Jasmine rice and basmati rice have a lot in common. Both are of the long grain rice species but are distinct in their own way.

While jasmine rice and basmati rice are similar in many ways, they also have a lot of key differences. A major difference is in their appearance especially when uncooked.

The main difference between jasmine rice and basmatic rice is that basmati rice has a sharper edge, they are longer and slimmer with sharp ends than jasmine which happens to have a round edge and not quite as long as basmati.

Rice is one of the most beloved meals around the world as you will find it in many dishes. It is the seed of the grass species known as Oryza sativa or less commonly Oryza glaberrima, they are edible starchy cereal grain which is consumable in fact research claims 95% of world’s rice crop are consumed by human

Throughout the world, over 40,000 types of rice are being recognised cultivated ( from Bomba Rice to Arborio Rice, Black Rice, Brown Rice, Basmati, Parboiled Rice, Long Grain White Rice, Jasmine etc…) ,

In this article, we will look at the major similarities and differences between jasmine rice and basmati rice.

Key Differences:

• Basmati rice has a sharper edge, they are longer and slimmer with sharp ends
•  Jasmine happens to have a round edge and not quite as long as basmati.
•  Jasmine rice is usually moist and clumpy  when cooked
• Basmati, they are so fluffy and dry in texture

What Your Will Learn: 

• Jasmine vs Basmati rice: What Are The Similarities and Differences
• Can You Substitute Jasmine Rice with Basmati Rice?
• What Goes Well with Jasmine Rice?
• What to Cook with Basmati Rice?
• Which is easier to digest basmati or jasmine rice?
• Jasmine vs Basmati Rice : Which type of rice is the healthiest?
• Does basmati rice need more water than jasmine?

 

Origin

Thai Fragrant Rice which is generally known as Jasmine Rice originates from Thailand, initially it was cultivated for the royalty of the Kingdom of Siam. This beautiful long grain is traditionally grown in the humid climate of Thailand and some Eastern part of Asian countries which includes Cambodia and Vietnam where it is often used in pad thai and fried rice dishes.

Basmati Rice on the other hand hails from India and Pakistan, funny how the Asian continent is so blessed with this wonderful species of grain, although there are many other countries that grow basmati rice domestically. Of the two countries, India accounts for about two-thirds of the global supply. This is why India comes first when it comes to both brown and white basmati Rice.

Appearance

It has been mentioned several times here that appearance is also one of the things that separates Jasmine Rice differ from Basmati Rice, they both look so much alike but if you look closely at them most especially in their raw/uncooked form, you would notice jasmine rice is a long-grain with slightly round ends and a bit translucent while basmati rice grains is longer, thinner/slenderer and has sharper ends.

Aroma and Flavor

When it comes to aroma and flavor these two rice possess great fragrance-like smell, no other Rice Specie have been able to overtake, they are both floral and smells like buttered popcorn when cooking. Jasmine rice is much floral, slightly sweet and nutty

Texture

Due to the amount of amylopectin present in Jasmine rice, it is as a results of which the grain lose its structure under high heat making it fluffy, clumpy and moist after being cooked, not that jasmine rice is extremely sticky, it is just slightly clumpy and perfect  to eat it with chopsticks.

Basmati rice on the other hand is richer in amylose content, this results in its capability to hold its shape when it is under high heat. The basmati grain is usually fluffier and dry after cooking, this makes it one of the perfect grains for making fried rice.

Cooking Technique

It is usually hard to distinguish between the cooking process for the two when you want to use them in several recipes as they both have different ways of cooking them due to their texture.

To prepare these two there are some certain things you need to take note of, for jasmine rice it needs to be thoroughly washed until the water is clear. This process helps get rid of excess surface starch, dust and debris and also reduces the latter caused by jasmine rice grain and as well prevent it from being clumpy more than they used to.

Jasmine rice can be prepared using Steaming and the Absorption process, absorption process is best used for jasmine rice. The latter, which is formed while cooking the rice, suggests adding a regulated amount of water so the rice will absorb the whole liquid by the time it finishes cooking so as to avoid it from being too clumpy.

For basmati rice, soaking for at least 30 minutes is recommended, this process helps kick start the water absorption, after soaking bring out the rice and wash again to take out debris and the thin layer of starch which occurs naturally to all grains, then place the rice in a salted water, extra water can then be drained after bringing to edible level.

Nutrition Facts

How cool it is to know the value of what we consume, lets talk about the nutritional facts for both jasmine and basmati rice. Both grains are rich in various nutritional content that are healthy for your diet and which will be explained.

Calories: while jasmine has 238 calories and basmati contains 191 cals, this helps release energy to the body.

Carbs/Carbohydrates: helps the body gain adequate energy throughout the day, jasmine rice contains more carbs of up to 45 gram compared to basmati rice which only has 4g.

Protein; As we all know that protein is very essential for the body and helps enhance growth in lean muscle and also helps recover quickly after exercise or injury jasmine possess 5.3g of protein and basmati contains 5.6g of protein.

Fat —  In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat is the means any ester of fatty acids, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food jasmine rice contains 3.5g fat while basmati has 0 gram

Sodium —  there is a saying “health is wealth”, jasmine produces 189 mg of sodium while basmati even produces as much as 199 mg, sodium which is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. However the human body needs little amount of sodium as it helps in controlling blood pressure, blood volume, healthy muscles, nerves and also helps in balance of water and minerals.

Iron, which is  a major component of hemoglobin, a type of protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of the body. Without enough iron, there aren’t enough red blood cells to transport oxygen, which leads to fatigue. Beautifully, jasmine rice produces 1.47mg and basmati  rice contains 2.09mg.

