Cody Casey
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has shared his simple method for cooking perfect rice, showing that most of us have been making it wrong. The chef advises starting with cold water and bringing it to a boil as quickly as possible before letting it simmer for 8-10 minutes. He also suggests washing the rice under a cold tap before cooking to remove dust and starch, preventing it from becoming clumpy. Ramsay also recommends seasoning the rice with salt and pepper, and infusing it with spices such as cardamom pods and star anise for extra flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rice quantity | 400g |
| Rice type | Basmati |
| Rice preparation | Wash under cold water to remove dust and starch |
| Water to rice ratio | 1:1.5 |
| Water type | Cold |
| Cooking method | Simmer for 8-10 minutes |
| Spices | Cardamom pods, star anise |
| Seasoning | Salt and pepper |
| Oil/butter | Optional |
| Post-cooking | Fork through to make it fluffy |
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What You'll Learn
Wash rice under cold water to remove starch and dust
Washing rice before cooking it is an important step to ensure perfectly cooked rice. Chef Gordon Ramsay recommends using a sieve to wash 400g of rice under cold running water to remove starch and dust from the rice grains. This step is crucial as it prevents the rice from becoming clumpy and sticky during the cooking process. The excess starch in white rice is the main culprit behind rice becoming clumpy, sticking to the pan, and burning. By rinsing the rice with cold water, you are effectively removing this excess starch, ensuring that your cooked rice will be fluffy and light in texture.
When washing the rice, swirl it gently with your hands in the sieve under the running water. Continue this process for a few minutes to ensure that all the dust and starch are removed. It is important to use cold water specifically, as Gordon Ramsay emphasizes, because it helps to keep the rice grains separate and prevents them from cooking unevenly. Using hot water initially can cause the outside of the grains to start cooking faster than the inside, resulting in sticky and clumpy rice by the time the interior is cooked.
After thoroughly rinsing the rice, drain the excess water from the sieve and your rice is now ready to be cooked. Gordon Ramsay suggests adding salt and pepper to the rice after it has been rinsed and before cooking, as seasoning rice after it is cooked can alter its texture. He also recommends infusing the rice with spices such as cardamom pods and star anise to add extra flavor and fragrance.
By following Gordon Ramsay's tip of washing rice under cold water to remove starch and dust, you can avoid common pitfalls when cooking rice and achieve perfectly fluffy and delicious rice every time. This simple step ensures that your rice will not become mushy, clumpy, or burned, but instead, will be light and fluffy, making it the perfect accompaniment to your meal.
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Simmer rice for 8-10 minutes
Now that you've added your rice to the pot, it's time to simmer. This is a crucial step in achieving that perfect, fluffy texture.
First, bring the water to a rolling boil as quickly as possible. This is important to ensure your rice cooks evenly. If you don't get it boiling fast enough, the outside of the grains will start cooking faster than the inside, making the rice sticky and clumpy.
Once the water is boiling vigorously, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. This is the secret to cooking great rice. Allow your rice to gently simmer for 8-10 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this process! Letting the steam escape will disrupt the cooking process and affect the final texture of your rice.
After simmering, turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for about 10 minutes. This step is crucial, as it allows the rice to absorb the remaining moisture and finish cooking evenly.
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Use a fork to make rice fluffy
To make fluffy rice, Gordon Ramsay recommends using a fork to gently fluff up the rice before serving. This is an important final step that transforms the texture of the rice, making it light and fluffy.
Firstly, it is important to use the correct rice-to-water ratio. Gordon Ramsay recommends using "one part rice to one and a half parts of water". For example, he adds 600ml of cold water to 400g of rice. This ensures the rice is cooked evenly and does not become clumpy.
Secondly, do not stir the rice while it is cooking. If the rice has been measured correctly, there is no need to stir it. Stirring can cause the rice to become sticky and clumpy.
