Markit wrote
Normally basmati rice is first washed several times then cooked (closed lid) for 10 minutes. stirring once, then allowed to sit and soak up the rest of the water. NEVER stir or open the lid before it's finished.
It's Indian, you know NOT French.
If I took 2 hours to organize what I was cooking before starting I'd be completely shit faced first.
You do it your way.....
The way I do it is more like you would do for a paella.
Of course it's washed first, like any rice.
Then it is fried with the spices, before adding water.
The reason you regulary stir it is to make sure the spices / seasonning are properly mixed with the rice.
