Basmati rice is a grain typically grown in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. It is a long, slender, aromatic rice variety that becomes wonderfully light, tender, and fluffy when cooked. It's the perfect rice to pair with any saucy, creamy, or curry recipes and is even elegant enough to be served on its own.
If you've never cooked basmati or only had it plain, here are some incredible basmati rice recipes for you to try. From Indian curry and pilaf to salads and soups, these uniquely creative recipes will help you appreciate this aromatic rice.
This rice salad is a must-try. It calls for tossing blanched peas, green onions, mint leaves, lemon zest, and lemon juice with aromatic basmati rice to produce a delectable treat. Add some golden raisins or currants for a sweet-savory flavor combo, or skip this extra step if you want to serve the rice salad alongside a curry.
Adding basmati rice to soup may sound like it defeats the purpose of this fluffy rice, but the soup alone adds to the deliciousness of basmati rice. This hearty, healthy, and comforting meal creates a winning combination of flavors with herbs, vegetable broth, rice, and aromatics. It tastes best when the flavors have time to meld together, making it the perfect leftover meal!
This colorful dish will elevate your dinner spread. To make, cook basmati rice and veggies with curry powder and aromatics to give it a lovely savory flavor. It cooks in under 40 minutes, which is a huge plus, and it is super healthy. You can enjoy it on its own or pair it with chicken or beef for a more filling meal.
Butter chicken and basmati rice is a classic Indian combo that you won't be able to get enough of! Tender, juicy butter chicken is cooked in a creamy tomato sauce and paired with fragrant basmati rice - all cooked together in an instant pot! You can finish the sauce with a splash of heavy cream to make it richer, creamier, and tastier.
You simply can't go wrong with adding garlic and butter to any dish - as this garlic butter rice shows! This recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes and delivers deliciously buttery and aromatic basmati rice. You can serve it topped with crispy garlic and green onions to make it look as lovely as it tastes. Pair it with pork chops or grilled chicken for a complete meal.
Light, tender, fluffy, and aromatic, this Indian basmati rice is the perfect side dish to any main you can think of! It comes together in 50 minutes with a few ingredients, most of which you already have in your pantry. The recipe is very easy to follow and delivers deliciously floral, nutty-flavored rice that you can pair with a saucy gravy or creamy curry.
This recipe combines classic fried rice with Indian flavors to create a yummy weeknight meal. It's full of good-for-you veggies flavored with a heavy dose of spices and some Serrano chilies for a mildly spicy flavor. You can serve this golden rice on top of a bed of spinach to make it even healthier.
The iconic chicken tikka masala will never go out of style, and this recipe elevates it further with the addition of basmati rice for a well-rounded meal. The best thing about this recipe is that it comes together in one pot. So, you can catch up on chores as it comes together on its own! Plus, you'll have fewer dishes to deal with!
This 15-minute recipe will become your go-to for hectic weeknights. Ground beef, spices, and rinsed basmati rice are cooked with sautéed bay leaves, cardamoms, chopped onions, cinnamon, cloves, cumin seeds, ginger-garlic paste, and tomatoes. Cook until the rice is fluffy, then serve it warm with a big salad or pickles to enjoy.
In this Middle-eastern-inspired rice pilaf, basmati rice is tossed with peas, carrots, onions, and aromatics to produce a healthy treat. It also has warm spices like turmeric, which gives it a beautiful yellow color. It's fantastic as-is, but you can also finish it with toasted nuts and dried raisins to elevate its flavor profile.
This healthy one-pan meal is prepared Mediterranean-style, so you can be assured that it won't skimp on flavor. You can make it with shrimp, chopped veggies, and rice and flavor them with garlic and fresh herbs to get yummy tastes in every mouthful. Shrimps cook quickly, so add it towards the very end to cook it perfectly.
You need this amazing 30-minute recipe in your arsenal. It's filled with exquisite flavors from lemon and basil and is made with healthy ingredients like Greek-seasoned chicken and fluffy basmati rice, giving you the best of flavor and nutrition in every bite. Add some feta cheese on top to give it a tangy, rich taste.
If you want to perfect the art of cooking basmati rice, this recipe will come to your rescue! You only need four ingredients, including the basmati rice, to produce perfectly light, fluffy basmati rice with long, separated grains - and in just 25 minutes! Remember to fluff up the rice with a fork before serving.
Cheesy, aromatic rice? Yes, please! In this recipe, basmati rice is flavored with garlic, onion, and turmeric, which explains the lovely yellow color it sports. It also has lots of grated cheese to give it that creaminess. The recipe is adaptable, so you can customize it to your taste, then serve it with your favorite mains for a complete meal.
