Rice is a basic cooking skill, and exists in almost every cuisine in some form. In Indian cuisine, basmati rice goes with almost anything, and if you are new to Indian cuisine, this is a perfect recipe to master.
In other recipes I have seen, they start by bringing the rice up to the boil along with the water. I find that this makes basmati rice somewhat mushy and soft. This recipe allows for the rice to hold its shape when tossed with other vegetables and still have a perfect cook.
Recipe:
1 cup rice (preferably basmati)
2 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp salt
Start by rinsing the rice in cold water until it runs clear. This should take about 7 rinses.
Put the rice along with the water in a medium saucepan. Bring the rice up to a rolling boil, and immediately reduce to a simmer. Add in the salt, cinnamon, and cumin.
Let simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is tender, but not mushy.
Enjoy!