetables for a more complete meal. Also, you can use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time, but make sure you follow the instructions on your pressure cooker.
3. Indian Basmati RiceSpice

Indian-style Basmati Rice is typically flavored with a variety of spices. Some commonly used spices include:
- Cumin seeds: These add a nutty, earthy flavor and are often used to make a tempering or “tadka” that is added to the rice.
- Bay leaf: This gives a subtle, woody and aromatic flavor to the rice.
- Cloves: These add a strong, pungent and warm aroma to the rice.
- Cardamom pods: These have a unique sweet and lemony flavor. They are one of the most important ingredients in Indian cooking.
- Cinnamon stick: This adds a sweet, warm and woody aroma to the rice.
- Black pepper corns: These add a spicy and mildly pungent flavor to the rice.
- Saffron: These are the most expensive spice in the world, but a little goes a long way. Saffron gives a unique, sweet and fragrant aroma to the rice.
- Ghee or oil: These are used to sauté the spices and rice in and also gives a rich and nutty flavor to the rice.
These are some of the commonly used spices for Indian-style Basmati Rice but the recipe may vary depending on the region and personal preference. You can adjust the proportion of spices as per your preference.
4. Indian RicePilauRecipe

Pilau or Pilaf is a popular Indian dish made with rice, spices, and sometimes also with vegetables or meat. Here is a basic recipe for making Indian-style Pilau:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- 2 cups water or broth
- 2 tbsp oil or ghee
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 black pepper corns
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Rinse the Basmati rice thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat oil or ghee in a heavy-bottom pan or a pressure cooker. Once hot, add the bay leaf, cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and black pepper corns.
- Add the drained rice and sauté for 1-2 minutes until the rice turns translucent.
- Add the water or broth and salt and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan or pressure cooker, and let it simmer until the rice is cooked and all the water or broth has been absorbed.
- Once cooked, turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Note that you can add vegetables or meat such as chicken, lamb, or shrimp to make it more complete meal. You can also add some saffron strands or cashews or raisins to give more taste and texture. Also, you can use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time, but make sure you follow the instructions on your pressure cooker.
5. IndianSpicyRice Recipe

Indian cuisine offers a variety of spicy rice dishes, such as Biryani, Jeera Rice, or Lemon Rice. Here is a basic recipe for making a spicy Indian-style rice dish:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Basmati rice
- 2 cups water or broth
- 2 tbsp oil or ghee
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 black pepper corns
- 1-2 dried red chilies
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp red chili powder or more as per your preference
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions:
- Rinse the Basmati rice thoroughly in cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat oil or ghee in a heavy-bottom pan or a pressure cooker. Once hot, add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, black pepper corns, and dried red chilies.
- Add the drained rice and sauté for 1-2 minutes until the rice turns translucent.
- Add the red chili powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder and sauté for another minute.
- Add the water or broth, salt, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan or pressure cooker and let it simmer until the rice is cooked and all the water or broth has been absorbed.
- Once cooked, turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and mix in the chopped cilantro and lemon juice.
- Serve hot.
Note that you can adjust the spiciness as per your preference, also you can add vegetables or meat such as chicken, lamb, or shrimp to make it a more complete meal. You can also add some cashews or raisins to give more taste and texture. Also, you can use a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time, but make sure you follow the instructions on your pressure cooker.
FAQs
Q: What is the best way to rinse Basmati rice?
A: Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. This will help remove excess starch and any debris.
Q: How long should I soak Basmati rice before cooking?
A: It’s not necessary to soak Basmati rice before cooking, but if you want to, you can soak it for 20–30 minutes. Soaking can help the rice cook more evenly.
Q: How much water should I use when cooking Basmati rice?
A: For every cup of Basmati rice, use 1.5 to 1.75 cups (0.41 l) of water, depending on how soft or firm you like your rice.
Q: Should I add salt to the water when cooking Basmati rice?
A: Yes, add salt to the water when cooking Basmati rice to enhance the flavor.
Q: How do I prevent Basmati rice from sticking to the pot?
A: After washing and rinsing the rice, let it soak for about 20–30 minutes. When cooking, use a non-stick pot or add a tablespoon of oil or ghee to the water. Also, avoid stirring the rice too much while it cooks.
Q: How do I make the rice more fragrant?
A: To make the rice more fragrant, you can add spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves to the pot when cooking.
Q: Can I substitute ghee with oil or butter?
A: Yes, you can substitute ghee with oil or butter, but keep in mind that the flavor will be slightly different.