Measure the rice into your saucepan and rinse it in cold water 1–3 times. Tip: When you pour out the rinsing water, use a small sieve to prevent any rice grains from falling down the sink.
Add rice cooking water (2 cups), along with ghee and salt, and bring the rice to a boil on medium-high heat. Gently stir the rice once, turn down the heat to very low, and cover. Simmer, covered for 12-15 minutes. The cooking time depends on the quality of the rice. Better quality aged rice is drier and will take a longer time.
Turn off the heat, add 1-2 tablespoons of water, and close the lid again for 5 minutes, or until you are ready to eat. The extra water will loosen any rice that may have stuck on the bottom of the pot, and it steams the rice a little further for extra softness.
Just before serving your perfect basmati rice, fluff it up gently with a fork. Admire the beautiful long grains of your basmati rice and savor the flavor.
Notes
I recommend Swad brand Dehraduni Basmati Rice, but it is no longer available on Amazon. This Silver Basmati Rice looks like a comparable product, or try Pride of India.