Rice
Basmati Rice
There are many different types of rice, but Indian restaurants and takeaways will always use basmati rice.
Basmati rice is a long grain rice and is more aromatic than the plain white rice generally used by chinese restaurants and takeaways. Basmati literally means fragrant in Hindi.
Nearly all of the world trade in basmati rice comes from India and Pakistan.
Basmati is derived from the hindi word meaning fragrant. Many countries grow basmati rice domestically, but it originated in India and Pakistan and nearly all of the world trade comes from those two countries.
As well as being fragrant, the long grains tend to remain individual and non-sticky. This allows a curry, or any sauce, to fully coat the grains and so give the maximum amount of flavour.
The best basmati rice is aged and will have a slightly golden colour. The more aged it is the moreit will keep those grains separate and ‘fluffy’.
Personally, I tend to go for the cheap, supermarket own-brand basmati unless it is for a special occasion.