How much water would be needed to cook 1 cup a rice?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

I know it's better to drain water after cooking rice (boiling rice) as that drains off the starch too.  However, sometimes while cooking fried lentil rice or fried rice with peas, draining the water drains away the spices too.  I would like to cook it by drying the water in it.  Therefore folks, how much water would be okay for, let's say, one cup of rice?

[Zainab_M]

Okay .. the standard measurment, as far as I know, is ---- 2 cups of water to cook 1 cup of dry rice.  If you would like the rice to be firm and not too soft, then use one and three-quarter cups of water.  First boil the water, then put in the rice, cover and lower the heat to simmer.  It normally takes 20 minutes .. the white Basmati rice.  When done, the bottom of the cooking container should be dry but make sure it doesn't catch.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Hmmmm, and sometimes it's recommended to add a teaspoonful of oil while boiling the rice.  This keeps the grains of rice from sticking together.

[Ruhi_Rose]

btw -- if u r cookin lentil rice then I guess you'll need to mix the two and then carry out the measurment.  This means, measure 1 cup of mixed lentil & rice and use 2 cups a water ..... I think so  ???

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Thanks a million for the quick replies and suggestions.  That pretty much clarifies it for me.  and yeah, sister rose.  I suppose you're right.  in case of lentil rice, i'll have to mix n measure.

[Zainab_M]

O yes, lentil rice (commonly known as Kitcheri in Urdu) needs  a bit more water .. if you want it to be tender enough.  When I use one and a half cups of rice and three-quarters of a cup lentils (orange lentils), I add 3 and a half cups of water. 

Also kitcheri or lentil rice always looks a bit pudgy .. it's supposed to.  So don't let that worry you.

[Heba E. Husseyn]

From a few repeated experiences recently i learnt that for plain boiled rice, water double the quantity of rice could make rice a bit soggy.  An aunt of mine was saying for 1 cup of uncooked rice use 1 and a half cups a water instead of 2 cups of water.  If rice is still not tender enough then a bit more water can be added.  But if u already add 2 cups and the rice gets too soft & sticky then there's nothing that can be done to reverse it.  Makes sense.

Btw - another advise she gave was that for a healthier option, don't dry the water.  instead, regardless of the quantity of rice, use a lot of water.  When water starts to boil, add rice.  Rice should now take a few minutes to cook as desired.  Then simply drain the water thru a spaghetti colander and let it drip and then transfer the boiled rice to a dish.  I like this option.  It helps to get rid of all the starch in the rice.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Actually when you're making kitchri (or lentil rice) with the above measurement, that is, water double the quantity of rice, the rice does get tender but the particles of lentils still remain a bit hard.  My husband and I don't mind it; the boys don't mind it either.  But my mom who is quite elderly with a weak digestive system gets an upset stomach with that.  My baby daughter also needs soft food.  So for them I use extra water while cooking lentil rice to make sure it's more tender than normally required.