Butter Rice
Discover an easy and foolproof way to make perfectly fluffy and flavorful Butter Rice. With simple pantry staples like long-grain rice, unsalted butter, and broth or water, this recipe delivers tender, buttery rice every time. Perfect as a versatile side dish, it pairs well with a variety of meals and can be customized with herbs, spices, or vegan alternatives.
- Author: Lucas
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Gluten Free
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain rice (Basmati or Jasmine recommended)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1.5 to 1.75 cups water or broth (chicken or vegetable)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional Aromatics
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
- 1 clove garlic (optional)
- Rinse the Rice Thoroughly: Start by rinsing your long-grain rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and helps prevent clumping for the perfect fluffy texture.
- Melt Butter and Toast the Rice: In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the rinsed and drained rice, stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes until the grains are lightly toasted and coated with butter. This deepens flavor and helps the rice remain separate.
- Add Liquid and Seasoning: Pour in your water or broth along with the salt and any optional aromatics like bay leaf or garlic. Give it a quick stir, then bring it to a gentle boil.
- Simmer Covered Until Cooked: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot tightly. Let the rice simmer for 15-18 minutes without lifting the lid. This steaming process cooks the rice evenly and locks in moisture.
- Let It Rest Before Fluffing: After cooking, remove the pot from heat but keep it covered for an additional 5-10 minutes. This resting period allows the rice to absorb any remaining steam and firm up for ideal texture.
- Fluff and Serve: Using a fork, gently fluff the rice to separate the grains and serve. The butter rice should look light, tender, and glistening with buttery goodness.
Notes
- Rinse the rice well to remove starch for fluffy, non-sticky grains.
- Use a tight-fitting lid to trap steam during cooking and resting.
- Avoid stirring or peeking while the rice cooks to prevent breaking grains.
- Measure liquids accurately; about 1.5 to 1.75 cups liquid per 1 cup rice works best.
- Let the rice rest covered after cooking to enhance texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe (about 1 cup cooked rice)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: butter rice, fluffy rice, easy rice recipe, buttery rice, side dish, basmati rice, jasmine rice, stovetop rice