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Bata
Soft sticky rice
بته (bata): soft, sticky Afghan short-grain rice, the plain partner to qorma and spinach
Long-grain palaw gets the glory at weddings, but on ordinary days in Herat and Kabul it is often bata that comes to the table: short-grain rice cooked until the grains burst and cling together in a glossy, gently salted mass. Its job is to sit beside something saucy, typically a qorma or sabzi, the dark, garlicky spinach, and to soak up every bit of it; children often eat it with just a spoonful of yogurt. It needs no spices at all. Rice that is drained or rinsed until the water runs clear will never go properly sticky, so rinse it once and cook it in a measured amount of water. Chef's tip: finish it under a lid wrapped in a tea towel on the lowest heat, which catches the drips of steam and keeps the top soft instead of wet.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz short-grain rice (such as calrose)rinsed once
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 ½ tsp salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 4 ¼ cups water, 2 tbsp sunflower oil and 1 ½ tsp salt to the boil in a heavy pan over a high heat.
5 minStep 2: Add 14 oz short-grain rice (such as calrose), stir, then cook uncovered over a medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom, until the water has been absorbed and the surface is pitted with small holes.
15 minStep 3: Wrap the lid in a clean tea towel, cover the pan tightly and leave over the lowest heat for 15 minutes until the grains are swollen, very soft and sticking together.
15 minStep 4: Stir once, scraping up from the bottom, and serve hot in a mound beside qorma, sabzi or a bowl of yogurt.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 80 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bata take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of short-grain rice (such as calrose)?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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