Do you love rice but get bored using the same white or brown varieties in every dish? If so, have I got the rice for you! Jasmine rice, commonly found in Persian cuisine, is a long grain rice with a nutty flavor that goes great in many Middle Eastern dishes. It is very similar to basmati rice, yet jasmine rice does not have as strong a flavor as basmati. I use it often when cooking to liven up my meals with its subtle, aromatic appeal.

Cooking Jasmine Rice

Cooking jasmine rice is just as easy as cooking any other variety of rice. For best results, jasmine rice should be steamed and not boiled, but I have boiled my jasmine rice with success. If boiling, the trick is to boil the rice and water together, using slightly more water than rice.

With either method, jasmine rice should be rinsed, or can even be soaked, before preparation. Soaking the rice beforehand will decrease the cooking time from approximately twenty minutes to about ten minutes. Once cooked you will notice that the rice does not stick together as white or brown rice does, and will be light and fluffy.

Buying Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice can be found at your local supermarket, Middle Eastern grocer, or even online. You would be surprised at how many popular websites that sell groceries carry jasmine rice. It can be bought in boxes or bags. I have seen 10lb bags of jasmine rice in stores for those, like me, that use it as a staple when cooking.

I use jasmine rice in any dish where I would normally use white or brown rice. It goes great alone or topped with meat, especially lamb. So next time you are looking to make a rice dish, and would like to experiment with something having a different texture and flavor, you cannot go wrong with jasmine rice!