“Perfect” Basmati Rice Recipe

   

Sometimes complicated recipes are really big secrets and secret family deals. Not so with this (not so secret) simple recipe. It’s perfect and it’s easy, and it doesn’t get better than this basmati “perfect” rice!  

Obviously, I love basmati rice and my “perfect” recipe below comes from years of fiddling around with it. You wouldn’t think so based on how simple it is, but it is true, and I’ll add to the recipe, but I’ll never delete ingredients from the basic recipe. Basmati rice is king and this recipe is perfect!  

From a pH balance standpoint, rice of course is classified as being acidic. Having said that, basmati rice is really touted as the rice of choice if you are striving for pH Balance. Basmati (white and brown) has high nutrition (brown more than white, but both are good), and equally important, basmati rice is much easier on your digestive system than most other rice.  

When we live a 70/30 or 80/20 alkaline or alkalinizing lifestyle, we are aiming for a diet rich in whole food nutrition, but keep in mind we allow for the addition foods that while somewhat acidic, do meet the criteria, essentially we are choosing our acid. Selecting the best rice is at the top of the list, and basmati hits all the elements and is very delicious.  

Let me count the ways...

 

In this recipe I’ve combined basmati rice with coconut milk, coconut oil, Himalayan Salt, and pure water – and it’s amazing. You can see in the photo at the top of the post that basmati is long, fluffy, and even looks delicious. NOTE: You can be creative with your spice, I tend to add it after the fact thereby not overheating the spice and allowing it to also act as a healing food or supplement.  

Where & How To Purchase: I only purchase Basmati Rice from India, and it also happens to be the least espensive. There are so many hybrids and overpriced basmati rice products, that I’ve decided the best choice is in the huge bags from Costco, and now found at local markets, which clearly indicate India. If you don’t want a large bag of it, break it up, put it in cannisters with my recipe and give it as gifts for the holidays, or split a bag with someone!  I buy white basmati  twice a year and spend about $25 each time, and occasionally purchase brown basmati as I run into it.  

toss in dressing, serve over rice

 

We make a pot or two of basmati rice each week, keep it refrigerated and use it throughout the week for a variety of meals:  

•  Soup ~ 1/2 cup of cooked rice (right from refrigerator) in the bottom of a bowl, add your spice, or spice blends of choice, fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley, maybe fresh spinach, then top with low heat crock pot soup (see recipes).
•  Rice Bowl ~ 1/4 cup of cooked rice topped with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and topped with salad dressing (salad dressing: fresh lime juice, olive oil, herbs de provance, unbleached sea salt, ground pepper, a touch of Living Clay, and a scoop of greens).
• Wrap ~ 1/4 cup of cooked rice spread on a wrap, sprinkle spices of choice, add tossed salad dressed in salad dressing (see salad dressing above), then roll  and slice for a
  

  serve over basmati rice

   

  great anytime meal (note Julienne or shredded veges are the way to go with wraps, and chop your greens very small, dicing tomatoes, cucumbers (without seeds), and avocado – that way every bite has tons of flavor). 

• Add stir fried or steamed veges as an entrée with drizzled salad dressing – pHabulous!
• Breakfast ~ 1/2 cup cooked rice warmed on the stove with a touch of concentrated stevia, cinnamon, nutmeg, and warmed coconut milk, almond milk, or rice milk to taste.

pHresh RECIPE

 

Maraline’s  “Perfect” Basmati Rice Pot

1 (14 oz) can coconut milk (whole, not light and organic if possible, we like several brands, available at local market)  

14 oz  pure water  

14 oz basmati rice  

1 T coconut oil (a staple, Whole Foods Brand is pure white, quite good, 16 oz is approx $6)  

Toss all the ingredients in a rice cooker, or simmer on stove as directed. Save in refrigerator for use all week.  

Couldn’t be easier, no one leaves the table without loving this rice!  

Basmati Rice Nutritional Rundown

Excerpt From Buzzle, author Chandramita Bora June, 2010

Basmati is a long grain rice with its nut like flavor and aroma hails from the Himalayan foothills of India and Pakistan. The grains of this special rice are much longer, as compared to many other types of rice. When cooked, the grains of basmati rice are quite free flowing and not sticky unlike many other varieties of rice. As already mentioned, basmati rice comes in two varieties, white and brown basmati rice. Below here are some more information on basmati rice calories, as well as white and brown basmati rice nutrition facts.  

Basmati Rice Nutrition Information  

White, as well as brown basmati rice contain carbohydrates, proteins, a small amount of fats, fiber and a few vitamins and minerals. Basmati rice is a good source of energy, as 200g of cooked basmati rice can provide about 205 calories. The same quantity of rice contains about 44.5 g carbohydrates, 0.44 g of fats and 4.2 gm of proteins. In addition to these, 200 mg of basmati rice contains 1.9 mg of iron and is a good source of B vitamins like, thiamine and niacin.  

As far as fiber content of basmati rice is concerned, the brown variety has more fiber than the white variety. 200 g white basmati rice contains less than 1 g fiber, while the brown variety contains more than 3 g. The brown basmati rice is often considered to be more nutritious than the white variety, due to the fact that it is minimally processed. The brown rice is the rice prepared by removing only the outer husk. Brown rice retains the bran layers that surround the kernel. On the other hand, white basmati rice is produced by removing the bran layers along with the outer husk. For this reason, the brown basmati rice retains more vitamin B than the white variety.  

Basmati Rice Nutritional Benefits  

Basmati rice like other types of rice is an excellent source of energy. It is high in carbohydrates and proteins, but contains very small amount of fats and no cholesterol. Moreover, it is gluten free, which makes it an ideal stable food product for those who cannot tolerate gluten. Gluten is a protein substance that can be found in cereals and grains like, wheat, barley, oats and rye. Some people cannot tolerate this protein and hence, cannot consume gluten containing foods.  

Basmati rice contains some of the very important B vitamins like, thiamine and niacin. Thiamine takes parts in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. It helps to maintain a normal appetite and growth and is very important for the normal functioning of the heart, muscles and the nervous system. Deficiency of this vitamin can cause the disease, known as beriberi, along with causing loss appetite, muscle pain and tiredness or excessive fatigue. Niacin is another B vitamin that is required for the normal functioning of the nervous and the digestive system, as well as for maintaining growth and a healthy skin.  

Basmati rice also contains considerable amount of iron. As has been mentioned already, 200 gm of basmati rice can provide about 1.9 mg of iron, which is approximately 11% of the daily recommended amount of iron. Iron is required for the formation of hemoglobin, and as a component of hemoglobin it transports oxygen in the blood to various parts of the body. Iron deficiency is one of the important causes of anemia. Apart from these, the brown basmati rice is a very good source of fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health. Fiber helps to lower the level of cholesterol in the body and thereby, reduce the risk for diseases like, atherosclerosis. It helps to lower blood sugar as well.  

Considering the various basmati rice nutrition facts, it can be concluded that this rice is not only delicious but nutritious as well. The brown variety is however, more nutritious and flavorful than the white basmati rice. Basmati rice has been in use for a long time in India and Pakistan and therefore more commonly features in the rice recipes of these countries. Today, several varieties and hybrids of basmati rice are available throughout the world.