Fragrant Basmati Pilaf

1. Rinse the Rice

Measure out 1 cup of Basmati rice and place it in a fine-mesh sieve. Rinse the rice under cold running water, gently swirling it with your fingers to remove excess starch.

2. Soak the Rice

Transfer the rinsed rice to a heavy saucepan. Add a pinch of salt and pour in 2 cups of water. Allow the rice to soak in the water for 30 minutes.

3. Add Butter and Saffron

After the rice has soaked, add 1 tablespoon of butter to the saucepan. If using saffron, add 1/8 teaspoon of it now.

4. Cook the Rice

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the water to a boil. Once steam holes appear in the surface of the rice, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan tightly, and let it cook for 7 minutes.

5. Rest the Rice

After 7 minutes, turn off the heat but leave the saucepan covered. Let the rice sit undisturbed for another 10 minutes.

6. Fluff and Serve

Remove the lid and gently stir the rice with a fork to fluff it up. Serve the fragrant basmati pilaf as an accompaniment to any meal.