HOW TO COOK JASMINE RICE

 

     It is moist and soft in texture when cooked, with a slightly sweet flavour. The grains cling together and are somewhat sticky when cooked.  Its fragrance is reminiscent of Pandan and Popcorn. The aroma is caused by the evaporation of 2-Acetyl-1-Pyrroline.

JASMINE RICE

    

HOW TO COOK JASMINE RICE

     What's a deal, cooking a Jasmine Rice/Thai Fragrant Rice?  Maybe that is the first thing which can pop up into our mind. Cooking rice is a daily chore done without a second thought.  It can be any type/variety of rice -Raw Rice, Par-boiled Rice, Kerala Rose Matta Rice, Glutinous Rice, Fragrant/Jasmine Rice, Basmati Rice, Brown Rice, Sushi Rice, Risotto Rice, Calrose Rice etc., & etc., 
      Here I have compiled few tried & tested methods to perfectly cook Jasmine Rice with perfect Rice Water Ratio.  Choose your preferable method for cooking Jasmine Rice.  Jasmine Rice can be served as such or converted into fried rice recipes.  Serving each & every Thai dish with heaps of Jasmine Rice is a speciality in Thailand.  Steamed Jasmine Rice is ideal to be eaten with stir-fries, with grilled, fried or braised food items.  It goes hand in hand with Thai Style Curries and Soups. When perfectly cooked, Jasmine Rice is a delicacy by itself.
   While cooking Jasmine Rice for Fried Rice Recipes, make sure to cook it with less water. It doesn't suit well for fried rice when it is still warm.  It tends to be very soft and get mushy when mixed.  So it is always advisable to use cooled down or a day old fragrant rice for fried rice. Rice porridge made with this variety of rice is usually served with toppings such as herbs, pickles and peanuts for breakfast in Thailand. 

HOW TO COOK JASMINE RICE

FOR PERFECTLY COOKED JASMINE RICE :

• I have tried to cover most of the Tried & Tested methods to get perfectly cooked Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice.
• A good brand of Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice (from Thailand if possible) will do half of the job.
• Rinse the rice before cooking. Rinse the rice once or twice, moving your fingers through the rice, until the water runs clear.
• Drain the water.
• The secret of perfectly cooked Jasmine Rice is getting the right ratio of water to rice. Typically, the instructions on the package call for 11/2 cups water for every 1 cup of Rice (1:11/2 Cups Rice : Water Ratio), if you like your rice “al dente.”  
• If you need a softer rice, add a bit more of water. 
• If You are using the cooked Jasmine Rice for Fried Rice Recipes, cook with 1 to 11/4 Cups of Water for 1 Cup of Jasmine Rice with a drizzle of Oil (Optional). 

METHOD:

 

HOW TO COOK JASMINE RICE

In a Sauce Pan

(Rice Water Ratio 1:13/4 Cups)

• Place the Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice in a saucepan big enough to hold the rice and water.
• Add enough water to cover the rice by a little over 3/4 inch above the rice. (For 1 cup of Jasmine Rice, I use just over 13/4 cups of water).
• Keeping the sauce pan uncovered, bring the rice to a boil.
• Once the water begins to boil, lower the flame.
• Cover the pot and cook the rice in low flame for about 15-20 minutes.
• Once the rice is cooked, remove from fire and keep it aside for at least 10 minutes to cool down.
• Fluff up the Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice with a fork or a chopstick before serving.

In a Rice Cooker

(Rice Water Ratio 1:11/4 Cups)

• Place 1 Cup of Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice in the rice cooker
• Add 11/4 Cup of Water.
• Cover the Rice Cooker and turn it on.
• Cook until it automatically turns off.
• Leave the in warm mode for another 5-10 minutes.
• Allow it to cool for a few minutes.
• Fluff up the Jasmine Rice with a fork or a chopstick before serving.
• I get perfectly cooked Jasmine Rice at 1:11/4 ratio in Rice cooker.
• While cooking Jasmine Rice for Fried Rice, just use 1 Cup of Water for 1 Cup of Rice(1:1 Ratio).

HOW TO COOK JASMINE RICE

In Microwave

(Rice Water Ratio 1:11/3 Cups)

• Place 1 Cup of Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice in a microwave safe bowl with cover.
• Add 11/3 Cups of Boiling Water.
• Cover the bowl and cook on Micro power High for 10-12 minutes.
• Remove from the Microwave and leave it aside for a few minutes to cool down.
• Fluff up the Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice with a fork or a chopstick before serving.

In a Steamer

(Rice Water Ratio 1:1 Cup)

• Fit a rack or steaming trivet into a pot or a steamer large enough to accommodate the bowl.
• Pour about an inch of water into the pot or a steamer. 
• Place 1 Cup of Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice in a bowl on the rack (it shouldn’t touch the water in the pot),
• Pour 1 Cup of Water to the Rice.
• Cover the pot or steamer, and bring the water in the steamer to a boil in high flame. 
• As soon as the water in the pot begins to boil, set a timer for 25 minutes and reduce the heat.
• When the timer goes off, switch off the flames and take the pot off the heat.
• Use tongs or a hot pad to remove the hot bowl from the pot.
• Leave it aside for a few minutes to cool down.
• Fluff up the Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice with a fork or a chopstick before serving.

In an Electronic Steamer 

(Rice Water Ratio 1:1 Cup)

• If using an electric steamer, fill the steamer's water reservoir to the "max" line.
• Place 1 Cup of Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice and 1 Cup of Water in a bowl.
• If your steamer has multi-level, place the rice bowl at the lowest level.
• Cover the rice bowl.
• Turn on the steamer and set the timing for 20-25 minutes.
• Once it's cooked, remove the rice bowl from the steamer and allow it to cool down for a few minutes.
• Fluff up the Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice before serving.

 

HOW TO COOK JASMINE RICE

NOTES:

• The amount of Water needed can vary depending on the type of Jasmine Rice/Fragrant Rice used. The new crop needs less water compared to the old rice.
• Cooking Jasmine Rice in a rice cooker is a bit tricky. If you get the knack, then it's really easy. Try cooking as per the ratio mentioned in directions of the Rice Cooker manual. Adjust the water until you get a perfect rice.  Few, trial and errors don't matter.
• Cold Jasmine Rice (a day old refrigerated one) is very good for making Fried Rice.
• I haven't yet tried the traditional bamboo steamers for steaming the rice.  
• If you do not have a steamer, a large wok or a pan with a lid will do the job.
• Fill the wok or pan with water, set a rack inside the wok to place the rice bowl and close the lid.