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    Home » Recipes » Asian Recipes

    Indian Rice

    Author: Peter Kolesnichenko · Published: Apr 25, 2023

    Jump to Recipe

    You'll love the aroma of freshly cooked Indian Rice filling the kitchen. Perfectly flavored Yellow Rice is enjoyed as a side dish or with a curry. Infused with fried onions, and Indian spices, it's a delicious way to spice up your dinner plate.

    indian rice on a plate
    indian rice ingredients
    frying onions

    What is Indian Rice?

    Indian Rice is a tasty spiced rice from Southern India and it's know by several names. Often it's called Indian Pilau Rice or Indian Yellow Rice. It's rice that is cooked in a broth with spices, giving it amazing flavor and yellow coloring.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Flavorful - packed with spices and aromatics to elevate plain white rice
    • Easy - it only takes a few extra minutes to your normal rice cooking time
    • Adaptable - can be made stove top or with a rice cooker

    Key Ingredients

    • Rice - traditionally made with basmati long grain rice
    • Butter - butter adds a richer flavour compared to oil
    • Spices - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, chilli flakes
    • Aromatics - onion and garlic
    • Chicken Stock - adds a richer savory flavor

    How to Make Indian Rice

    Stove Top Method

    1. Sauté - fry the onions and garlic in butter, mix in spices
    2. Prepare Rice - wash rice until water runs clear, and add to the saucepan
    3. Cook - mix onions through rice, add chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to lowest setting, cover with lid, and simmer for 20 minutes
    4. Serve- fluff rice using a fork, garnish with cilantro
    frying onions spice
    mixing indian rice

    Rice Cooker Method

    1. Sauté - fry the onions and garlic in butter, mix in spices
    2. Prepare Rice - wash rice until water runs clear, and add to the rice cooker
    3. Cook - mix onions through rice, add chicken stock, close the lid and set rice cooker to BOIL or COOK
    4. Serve - fluff rice using a fork, garnish with cilantro

    Spices for Indian Rice

    There are many variations of spices you can use in Indian Rice. This spice blend is the perfect blend, packed with flavor.

    • Turmeric - adds the vibrant yellow colour famous in Indian cooking
    • Cinnamon - gives a woody warmth to the dish
    • Cloves - strong and punchy
    • Whole Cardamom - complex piney flavor
    • Cumin Seeds - rich and hearty citrus tones
    • Chilli Flakes - gives subtle heat (optional)

    Rice Options

    • Basmati - fragrant nutty rice traditionally used in Indian recipes
    • Jasmine - perfumed long grain rice, a popular alternative
    • White Rice - medium or long grain, a staple in most kitchens
    pouring stock
    cooking indian rice

    What to Serve with Indian Rice

    Yellow Rice is versatile and can be enjoyed as a side dish, can be eaten on its own or with your favorite Indian curry. Here are some suggestions.

    • Korma
    • Butter Chicken
    • Vindaloo
    • Jalfrezi
    • Tikka Masala
    • Rogan Josh

    Recipe Tips and FAQs

    • Soak Rice - for extra fluffy rice, rinse and let it soak for 30 minutes before cooking
    • Add Peas - while sautéing mix in peas
    • Ghee - for an authentic taste, substitute butter with Ghee (traditionally used in Indian cooking)
    • A Little Sweetness - add raisins when cooking the rice
    • Garnish - sprinkle slivered toasted almonds when serving the rice
    • Vegan - substitute with vegetable oil and vegetable stock

    Storage

    • Fridge - cooked rice can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Don't leave rice out at room temperature to avoid bacteria growth
    • Freezer - Once cooled, store in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in microwave
    indian rice on a plate

    Rice Recipes You'll Love

    • Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
    • Kimchi Fried Rice
    • Apricot Chicken
    • Teriyaki Chicken
    • Thai Cauliflower Rice
    • Tuna Rice Salad

    A vibrant and flavorful rice recipe, cooked to perfection with aromatic spices. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита! 

    indian rice on a plate

    Indian Rice

    Perfectly flavored Yellow Rice is delicious as a side or enjoyed for dinner. Infused with fried onions and Indian spices, a delicious way to spice up your dinner plate. Stove Top and Rice Cooker instructions.
    4.96 from 25 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Course: Sides
    Cuisine: Indian
    Keyword: Indian Pilau, Indian Rice, Indian Yellow Rice
    Servings: 4 people

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups uncooked Basmati rice washed
    • 4 cups chicken stock
    • 2 medium onions chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 cinnamon quill
    • 2 whole cloves
    • 2 cardamom pods
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon whole cumin
    • ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
    • 1 tablespoon butter to fry or ghee
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    Instructions

    • Saute the onion and garlic in butter until translucent and slightly golden.
    • Add the cinnamon quill, whole cloves, cumin seeds, turmeric, cardamom and chilli flakes. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    • Wash the rice and add to the pot with onions and spices mixing all together until the rice is coated.  Pour in the chicken stock  and bring to a boil.
    • Turn the heat down to the lowest setting allowing it to gently bubble without a full simmer. Place the lid on and allow the rice to steam for 20 minutes.
    • Once rice is cooked, fluff with a fork. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2016, updated April 2023

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