Fiber — which is very essential to the body and helps maintain bowel health, lowers cholesterol levels, it helps in controlling  blood sugar levels, Aids in achieving healthy weight. Due to absence of cholesterol in both jasmine and basmati rice this results to the grain not having too many amount of fiber, this result to jasmine rice to only contain 1g of fiber and 0.7g in basmati.

Calcium —  Calcium is a mineral often associated with stronger teeth and healthy bones, this mineral also plays a vital role in blood clotting, helping muscles to contract, and regulating normal heart rhythms and nerve functions. There are 14 mg of calcium present in jasmine while basmati contains 18 mg of calcium.

Potassium — which can be found in many foods and supplements helps maintain normal levels of fluid inside our cells and also helps contract muscle and supports blood pressure. Up to 83 mg of potassium can be found in jasmine rice and up to 51 mg of potassium can be found in basmati rice.

Vitamin A — helps improve vision of the eyesight and as well boosts the immune system, it also helps in reproduction, growth and development. Vitamin A is a lot essential for a healthy heart, lungs, and helps other organs in the body work perfectly. Jasmine rice contains up to 144 international unit (IU) while basmati contains 0 IU

Vitamin C — is an antioxidant that helps protect your body cells against the effects of free radicals — molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to smokes and radiation from the sun, X-rays or other sources and can also serve as a fighter against diseases like cancer and heart diseases. Unfortunately, jasmine and basmati rice contain no percentage of Vitamin C.

Glycemic index (GI) —  According to study the healthiest glycemic index is

• 55 or less = Low (good)
• 56- 69 = Medium.
• 70 or higher = High (bad)

Unfortunately jasmine rice’s GI is above minimum; 89 – 109 which is not really healthy for the body while basmati only contain 58 – 59

Varieties

There are only two varieties of jasmine rice grains as for now which is white and brown jasmine rice. Basmati rice has way more than two, basmati rice is roughly estimated around 34 hybrids of basmati in India. All of them are different from each other regarding taste, nutritional value and appearance.

Can You Substitute Basmati and Jasmine Rice?

One of the questions frequently asked is if jasmine rice can be substituted with basmati or either way round. The answer is to this kind of question is very simple , it is usually based on the purpose of what you want to use either for matters, you can use both to make tasty pilaf and as regarding to jasmine which is usually clumpy might go well with rice and marinated sweet-sour chicken and pineapple or creamy pudding. In countries like vietnam and cambodia they often use jasmine rice as pad thai and fried rice just as it is suitable for them. On the other hand other people prefer to use basmati rice for fried rice due to its ability to absorb water without getting clumpy.

What Goes Well with Jasmine Rice?

Jasmine rice can be served with other nutritional veggies and soups which can help you stay cool throughout the day.

Here are few best combinations with jasmine rice

• You can use it to make Thai basil chicken and rice
• Crispy salmon with lemony jasmine rice
• Turmeric jasmine rice with chicken
• It goes well with marinated sweet-sour chicken and pineapple
• White jasmine rice topped with a comforting vegetable curry
• Instant Pot cranberry pistachio jasmine rice
• Beef and broccoli stir-fry with the side of jasmine rice.

What to Cook with Basmati Rice?

Are you wondering the kind of recipe best used in preparing basmati rice? Let me spice up your taste and make you salivate, below you will see many things that go fine with basmati.

• Turmeric Coconut Rice.
• Korma Chicken Meatballs in Lettuce Cups.
• One-pan Coconut Chettinad Prawn Curry.
• Kedgeree
• Tikka Masala Chicken Drumsticks with Pineapple and Coconut Rice.
• Quick Balinese Fish.
• Lemon & Herb Pilaf Roasted Mushrooms.
• Stuffed pepper.

 

Now that you know the difference between jasmine rice and basmati rice, why not take a minute to place an order on our site for some halal rice crispy treats on Wehala and enjoy your day with our free delivery, easy ordering option and much more.

 

FAQ: Basmati vs Jasmine Rice

1: Jasmine vs Basmati Rice : Which type of rice is the healthiest?

Both jasmine and basmati rice are healthy and low in fat, they also assist in boosting little protein in the body, however due to higher amount of glycemic index present in jasmine rice which is really not healthy for people suffering some certain health conditions most especially the diabetics.

2: Is it a must to soak basmati rice before cooking?

It is not necessary but it is advisable to soak for at least 30 mins before cooking, this helps kick start the water absorption.

3: How can I make jasmine rice less sticky?

To prevent jasmine rice from clumping together, you can rinse it under running water for about 2-3 times until the water is clear. This is to help remove the excess starch on the surface. And then use a measurable amount of water as this rice requires cooking consistently, gradually add little water if you feel it is needed, this will help the rice not to get too clumpy.

4: Do brown basmati rice taste different from their long grain rice varieties?

Yes they do, but the difference in taste for cooked jasmine rice and basmati rice is not significant compared to their white rice varities.

5: Can I substitute jasmine rice for basmati rice and vice versa?

Substituting is usually based on the purpose of what you want to use either for, you can use both to make tasty pilaf and as regarding jasmine which is usually clumpy might go well with rice and marinated sweet-sour chicken and pineapple or creamy pudding. On the other hand other people prefer to use basmati rice for fried rice due to its ability to absorb water without getting clumpy.

6: Do I need to stir the rice frequently while cooking Jasmine rice?

Do not stir the rice when bringing to boil, this may activate the starch and make it mushy. It is best advice to pour an adequate amount of water and leave till it completely absorbs the liquids.