Thai Jasmine Rice

There are many different varieties of rice in the world. Most of the dishes on this site are best served with Thai jasmine rice. It is called jasmine rice because of its aromatic fragance. It has nothing to do with the actual jasmine plant. I usually cook rice using a rice cooker. I know rice is easy to make but having a rice cooker just makes everything easier and better. I recommend getting a small one if you don’t have one already. The rice never burns and it also keeps it nice and warm for when you are ready to eat it.

How to cook rice in a pot

1. Find a good brand of jasmine rice, from Thailand. (I use Elephant Brand).
2. Rinse the rice once, moving your fingers through the rice. Drain. I only rinse it once because I don’t want to wash away all the nutrients. It’s also better to clean it than not.
3. Place the rice in a pot. Add enough water to cover the rice by 3/4 inch. An easy way to measure the water is to use the knuckle test – the water should come up to the first joint of your knuckle. (For 1 1/2 cups rice, I use just over 1 3/4 cups water).
4. Bring the rice to a boil, uncovered.
5. Turn the heat down to the lowest setting. Cover and simmer until the rice is cooked through (about 20 minutes).
6. Remove the rice from the heat and allow to sit, still covered, for at least 10 minutes.
7. Serve.

How to cook rice in a rice cooker

1. Find a good brand of jasmine rice, from Thailand. (I use Elephant Brand).
2. Rinse the rice once, moving your fingers through the rice. Drain. I only rinse it once because I don’t want to wash away all the nutrients. It’s also better to clean it than not.
3. Place the rice in a rice cooker. It’s about a 1:1 ratio of water to rice.
4. Flip the switch to “cook”.
5. Leave rice to sit for 5 minutes after it is cooked for it to settle. I also find that it scoops out of the cooker cleaner that way.
6. Serve.

Tips:

1. The amount of water to add can vary depending on the rice. New crop rice – rice grown in the same year – is not as dry and needs less water.
2. Cold jasmine rice is very good for making fried rice.