All you need to know about Basmati rice

Last updated on October 13, 2016

Rice has always been a staple food for those who live in tropical countries. Places like India, which is hot and sultry has soil fertility and thus it is a good place for harvesting rice. From centuries, thus farmers are harvesting rice and people are living by consuming it on a regular basis.

Not only it is the staple food of India, rice also has a mythological origin. It is believed that harvesting rice is a blessing from Hindu Gods like Lord Vishnu. That is why rice is considered as a symbol of fertility.

There are varieties of rice available in India like Brown Rice, White Rice, Black Rice and Basmati Rice. Basmati rice is a specialty in India as it grows uniquely in this country and mainly on the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range. This basmati rice is slender and long grained, and it has a unique flavor which other varieties of rice do not have. Basmati rice can be of two types; plain white basmati rice and organic brown basmati rice. Basmati rice is nutritious and brown basmati rice is more nutritious as it is less refined and less processed. Thus, they are more beneficial for health.

Why basmati rice is good for health?

Well, there are many reasons behind that. First of all, brown basmati rice is less processed, and it has a high number of vitamins like Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12, which are very good for health. It also has minerals and essential amino acids, which keep the body tissues healthy. On the other hand, this variety of rice has high amount of dietary fibers, which keep the digestion system healthy leading to a hassle free bowel movement. Thus, those who have constipation problems can keep this rice on their regular diets to get cured. This rice also reduces the bad cholesterol in a human body and also increases the insulin level in it. Those who have high blood sugar or suffering from disease like diabetes are recommended to consume brown basmati rice on a regular basis.

How to prepare this rice?

Basmati rice can be used for regular preparations and at the same time can be used for making special dishes like Biriyani, Pulao and sweet dishes like Rice Puddings. This rice has a unique flavor and smell, which adds more flavor to the cooked dishes. For regular preparations, one can take a cup of basmati rice and then wash it properly with water. Then they have to put the rice in a pan and add two cups of water to it and then let it boil till a very little amount of water is left and rice becomes soft and fluffy.

Organic rice has natural qualities and is high in nutrients. Apart from brown basmati rice, one can also buy organic white basmati rice from shops or from online websites. As they have high vitamin and mineral content, it can be consumed on a regular basis and it is light so, it is good for stomach as well.