We usually use Basmati to make Plain / Steamed rice or Polau (aka
Pilaf). For Plain Rice no seasoning or spice (not even Salt). For Polau
the "siple" recipe that we follow is:

* melt some butter or ghee
* add some ginger (fresh is prefered, but powder can be substituted)
* add cardamon & cinnamon
* add the washed & drained rice to the butter and ginger
* constantly stir the rice to make sure every individual rice grain
has a chance to be coated with the butter / ghee on mid to mid-hi heat
* after ~10 minutes, add liquid and salt
* stir very gently once or twice, but no more
* wait for a boil
* immediately turn heat to med to med-low
* cover for about 25 - 35 min

The liquid would be approximately 1.5 times the amount of rice. So, for
2 cups of rice there would be ~3 cups of liquid. The liquid is mostly
water with very little whole milk. For 3 cups of liquid there would be
about a quarter of a cup of milk.

We almost never ever soak the rice in water. In tends to break the
rice. Many of our friends use the cooker, but we haven't tried it yet.

- manzoor