There is nothing as simple or as elegant as plain, steamed basmati rice

Dear Big Apple Curry,

I have really enjoyed your site – the stories, history, explanations , recipes and your beautiful photographs.  I have a question for you: do you have a rule of thumb or a brand of basmati rice that you like – there is an over-whelming amount to choose from…am not sure if price makes a difference as well…

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Dear Reader!

You’re absolutely right, there are countless of varieties of long-grained rice, not to mention new variations like “Texmati” (rice grown in Texas) and “Jasmati” (a combination of jasmine and basmati, I assume). When my parents first immigrated to Canada from India in the 1960s, there was absolutely no rice to be found in mainstream grocery stores. According to my dad,  there was only one Indian store in all of southern Ontario called India House on Dupont in Toronto. Today, he marvels at the fact that you can easily buy a 10-lb bag of basmati rice at Costco!

As for which brand of basmati rice I like, my family has a clear preference for Tilda, pictured here. In terms of quality, aroma, and taste, it’s our go-to everyday basmati rice and a solid choice. You can find small bags of Tilda in WholeFoods (I typically buy a 10-lb bag at the Indian grocer for around $17). Don’t be fooled by pricier brands of basmati rice with fancy-looking packaging — I was once gifted a small bag of “gourmet” basmati rice from a boutique shop that was costlier, and not nearly as good as high quality basmati rice from Indian grocers (it wasn’t as aromatic or as elegantly elongated when cooked). Apparently you can buy Tilda on Amazon Prime and have it delivered to your door 2 days. How times have changed!

Disclaimer: Big Apple Curry has no ties to Tilda or any other brand of basmati rice. This is a personal preference and the basmati rice we buy regularly.

Tilda Pure Original Basmati Rice Dry (Photo Source: tilda.com)