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7 Delicious Ways to Present Basmati Rice

7 Delicious Ways to Present Basmati Rice

Basmati rice dishes are everyone’s favourite for its aroma and unique taste. The long grain rice native to the Indian subcontinent, has been used traditionally for the preparation of royal biryanis. 

Now there are many delicious ways to serve basmati rice along with other dishes and salads.  But you should first prepare basmati rice in a way that it becomes fragrant and aromatic. 

Consider these tips to cook basmati rice.  

Tips to Cook Basmati Rice

To cook basmati rice properly, first rinse it until the water is clear and then soak it in water. Let the rice remain in water for around 20 minutes before cooking and drain. Then, boil water and add the grains. At this point, adding a tablespoon of ghee while the water is boiling will enhance the basmati rice flavour. Ghee will also keep the rice grains away from sticking with each other. 

If you want basmati rice recipes to be delicious as well as fragrant, think of adding cardamom and closing in the boiling water. That will give basmati rice a distinctive aroma. Once cooked, drain the excessive water so that it does not become mushy. 

7 Pleasant Ways to Present Basmati Rice 

Here are the recipes with basmati rice you can prepare to make your breakfast, lunch, or dinner memorable in terms of taste and aroma. Let’s see how you can present basmati rice. 

1. Mughlai Chicken

Mughlai Chicken

Mughlai Chicken is amongst the most popular of all chicken-based dishes and you can present it with basmati rice to make the overall consumption of the dish memorable. 

 Ingredients

  • Hot-cooked basmati rice

  • 4-1/2 tsp chopped fresh ginger root

  • 1 tbsp unblanched almonds

  • 1 tbsp salted cashews

  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

  • 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts

  • 1 cup coconut milk

  • 1 cup plain yogurt

  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

  • Fresh cilantro leaves

  • 4 cardamom pods

  • 10 garlic cloves (peeled)

  • 6 whole cloves

  • 6 small red onions (sliced)

  • 4 jalapeno peppers (seedless and finely chopped)

  • 1/4 cup canola or olive oil

How to prepare 

Saute jalapenos and onions in oil until they become tender. Add some water and mix garlic, cloves, ginger, almonds, cinnamon, and cashews. Heat it until it blends well. Then, add the chicken, yogurt, turmeric, and milk. Make sure that you bring this combination to a boil. 

Reduce heat and let the preparation simmer with no cover. Wait for the chicken juices are run clear. It will take another 8-10 minutes. Then serve after sprinkling the dish with cilantro and serve with basmati rice. 

2. Thai Chicken Thighs 

Thai Chicken Thighs

The Thai Chicken Thighs is a dish from Thailand and is known for its sticky and tender appearance and unique flavour. You can quickly prepare this recipe in around half an hour for a night meal if you are pondering what to eat with basmati rice.   

 Ingredients

  • Hot-cooked basmati rice
  • 1 tbsp chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
  • 2 tsp Thai chili sauce
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs (skin removed)
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
  • 2 green onions (sliced)
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds (toasted)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

How to prepare 

For the dish preparation, first put the chicken in a slow cooker. Then, mix the salsa, peanut butter, soy sauce, lemon juice, and jalapeno, garlic and ginger, Thai chilli sauce, and pour these ingredients over the chicken. 

Cook chicken until it turns tender. It will take five to six hours. Then, while serving with cooked basmati rice, sprinkle sesame seeds and green onions. 

3. Cool Beans Salad

Cool Beans Salad

The cool bean salad is another recipe that you can depend on for providing energy for the day. It is a protein-filled dish that you can make easily using basmati rice which gives the recipe a unique flavour. 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked basmati rice
  • 1 garlic clove (minced)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 small sweet red pepper (chopped)
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
  • 1-1/2 cups frozen corn (defrosted)
  • 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 4 green onions (sliced)
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 can kidney beans (rinsed and drained) 

How to prepare 

This preparation is one of the easiest ones to make quickly when you are about to serve salad. Take a large bowl and whisk the ingredients in it. 

You can then toss it many times so that spices and other ingredients coat well with the rice. Choose any beans of your choice but pinto beans are considered a good option by many. 

4. Coconut-Lime Chicken Curry Soup

Coconut-Lime Chicken Curry Soup

The coconut-lime chicken curry soup is another excellent recipe that you can present with flavoured basmati rice to family members and guests. The soup made of green onions and toasted coconut is perfect to consume during winter. 

