A Flavorful & Fluffy White Rice Recipe

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

I was born in Uruguay in South America and raised in a Latin culture. We ate plenty of white rice. This is a simple recipe, and if followed properly it’s fool proof. It produces flavorful and fluffy white rice grains every single time. This type of rice should never be mushy or sticky.

White rice is a basic food staple that’s been around forever, and learning how to make it properly is an essential cooking technique. Not only does white rice pair well with so many different foods, but it is also the basis for so many types of dishes.

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

White rice contains some minerals, is low in calories and fat, and offers nutritional benefits, so it can fit into a healthy diet. I know for many brown rice is considered the healthier alternative, but it’s such a different flavor profile. Brown rice has a nutty flavor and for certain dishes I really enjoy it, but a flavorful and fluffy white rice wins in my book every time.

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

White rice is comfort food to me. Also keep in mind, white rice is easier to digest than brown rice if that’s a consideration for your diet.

  • 1 Cup Basmati Rice
  • 2 Cups Chicken Broth (I prefer low sodium)
  • 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Clove Garlic
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Assemble all your ingredients
  • Set 2-quart pan over medium-high heat and add butter
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Once butter is almost all melted add garlic
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Saute garlic for a couple of minutes until it starts to give off aromatics
  • Add rice to butter garlic mixture
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Saute rice until it becomes opaque and starts to turn a little bit golden while mixing to coat grains with butter
  • Add chicken broth and turn heat to high
  • Once broth starts to boil, mix rice to make sure it’s not sticking to bottom of pot
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Turn heat to lowest setting and cover pot
  • Cook for 20 minutes
  • Once it’s done cooking, remove top and fluff rice
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Remove garlic clove and discard
a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe
  • Pan can stay on stove with heat off & cover on while rice steams until ready to serve

The number one rule when cooking rice is to never, ever open the top while it’s cooking. Did you hear that Mr. M? Never. Don’t ask me why but it changes the chemistry and does not produce the fluffiest rice, which is the end goal here.

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

Rice triples in size when cooked. So this recipe will yield 3 cups of cooked rice, which is a good side dish portion for a family of four. If you would like to make more or less just keep the ratio of rice to broth the same of 1 to 2. So a 1/2 cup of rice requires 1 cup of broth, while 2 cups of rice will require 4 cups of broth.

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

The butter and garlic are there for the flavor so the amounts are not as critical. I keep the butter pretty much on ratio by using 1 Tablespoon per 1/2 cup of rice. I only use one garlic clove per pot regardless of how much rice I’m cooking. Sometimes I’ll use a bigger clove versus a smaller one depending on quantity, but that’s it.

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

You can add so many flavor profiles to rice depending on what you include. For example, you can add lime and cilantro for a tex Mex rice or saffron for a Spanish rice or chili powder and minced green chilis for Mexican rice.

a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

These are examples of the many possibilities of how you can infuse different flavors into the rice while cooking. You can also add other flavors when eating your rice like soy sauce or hot sauce. Sesame seeds and toasted pine nuts add good texture, while scallions and herbs add wonderful herbaceousness. Bon Appetit!

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a flavorful & fluffy rice recipe

Flavorful and Fluffy White Rice Recipe

Foolproof recipe to get the fluffiest and most flavorful white rice every time.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Serving Size 6 servings

Equipment

  • 1 2 Quart Pot with Lid

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Basmati Rice
  • 2 Cups Chicken Broth Low Sodium recommended
  • 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Clove Garlic

Instructions

  • Assemble all ingredients
  • Set pan over medium-high heat and add butter
  • Once butter is almost all melted add garlic
  • Saute garlic in butter for a couple of minutes until it starts to give off aromatics
  • Add rice to butter garlic mixture
  • Saute rice until it becomes opaque and starts to turn a little bit golden while mixing to coat grains with butter
  • Add chicken broth and turn heat to high
  • Once broth starts to boil, mix rice to make sure it’s not sticking to bottom of pot
  • Turn heat to lowest setting and cover pot
  • Cook covered for 20 minutes
  • Oncedone cooking, remove lid and fluff rice
  • Remove garlic clove and discard
  • Pan can stay on stove with heat off & cover on while rice steams until ready to serve

Notes

During the 20 minutes the rice is cooking the lid should remain on the pot at all times.  Do not open the pot while the rice is cooking.


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2 Comments

  1. My Chinese mother& relatives always rinse their rice several times prior to cooking in a rice pot. I do that now as well.

    1. Yes I think that has something to do with the starch but I’m not 100% sure. Also many of the Asian cultures are looking for a stickier rice. Every culture has their rice thing. It’s si ingesting. XO- MJ