Rice is one of the widely consumed grains, but which rice you cook directly influences the flavor and texture of the recipe. For this reason, sona masoori vs. basmati rice is a common comparison, and we will share everything you need to know to differentiate between these two rice varieties. So, let’s get into the details!
Sona Masoori vs Basmati Rice:
Basmati Rice
Basmati rice is known for its long and slender grain and has an aromatic nature. This rice variety is grown in Pakistan, India, and Nepal. According to research, 65% of the basmati rice trade is handled by India, while Pakistan exports the remaining 35%. Different countries grow basmati rice as well, but the real flavor still resides in Pakistani and Indian crops. Basmati rice has at least 6.61mm in length. It has a pandan-like flavor which is caused by 2-acetly-1-pyrroline.
The aromatic compounds are twelve times higher in basmati rice as compared to other varieties, which leads to a significant flavor and fragrance. As far as the flavoring or aroma compound is concerned, the same compound is found in cereals, cheese, and fruits. There are various varieties of basmati rice available, such as basmati rice 370 and basmati rice 385, that are famous in the Jammu area of Kashmir. In addition, the basmati rice PPK 385, D-98, and Super Kernel are famous in Pakistan.
This is the long grain with a stiff texture and are known to retain the texture and shape once cooked. Given these characteristics, basmati rice is often priced high. As far as the flavor is concerned, it has a slightly sweet and milk aroma. In case you are concerned about the stickiness, basmati rice doesn’t have a sticky nature and will remain dry even once cooked. That being said, basmati rice is suitable for making jeera rice, ghee rice, chicken biryani, mutton biryani, and pulao.
In addition to these spicy rice recipes, basmati rice is suitable for making sweet dishes, such as phirni, coconut, kheer, and meethe chawal. As far as the availability is concerned, it’s readily available in Pakistan and India but will be extremely expensive. On the other hand, if you are in western countries, you can find basmati rice in Asian grocery stores or specialty stores because these are export-quality rice.
Sona Masoori Rice
This is one of the most popular, aromatic, and lightweight rice varieties and belongs to the medium-grain rice variety. The rice is grown with the cross combination of Mahsuri and Sona rice. It is generally grown in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this is the premium rice variety that is regularly exported to UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Canada. In addition, it is available in the USA and Saudi Arabia as export-quality rice.
Sona masoori rice is known for its half-boiled nature and doesn’t have much aroma. They are also commonly known as white rice and half-boiled rice. If you are concerned about the half-boiled nature, it’s because the rice is partially boiled within the husk, promising faster cooking time. As for utilization and consumption, sona masoori rice is consumed with sambar, curd, chicken curry, mutton curry, rasam, and puli kolambu.
Sona masoori rice is actually a great ingredient for lemon rice and puliogare. The best thing about this rice variety is that it’s faster to cook, and digestion is pretty quick. When these rice are cooked, they come out to be soft and fluffy. As for the par-boiling process, it includes soaking the rice, steaming them, and drying them up. If you want to retain the nutritional profile, it’s best to boil the rice. The best thing about sona masoori rice is that it’s great for people who want to lose weight.
In particular, the glycemic index of this rice variety is around 5, which means lower glucose. It can also help reduce the blood glucose level and is suitable for people suffering from diabetes. Not to forget, the low starch percentage promises easier cooking and no stickiness. Also, the low starch content is great for people who are following healthy recipes.
To summarize, both of these rice varieties are premium and tend to be expensive. Be it sona masoori rice or basmati rice, both of them are available in the Asian grocery stores and have a promising nutritional count.