Basil Rice is a phenomenal dish where Basil is the Star. There’s just a feel good and pleasant vibe after eating this dish. It’s easy too, with a Rice Cooker. Just combine, set and forget. It pairs really well as a side with anything Tomato Based. This Basil Rice recipe is especially good with Poulet Au Vinaigre or Chicken in Vinegar.

Health Benefits of Basil

After being curious about the effects of Basil Rice because I always feel good after eating it. I researched a bit on the health benefits of Basil and was surprised to find there are actually quite a few health benefits associated with Basil.

These cover everything from Anxiety, Digestion, Anti-Inflammatory, Depression, Liver Functions, Diabetes Management, and more.

Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K, manganese, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It’s also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Basil isn’t simply for internal use. When Basil’s Oils are extracted to make essential oil, it is used for treating cuts, wounds, and skin infections. In your free time, do a bit of research on this. It’s quite impressive.

Basil Rice Ingredients

The ingredients are Long Grain Rice, Chicken Broth, Onion & Garlic, along with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Salt, and Tomatoes. With the star of the dish, lots of Fresh Basil. Optionally Chili Flakes or Aleppo.

A lot of Basil is added to create that taste and feel good vibe. It surely is a dish that will elevate your spirit. I wonder, since Green Peas also offer some of that feel good vibe, if it was added to this dish, would it enhance it.

How to Wash Rice

Whenever making rice in the rice cooker, wash and strain the rice well. This removes any starches from the rice and allows for a cleaner overall rice that isn’t sticky.

1. Place the rice into the rice cooker’s inner pot and add water and gently swirl the rice with your fingers.
2. Drain the water and repeat until the water runs mostly clear (usually 2–3 rinses).
3. Empty the Rice into a fine sieve and shake to get rid of excess water in the rice. You can leave it in the sieve to completely dry the rice or empty back into the rice cooker pot to add your liquids for cooking according to your preferred liquid to Rice Ratio.

Water to Rice ratio

This ratio will depend not only on the type of rice being used but even across brands of the same type of rice. What you are looking for in rice is perfectly al dente rice with no exterior breakdown, which indicates too much water or over cooking. For a softer bite, a bit more water can be added to adjust for this.

Often a 1:1 is pretty good and consistent with creating rice that is firmer, has a good bite to it and nice separated grains of rice. Some may prefer a bit softer, and in that case you can add an extra 1/4 C — 1/2 C of Water per 1 C of Rice. As always with rice, you have to make it at least once and adjust from there for a particular brand of rice you have. With the goal of having perfectly tender, but firm rice with no exterior breakdown in the individual rice grains and separated/free flowing.

Bouillon Cubes

Use Maggi Bouillon Cubes or the equivalent in Chicken Powder. Ensure these are completely dissolved in water before adding it to the rice cooker with the rice and remaining ingredients. Place the water, fat, and bouillon cubes over max heat to dissolve them. Then pour into the rice cooker with the remaining ingredients.

Basil Rice vegetables

The vegetables can be prepared and added right into the rice cooker pot with the washed and strained rice. Chop the Washed Basil to the desired size along with diced Onions & Tomatoes with Garlic. Add a splash of Lemon Juice and Salt.

Optionally, a bit of Chili flakes or Aleppo can be added or used to garnish.

Then pour in the liquids (water, bouillon cube, and fat). Scrape down the sides to get all the rice grains and mix. Cook on the basic white rice setting. After it is done cooking, fluff everything before serving.