Jeera Rice (Cumin Rice)
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice I preferred basmati rice
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 4 whole dried red chili (sabut lal mirch)
- 1 inch piece of cinnamon stick (dal chini)
- 2 cardamoms crushed (Malachi)
- 2 bay leaves (tajpat)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped (hara dhania)
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons ghee clarified butter for garnishing
Instructions
- Wash the rice gently and soak it in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes. Drain the water and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan moderately. Oil is the right temperature when one cumin seed drops into the oil cracks immediately.
- Add the cumin seeds. When they crack, add all the spices red chili, cinnamon, bay leaves, and cardamom, and stir for a few seconds.
- Add the rice. Stir-fry one minute.
- Bring the water and salt to a boil, and turn the heat to low. Cover the pan.
- Cook for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has evaporated. Turn off the heat add cilantro and fluff the rice. Jeera rice is ready, serve hot.
- Garnish the rice with ghee but this is optional. Jeera rice is very aromatic and delicious. This can enhance any meal.
Master Art of Jeera Rice: A Guide to Indian Cumin Rice Recipe
Jeera rice is commonly served as a side dish in Indian cuisine and pairs well with a variety of main courses. It is often served alongside dishes such as Toor Dal, Kala Chana, Palak Kadhi, Urad Dal Tadka, Dal Tadka, Aam ki Dal Vegetable curries, or paneer dishes. The mild and aromatic flavor of jeera rice complements the rich and spicy flavors of these dishes, making it a popular choice to balance out the meal.
Additionally, jeera rice can also be enjoyed on its own with a dollop of yogurt or raita for a simple and satisfying meal. Overall, jeera rice is a versatile and delicious dish that adds a fragrant and flavorful touch to any Indian meal.
Preparing the Rice: Washing and Soaking
To start this flavorful jeera rice recipe, gently wash the rice and then soak it in lukewarm water for approximately 15 minutes. This step helps to ensure that the rice grains absorb enough water, resulting in a perfectly cooked and fluffy texture. After soaking, drain the water from the rice and set it aside, ready for the next stage of preparation.
Heating the Oil: Ensuring the Right Temperature
In a saucepan, heat the oil to the right temperature. You’ll know the oil is ready when a cumin seed dropped into it crackles immediately, indicating that it’s at the perfect temperature for cooking. This ensures that the jeera rice will be infused with the rich flavors of the spices and cumin seeds.
Tempering the Spices: Infusing Flavor
Once you’ve completed the crucial step of tempering the spices in your jeera rice preparation, it’s time to introduce the rice to the flavorful mixture. Adding the rice to the saucepan after the spices have been tempered ensures that it absorbs the rich aromas and flavors, resulting in a truly delicious jeera rice recipe.
Adding the Rice: Stir-Frying for Flavor
As you add the rice to the saucepan, begin stir-frying it for about a minute. This process allows the rice grains to come into contact with the aromatic spices and oil, enabling them to absorb the flavors deeply. Stir-frying the rice ensures that each grain is coated with a flavorful mixture, thereby enhancing its taste and aroma.
Cooking the Rice: Simmering to Perfection
Once the rice is stir-fried, bring the water and salt to a boil in the saucepan. Then, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Allow the rice to cook undisturbed for about 15 minutes, or until it is tender and the water has evaporated. This gentle simmering process ensures that the jeera rice cooks evenly and achieves the desired fluffy texture.
Finishing Touches: Adding Freshness
After the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and add freshly chopped cilantro. Gently fluff the rice with a fork to incorporate the cilantro and distribute the flavors evenly. This final step adds a burst of freshness to the jeera rice, enhancing its aroma and visual appeal. Your delicious Indian cumin rice is now ready to be served and enjoyed as a flavorful side dish or accompaniment to your favorite curry.
If you loved our recipe of jeera rice then you must also check out other variants of Rice: Vegetable Biryani, Masala Khichdi, chole biryani, Quinoa Vegetable Pilaf, and Lemon Rice.
THANK YOU !!!!!
Thank you
thanks
Namaste Manjulaji,all your vegetarian recipes are very tasty,thank u madam,give us more,& more recipes.
Instead of basmathi rice u can use jeer rice also. Pour ghee while cooking. Smell wil be nice
Thankamoni, any long grain rice will work
Thanks for dis easy n beautiful dish
can we make jeera rice with goldana rice.thanks for recipe
Sanjay, Yes
I am trying yr recipes. Every item is very yaamini and I became yr fan. Thank u for yr many recipes. We r enjoying it vysya cooking and tasting.
Seetha, Thank you
Hello! Mam I luv dishes vry much as they are very tasty ???? n so easy to prepare……..tq for ur variety foods
Laxmi, Thank you
Hello dear Manjula,
I love your dishes so much. Thank you for sharing them!
Question: i have to make a rice sidedish in a large amount. It has to serve about 40-50 guests. I will have to make it in the morning and we will serve it in the evening… which of your rice recipes do you suggest is the best to make?
Thank you so much,
Loving greeting Usha
Usha, any rice dish will work depends on your menu, lemon rice, yogurt rice, mango rice can be served at room temprature
Hi manjula..thanx fr sharing ur recipes..how to make rice dhokla..plz share
Geeta I am planning to do soon
Ur dishes are mouth watering thanks for it..
very nice recipes thank u much i ll try it today itself thanq very much
I like your recipes and I am going to try your all recipes.
Pramod, Thank you, enjoy cooking
Use Tilda brand that’s best.
Hi
Which brand basmati rice need to use which has long grain and real smell of basmati ?
Sonal,
so many different brand basmati rice available, just try some, lately I am using laxmi brand
hi,
Very nice Post….
Thank u for sharing…
Recipes from you are always tempting…. Kindly suggest some diet recipe for weight loss
Samia, You will find many recipes in every category also check this link https://manjulalive.wpenginepowered.com/special-diets/low-fat/