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp grated lime zest
  • 2 cans of light coconut milk
  • 2 cans of chopped green chilles
  • 8 green onions (sliced)
  • 1/2 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup sweet chilli sauce
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 3 cups cooked basmati rice
  • Minced fresh cilantro
  • 6 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 4 tsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt

How to prepare 

First, place the ingredients in a slow cooker and stir in the chicken. Then, let it cook for 4-5 hours until the chicken looks softer. Skim off its fat and then stir it in cooked basmati rice for 15-30 minutes. Serve the dish by sprinkling cilantro. 

5. Spicy Sweet Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa

Spicy Sweet Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa

If you are fond of pineapple salsa and wish to use it in a recipe for a different taste and flavour, then think of preparing spicy sweet shrimp with pineapple salsa. To prepare the base for the dish, you will need a good quantity of garlic, onion, and jalapenos. The spice level of this recipe is just right and you can even add more spices if you wish to get it hotter. To balance it all, think of adding a bit of sugar and salt. 

Ingredients :

  • 1-1/2 cups uncooked basmati rice
  • 1 small red onion (finely chopped)
  • 1/2 cup onion (finely chopped)
  • 3/4 cup canned black beans
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1-1/2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 2 tsp canola oil 
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1-1/2 pounds peeled shrimp  
  • 1 tbsp Sriracha chili sauce
  • 3 cups fresh pineapple (cubed)
  • 1 medium sweet red pepper (diced)
  • 1/4 tsp salt

How to prepare 

First, cook basmati rice and then stir it in beans. Keep the rice well-covered and warm. Heat the oil in a larger skillet and ensure that the heat is just right at medium to high. 

Then sauté onion until tender, which may take 3-4 minutes. Next, stir all this in pineapple juice, chilli sauce, and brown sugar. Make sure to bring these to a boil. Cook it until you bring it down to ½ cup. That will take 10-12 minutes. 

To prepare salsa, cook pineapple with cilantro, red onion, red pepper, lime juice, salt and pepper. Then reduce the heat and stir shrimp in it. Then, cook the shrimp until it becomes pink. Serve the dish with salsa. 

6. Za'atar Chicken

Za'atar Chicken

Za’atar is a family of herbs or a mixture of spices and herbs such as toasted sesame seeds and dried sumac. Prepared in a traditional Middle Eastern Za’atar spice blend, Za’atar chicken is known for its unique flavours. 

Ingredients

  • Hot-cooked basmati rice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup za'atar seasoning
  • 3 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup pitted dried plums  

How to prepare  

First, take a large bowl and mix dried oregano, ground cumin, ground turmeric, and other spices. Then, add chicken and toss to get the ingredients all over it nicely. 

Next, put olives, apricots, and plums in a slow cooker and add ¼ cup water that is enough to top the chicken. Cook the chicken on low heat until it becomes tender. It may take five to six hours. You can then serve this chicken dish with basmati rice. 

7. Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian-style chicken dish, known for its special flavours. This simple dish uses garam masala (mixed spices), ginger root, and cumin to give it an amazing taste. 

Ingredients

  • Hot-cooked basmati rice
  • Chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 can (29 ounces) tomato puree
  • 1-1/2 cups plain yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, halved and seeded
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 large onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4-1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger root
  • 4 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • 2-1/2 tsp salt
  • 1-1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 3/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

How to prepare 

Mix the ingredients in a slow cooker. Then, add chicken, bay leaf, and jalapeno. Let this combination cook at low heat for about four hours until the chicken is tender. Then, remove the bay leaf and jalapeno. 

Prepare a mixture of cream and cornstarch until it becomes smooth. Then, turn it into sauce by gradually stirring it. You should then cook it covered for about 20 minutes to ensure that the sauce becomes thick. Serve the dish with basmati rice after sprinkling cilantro.  

So, these are the delicious ways you can present seasoned basmati rice alongside of different recipes.  Pay attention to each step and meet all the requirements. Make sure that when starting cooking, you have all the ingredients ready at hand. Consider the cooking time of ingredients to avoid overcooking or frying. 

Wrapping up 

Basmati rice is amongst the most sought-after rice variety for its unique aroma. Its taste is enhanced even more with a side dish made of chicken or salads. These are the delicious chicken dishes and salads that you will love to have with basmati rice. 

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