Thirdly, do not leave the rice cooking in boiling water for the entire duration. Instead, bring the water to a rapid boil, then reduce to a simmer for 8-10 minutes. This allows the rice to cook evenly and prevents it from becoming mushy or crunchy.
Finally, after the rice has finished cooking, let it sit covered for about 10 minutes. This helps to distribute the heat evenly throughout the rice. Then, use a fork to gently fluff up the rice. This breaks up any clumps and creates a light and fluffy texture.
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Add spices like cardamom and star anise for flavour
When it comes to cooking rice, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has a few tips up his sleeve to ensure it comes out "light, fluffy, and delicious" every time. One of his suggestions is to infuse plain fluffy rice with spices like cardamom and star anise for added flavour.
Ramsay recommends starting with 400g of basmati rice, which should be washed under a cold water tap or in a sieve to remove the dust and excess starch that can cause the rice to become clumpy or stick to the pan. After rinsing the rice, it's time to add some flavour.
To infuse the rice with the aromatic flavours of cardamom and star anise, you can follow these steps: First, take three cardamom pods and pierce them to allow their flavour to be released. Then, add one star anise, which can be broken down into little chunks. You can also add a cinnamon stick for extra warmth and fragrance.
Heat some clarified butter in your cooking pan or pot, and once it starts to turn light red at the edges, add the spices. Let them fry for just under a minute, stirring lightly with a spatula. Then, add your rinsed rice and gently stir for 2-3 minutes to coat each grain with butter and spice.
At this point, you can proceed to cook the rice according to your preferred method, adding the appropriate amount of water and covering the pot. The spices will infuse their wonderful flavours into the rice as it cooks, creating a beautifully fragrant and tasty dish.
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Gordon Ramsay's spicy sausage rice recipe
Ingredients:
- Spicy sausages
- Peppers
- Red onion
- Tomatoes
- Spring onion
- Chicken stock
- Smoked paprika (preferably La Chinata Smoked Paprika)
- Olive oil or vegetable oil for frying
- Salt and pepper
- Cardamom pods
- Star anise
Method:
- Rinse 400g of rice under a cold water tap to get rid of the dust and starch. This will prevent the rice from becoming clumpy and ensure it becomes fluffy when cooked.
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a heavy-based casserole dish and fry one chopped red onion for 5 minutes until soft but not coloured.
- Add chopped pepper and garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the garlic from burning.
- Slit the sausage skins and crumble the sausage meat so it resembles small meatballs.
- Turn the heat to high and cook the sausage meat for about 4-5 minutes until coloured, stirring occasionally.
- Add smoked paprika and mix.
- Add the rice and stir well to mix thoroughly and absorb the flavour.
- Pour in 600ml of chicken stock and bring to a rolling boil as quickly as possible.
- Let the dish simmer for 8-10 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time.
- Let the dish sit covered for about 10 minutes after simmering.
- Fluff up the rice with a fork before serving.
Tips:
- Seasoning the rice with salt and pepper, as well as other spices, is optional but can boost the flavour.
- Star anise and cardamom pods can be added to make the rice fragrant.
- Do not stir the rice while it is cooking if you have measured the water-to-rice ratio correctly (1:1.5).
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Frequently asked questions
Gordon Ramsay recommends using a rice cooker, but if you want to cook rice in a pot, he suggests the following:
- Wash 400g of rice under cold water in a sieve to get rid of the dust and starch.
- Add the rice to a pot with 600ml of cold water (a ratio of one part rice to one and a half parts water).
- Bring the water to a boil as quickly as possible.
- Let the rice simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Let the rice sit covered for about 10 minutes after it has simmered.
- Before serving, gently run a fork through the rice to make it fluffy.
Washing rice removes excess starch, which can make the rice clumpy or cause it to stick to the pan and burn.
Gordon Ramsay suggests using salt and pepper, as well as spices like cardamom pods and star anise to infuse flavour into the rice.
Gordon Ramsay uses basmati rice in his spicy sausage rice recipe. However, his method for cooking rice should work with most long-grained rice.
