India: Basmati Basics xp

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eth-reg and veg-rec

 

* Exported from MasterCook *

 

Basmati: Cleaning, Washing, Soaking

 

Recipe By :Laxmi Hiremath

Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00

Categories : Information Side Dishes

 

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method

-------- ------------ --------------------------------

1 cup aged basmati rice

 

To ensure fluffy, tender and evenly cooked grains, follow three precooking

steps: Cleaning, Washing, Soaking

Cleaning. Like other grains and legumes, rice may include unhulled rice grains,

stones, stems and tiny travelers. To remove them, spread rice on a white dinner

plate or cookie sheet. Work a small portion of the rice at a time across to the

opposite side of the plate, picking out any foreign matter.

Washing. Place the rice in a large bowl and pour in cold tap water to cover.

Swish the grains with your fingertips to release starches and to encourage any

husks to float to the surface. Pour off the milky water. Wash two or three times

until the water runs clear.

Soaking. Soaking the rice briefly (15 minutes to one hour) before cooking

encourages the grains to relax and absorb moisture. This allows the rice to

expand into thin, long grains that will not break during cooking. After soaking,

drain the rice, saving the soaking water to use as cooking water (this preserves

all of the nutrients).

 

Description:

" The secret: Purchase aged rice. "

Cuisine:

" Indian "

Source:

" The Fabled Rices Of India: Traditional rice dishes "

Copyright:

" 1998-Jun San Francisco Chronicle "

 

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Per serving: 0 Calories (kcal); 0g Total Fat; (0% calories from fat); 0g

Protein; 0g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 0mg Sodium

Food Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 0 Fat; 0

Other Carbohydrates

 

NOTES : Basmati, which means " queen of fragrances, " was originally brought from

Afghanistan and planted in the hills of Dehra Dun, at the foot of the Himalaya.

There, in the north of the country, the lush green paddy fields are watered by

the snow-fed rivers of the majestic mountains. The grains are delicate, slender

and naturally perfumed. Basmati rice, like wine, gets better with age, up to 10

years.

Nutr. Assoc. : 0

 

 

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