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Basmati rice

Rachel Allen from Rachel's Favourite Food...
Rachel Allen shares her secret to get lovely light fluffy rice - and you can make it slightly in advance

Basmati rice

Method

1. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring up to the boil. Add the rice and salt, stir and boil on a high heat for about 4-5 minutes. You want the rice almost cooked, but still to have a tiny bit of bite otherwise the rice will stick later. Drain.

2. Put the rice into a serving dish, stir in the butter and cover with tin foil, a plate or a lid. Leave it in a low oven (140C/gas1) for at least 15 minutes - it will sit for up to 30 minutes like this. When ready to serve, remove the lid and fluff up the rice with a fork.

Cook's note: if I am cooking this rice to serve with a curry I would add some whole spices to the water and serve them on the top of the bowl of rice. A small cinnamon stick and a few whole green cardamom pods are good.