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.
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
- Sauté - fry the onions and garlic in butter, mix in spices
- Prepare Rice - wash rice until water runs clear, and add to the saucepan
- 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
- Serve- fluff rice using a fork, garnish with cilantro
Rice Cooker Method
- Sauté - fry the onions and garlic in butter, mix in spices
- Prepare Rice - wash rice until water runs clear, and add to the rice cooker
- Cook - mix onions through rice, add chicken stock, close the lid and set rice cooker to BOIL or COOK
- 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
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
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!
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
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.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2016, updated April 2023
